Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-22

rol met the postman at the door, and tool,
the letter from him. He gave it to his
wife and waited while she read it; then,
seeing her face blanch, took it from her
trembling hands, and with compressed lips,
glanced at the few lines it contained. 1t
was short and to the point:
Dear Majory: If you like to leave your hus.
band, will take you back 10 your old home.
On no other terms, and IN no other way will
help you. You took your own way; and now
| you may take the consequences.
JOSEPH LINTON.
1t said much for Jim's utter heart-sick-
ness that he did not even show any dis
pleasure at Marory's having written. He
only said gently
"You should not have asked him, dear"
But the passionate little Marjory tore
up the letter, and threw it into the fire.
place.
1t haunted Jim, though If it were not
for him, he thought wretchedly, his Mar
jory would be cared for again as she ought
to be. He knew her too well to think she
would leave him. No word had come OF
his drawing; he had almost given up hope;
a deadly, horrible depression seemed to
have taken possession of him. Every way
seemed closed to him-save one.
Dear" he said one night with an effort
they had been sitting silent for long
time in the dismantled little sitting room
would you not like-to go back--to
Manchester"
"What, without you Jim?" she cried,
with incredulous amazement in her tired
little voice.
Eyes," very steadily.
"Ah, JIM" in tones of keen reproach,
'do you want me to go?"
"My darling, you need not ask me that"
and Jim's voice shook slightly. Butt
would be better-for youw
"Ah, my DEAR" she said, with an at
tempt at her old sauciness, "you need not
hint you can't get rid of me. Don't you
think it p
Then she suddenly laid her curly head
on his knee, and began to cry.
90. JIM" she sobbed, "don't send me
away! How can you speak so? You will
break my heart All, darling, you could
not do without me, could your"
God forgive memo" he answered,
hoarsely. You are all / have" As he
spoke ne drew her into his arms, and held
her against his breast. She chung to him,
sobbing passionately, for a long time.
Marjory," he said, suddenly, "haye
you had anything to eat to-day? For you
ate nothing this morning.
Yes, dear, of course | have" she an.
swered, sitting up and drying her tears.
"What had you? "-noting with pang
how wan and weak she looked, and what
heavy shadows lay under her sweet brown
eyes.
ooh, all l wanted"
81 know what that means" he said, in
low, agitated tones. ''Child, you are starry
ing yourself to death | am killing you
you, my little Marjory, who are dearer to
me than my own soul You are dying
before my eyes-as our baby died-and i
can do nothing-nothing o my God,
this is torturep' And laying his head
down on his arms on the table he, too,
sobbed-a mans heavy, heartrending sobs,
fearless and bitter.
In an instant Marjory's arms were round
his neck, her lips resting on his dark, bent
head.
Hush, dear boy, hush p' she said, in her
quaint little motherly way "You are
slightest thought Of dying, you foolish jim
Don't, my dear, don't!" she went on, i'm
ploringly.
But Carols self-control seemed to have
deserted HIM utterly, and for a time his
agitation was terrible.
Then there was a long silence, broken
at lastly Marjory's voice in anxious tones
'You have eaten nothing to-day, jim, /
am quite sure; and you are quite faint and
worn out"
'My darling, 1 could not eat" he an
swered YEARLY, raising his head and lean
ing back in his chair. There were only
two chairs in the room now and very little
else.)
Marjory's soft brown eyes filled again
with tears; but she resolutely winked them
away, and said, trying to smile, "We will
make up for lost time and have some sup
per. Then things will look brighter |
have an idea, do you know, that our luck
is going to take a turn
Jim smiled family his ideas pointed in
a Numerically opposite direction.
"And therefore" Marjory went on, with
a gayety the more touching to Jim be-
cause he knew it was assumed for his sake
eve will go out and buy something for
supper, my dear Jim. A great fellow like
you cannot possibly live on bread and tea
and not much of that-as you have been
doing. Now | wonder"-looking round
the room meditatively-"if there is moth
ing more we eau put away" They always
called it putting away")
Carol did not speak. He could not Just
then. Marjory stole softly up stairs to
their bedroom and slowly opened a small
box which stood there. 1t contained moth
ing of much value, seemngly-ouly few
baby clothes and furnished silver rattle,
of which latter the tiny bells tinkled
merrily as Marjory lifted it. Her tears
fell thick and fast as she rubbed the pretty
toy with an old glove until it shone quite
brightly in the dim candlelight Then
she went down stairs. Jim was still sitting
where she had left him. but he turned as
she came in, and shivered slightly, for the
night was chilly, and a fire was luxury
not to be thought of. she held the rattle
out to him silently.
80 Marjory, not that can'tw he said
hoarsely, hiding his face in his hands.
eyes, DEAR" said the sweet, unsteady
little voice "We-we-" She stopped
uncertainty, and, to her husbands terror
and dismay, tainted suddenly and quietly
away in his arms
The next day Carol himself wrote to
old Joseph Linton. His letter was re-
tulHSu- uuOpSuSu-
Post these letters for me, King-will
you?' said Archie Lyle, one October
forenoon. "I'm off in hurry to catch
train. Don't forget them, there's good
fellow"
"All right" said young man addressed;
and he put the letters carelessly into the
breast-pocket of his overcoat.
"Hang it all " King said to himself the
next day, give forgotten to post Lyle's
letters. However, l don't suppose it mat
tiers much. He'll be none the wiser" He
dropped them into the first pillar-box he
came to, and Lighting a cigar, sauntered on
! his way.
On the morning Of this same day Carol
and his wife were standing, pale and silent,
at the window of their sitting-room. They
were watching for the postman. They
had watched for him unspokenly, fever
ishly, despairingly, for many days. Soon
they heard the sharp rat-tat on the doors
in the distance. He came nearer. He
knocked at the door of the house nearest
theirs. Then-he passed on
"Oh, Jimr' said the little wife, despair
ingly.
Carol was white to his very lips.
al,IJ.o L. Ia