The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-23


she intended TO be Christian-and back to
this point she found herself constantly COM
lng-what hindrance her husband would
be. Indeed, with him, would any such
change be possible? But Mrs. Norris had
too acute a mind to knowingly practice self
deception. She saw, at an unwilling glance,
that it was not a step in the Heavenward
course to break solemn VOW made in the
presence of the great God-her God, whose
help and care and love she so much needed.
Until death you two do part So help me
Godl'
But this has been DEATH" she said, trem-
blingly to herself. Death of happiness,
death of usefulness, death of all that is
worth living for. No cold hand ever sun
dered lives more effectually than ours are
sundered now. God must see this as do,
surely. He who is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart reads
mine and knows what my true motives are. "
Item by item she went over the changes
in their lives which this great change must
make, until she came TO one little spot, no
larger than q baby's grave; and TO this
Gods guidance so often evoked had led
and held her. Whose would ii be now?
When life's fitful fever was over, and she laid
her down to her long sleep, suppose. Just
suppose il might not be under the daisies by
Eddys side. All the strength of love and
tenderness she had lavished on her boy
came rushing back upon her aching heart.
ooh! not this not thisl" Ii would be the
one thing she could not bear. He was hers,
and not his fathers, by the great right of
maternity, above which God had never set
another; yet this father loved his child.
And then such pleasant memories came to
her of the boy dancing in his great stalwart
arms; of his gentleness and lovingness with
the tiny creature; OF his pride and Joy when
baby-look reminded him of her; of the
plans they had made together for the won
derful future of this wonderful gift. Very
tender she grew at the touch of this little
dead head. There could not have been a
better moment chosen for her husbands re-
turn. When she heard his foot in the hall,
she went, as was her wont in happier days,
to open the library door, meeting and well
coming him..
He was not a little surprised at her abrupt
reception.
Edward" she said, "have you seen Mr..
Wentworth"
II have" he answered. briefly.
There is one thing" she went on, we
had better settle before we go any further.
Whose will be our little Eddy's grave?'
at will be ours" he answered uncon.
sciously.
"Oursr' she repeated, with trembling
voice.
Il mean" he said, remembering himself,
sit will be mine, unless" plying the look
of agony in her face-'unless you wish it,
If you do, shall not hesitate TO give il to
you"
But where will you lie?" she asked, tear.
fully
II don't know" he said, carelessly. II
told Wentworth / wished you in every re.
spect thoroughly and handsomely provided
for. i shall go TO Europe as soon as / can
wind up my business matters here"
He spoke so coolly and quietly that it was
not difficult for his wife to answer.
1T has come so suddenly that / hardly
understand yet what it all means don't
wish you to think of me- Only provide fol-
your own happiness and comfort"
Happiness and comfort?' he repeated
with a sneer.
Edward she said, not moved as she
would usually have been by the sneer, Il
want to say further that am very sorry for
all causes | have given you of offense. For
give me, and let us, at least, part friends
Friends" he repeated again, contemptu-
ously.
"The happy days of our past, when-when
we loved each other, surely, need not all be
forgotten. 1 think God has been showing
me wherein l have done wrong-wrong
when never suspected ii. / want to say
again: Forgive me for it. That is ALL"
Katrina, we have both done wrong" he
answered, looking down into the pale and
agitated face beside him; ''but that don't
help us now. We have tired the experiment
of living happily together and have failed.
Ii is of no use"
II only wanted to say | was sorry for my
part of the wrong. lneyer could have fel;
easy unless had"
1--WE are probably neither of US saints, -
he answered coldlv. Then, with one of his
rare smiles Perhaps, Katrina, in Heaven
we may be married again, when we are
both perfect; only you know that dreadful
verse about neither marryingnor beinggiven
in marriage"
She smiled too; but it was poorghost of a
smile. IL know" she said but | shall
never want TO marry again."
eve none of us know what may happen"
he answered. "Ten years ago, no two people
in all Gods world would have less expected
to stand where we stand now"
Edward" she said, abruptly.
"Well?" he questioned.
al thank you" she went on, with seeming
irrelevance; "but can not take Eddy's
grave; You would be lonely away from
from him. God will give me my boy, just
the same, in Heaven; and to you, too, she
added, her true love forcing itself uppermost
with her thoughts of their child
"'Whose wife will she be of the seven?' 4"
he answered.
Don't, Edward" she said, smiling like
herself
II say, Katrina'-he took both her hands
and held them tightly in his own-'now
we Just can't. We have both been idiots.
Go to meeting all day, and all night. too ii
you wish. Do anything you please, only
don't do this. That's all. Don't"
'But Mr.. Wentworth, Edward? trembling
toward him.
''Wentworth's no matter" he said, draw
ing her close TO him. Katrina, am as
hungry as a bear. Let us have dinnerl'
Simply married quarrel was it? 1t was
something far more serious than that. Ii
was little disagreements, trivial, superficial
antagonisms made much of, until they
came near shipwrecking two otherwise noble
lives.
IF she knocked me down every day with
broad-ax, l could bear it like a man." said
tormented husband; "but to be driven to
death with pin-pricks is more than can
bear" These were pin-pricks on her part
and the brOad-ax on his; yet, had it not
been for that one little grave, shame, sor-
row. and lifelong separation would have
been the result.
MoRAL-Beware of differences in trifes.