Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

A DOMESTIC STORY.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.

crush nm. Consent to the divorce ana you
may do it,
Mrs. Linley lay PROSTATE in her chair. The
excitement which had sustained her thus far
seemed to have sunk with the sinking of her
last hope. Pale, exhausted, yielding to hard
necessity, she looked up when her mother
said: Consent to the divorce" and an
swerQd: II have consented"
And trust me, Mr.. Sarrazin said fervent-
ly, ito see that justice is done, and to pro-
tect you in the meanwhile"
Mrs. PreSty added her tribute of cOnSOla-
ton.
After all, she asked, "what is there to
terrify you in the prospect of a divorce? You
won't hear what people say about it-for we
see no society now And as for the news
papers, keep them out of the house."
Mrs Linley answered with a mOmentary
revival of energy.
1T IS not the fear of exposure that has tort
ured me-" she said. ''When | was left in
the solitude of the night my heart turned to
Kitty; felt that any sacrifice Of myself
might be endured for her sake. It's the re
membrance of my marriage, Mr. SarraZin
that is the terrible trial to me. Those whom
God has joined together let no man put asun-
der. Is there nothing to terrify me in set
ting that solemn command at defiance? / do
it-oh, | do it, in conserving to the divorce
lrenounce the vows which l bound myself
to respect in the presence of God; I profane
the remembrance Of eight happy years. hal
lowed by true love- All, you needn't remind
me of what my husband has done. l don't
forget how cruelty he has WrOnged me; l
don't forget that his own act has cast me
from him. But whose act DESTROYS our mar
riage? Mine! mine! Forgive me, mamma;
forgive me, my kind friend-the horror that
have Of myself forces its way to my lips.
No more of it! My child is my ore treasure
left. What must do next? What must ]
sign? What must | sacrifice? Tell me-and
it shall be done. submit! [ submitT
Delicately and mercifuIIy Mr.. Sarrazin an
SWered that sad appeal.
All that his knowledge, experience, and
resolution could suggest, he addressed to Mrs.
Presty. Mrs. Linley could listen or not listen,
as her own wishes inclined. In the one case
OF in the other, her interests would be equal
ly well served. The good lawyer kissed her
hand. Rest, and recover" he whispered
And then he turned to her mother-and be-
came a man of business once more.
THE first thing | shall do, ma'am is to
telegraph to my agent in Edinburgh. He
will arrange for the SpGediest possible hear
ing of our case in the Court of Sessions
Make your mind easy so far"
Mrs. Presty'S mind was by this time equal
ly inaccessible to information and advice. Il
want to know what is to be done with those
two men who are watching the gate" was
all she said in the way Of reply
Mrs. Linley raised her head in alarm.
''TWo!' she northumberland looked at Mr.
SarraZin. you only spoke of one last
night"
And l add another this morning Rest
your poor head Mrs. Lnley; | know how it
aches; / know how it burns" He still per-
sisted in speaking to Mrs. PTesty. Zone of
those two men will follow me to the station
and see me off on my way to London. The
other will walk after you, OF your daughter
or the maid, or any other person who may
try to get away into hiding with Kitty. And
they are both keeping close to the gate, in
+he fear Of losing sight of us in the fog.'
wish we lived in the middle ageSp' said
10. Presty.
What would be the use of that ma'am?''
Good heavens, Mr.. Sarrazin, don't you
see? IN those grand old days you would
have taken dagger, and the gardener would
have taken dagger, and you would have
stolen out and stabbed those two villains as
a matter Of course. And this Is the age of
progress! The Yilest rogue iii existence is a
sacred person whose life we are bound to re-
spect. All, what good that national hero
would have done who put his barrels of gun
powder in the right place on the 18th OF No
vember! [ have always said it, and [ stick
to it, Guy FaWkeS was a great statesman"
In the meanwhile Mrs. Linley was not
resting, and not listening to the expression
of her mothers political sentiments She
inf tIy-
There is danger threatening u.s." she said;
land you see way out of it."
To persist in trying to spare her was plain
~ useless. Mr.. Sarrazin answered her di-
rectly.
1.-The danger Of legal proceedings to obtain
possession of the child" he said, lis more
near and more serious than l thought it right
TO acknowledge while you were in doubt
which way to decide. [ was careful-tOo
careful, perhapS-nOt to unduly influence
you IN matter of the utmost importance to
your future life. But you have made up your
mind. don't scruple now to remind you
that an interval Of time must pass before the
decree for your divorce can be pronounced
and the care of the child be legally secured
to the mother. The only doubt and the dam
ger are there. If you are not frightened by
the prospect Of a desperate venture which
some women would shrink from, believe |
see way Of battling the SpieS''
Mrs. Linley started to her feet Say what
am to do" she cried, land judge for your
self If am as easily frightened as some wo-
men,"
The lawyer pointed with persuasive
smile to her empty chair. IF you allow
yourself to be excited" he said, you will
brighten me. Please-oh, please, sit down
againr'
Mrs. Linley felt the strong will asserting
itself in terms Of courteous entreaty. She
obeyed. Mrs. Presty had never admired the
lawyer as she admired him now. is that
how you manage your wife?1 she asked.
Mr.. Sarrazin was equal to the occasion,
whatever il might be. ''In your time,
ma am" he said, did You reveal the mys-
teries of conjugal life?" He turned to Mrs.
Linley. Il have something to ask first he
resumed, land then you shall hear what l
propose. How many people serve you in
this cottage?"
''Three-our landlady, who is housekeeper
and cook; our own maid, and the landlady's