Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-18

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waited while she read it 4; then, seeing
her face blsnch, took it from her trem-
bling hands and with compressed lips
glanced at the few words it contained.
1t was short and 10 the point.
Dear Mariory: II you like to leave
your husband / will take you back TO
your old nome. On no other terms AMI
IN 10 other way will help you You
took your own way and now you may
take the consequences.
JOSEPH LINTON.
It said much for Jim's utter heart
sickness that he did not even show any
displeasure at Hnriory's having written.
He only said, gently:
"You should not have asked him,
dear
But passionate little Mariory tore up
the letter and threw it into the fireplace.
1t haunted jim, though. II II were
not for him, he thought. wretchedly, bis
Mariory would be cared for again as she
ougbt 10 be. 10 knew her too well 10
think the would leave him. No word
had come Of his drawing; he had almost
given up hope q deadly, horrible de-
preston seemed to have taken possession
of him. Every way seemed closed to
him-Fve one.
"Dear." he said one night with an
oifort-tbey had been sitting silent for a
long time in the dismanted little sitting
room a." would you not hke-to 90
back-to Manchester ?"
"What. without you, jim ?" che cried.
uf
little voice.
Yes" very steadily.
"Ah, jim, " in tones OF keen reproach,
edo you want me to 90
"My darling, you need not ask me
that. snd Jim's voice shook slightly.
"But it would he better-ior you.
"Ah. nv dear" she said, with an at
tempt at her Old sauciness, you need
not hint: you can get rid Of me. Don't
think Of it.
Then sho suddenly laid her curly head
on his knee and began TO cry.
ooh. Jim" she said, cont send ne
away How can you speak so? You
break my heart Ah, dalling, you could
not do without ne. could you ?
Good for1ve me, no, he answered
hoarsely. 4" You are all / have " As
lie spoke he drew her into his arms and
held her against his breast. She chung
10 him, sobbing passionateiy for long
time.
Mariory," he said suddenly, "hsye
Won he'd ANYTHING 80 eat to-day? For
you ate nothing this morning.
"Ics, dear, Of course / have, She
answered, sitting up aud drying her
tears.
What bad you ?"-noting with a
pang how wan and weak she looked, and
what heavy shadows lay under her sweet
brown eyes.
"Oh, all J wanted"
81 know what that means" he said,
in low, agitated tones. "Child, you are
starving Yourself to death am kill
ing you-you, my little Mariory, who
arc dearer 10 me than my own soul
You arc dying before my eyes-as our
baby died and 1 can do nOthing-no-
thing Oh, my God-tbis is torture y
And LAYING bis head down on his arms
on the table, he. too, sobbed-a man ;
heavy, heart-rendIng sobs, fearless and
bitter.
In an instant Mariorvs arms wero
around his neck, her lips resting on his
dark bent head.
"Hush. dear boy. hush" she said in
her quaint little motherly way. lou
are talking nonsense, dcar / haven t
the slightest thought Of dying, You fool
ish jim. Don't, NY dear, don F" she
went on imuloriugly. But Carols self
control seemed to have deserted him W
tcry, and Tor time his agitation was
terrible.
Then there Was a long silence broken
at iast 10y Marjory's voice, IN anxious
tones:
"You have eaten nothing to-day, jim,
nm quite sure, aud you arc quite iaint
and worn out
"My darling, ! could not cat" he al
swered YEARLY, raising his bead and
leaning back in his chair. There were
only two chairs in tine room now, and
very little else.
&ariorys soft brown eyes filled again
with tears but she resolutely wlnked
them away, and said, trying to 6mlIo ::
"W Ne will make up for lost time and
have some supper. Then things viii
look brighter. ! have al idea, DO you
know, that our luck Is gong to take
turn
Jim smiled family; his ideas pointed
in q Numerically opposite direction.
and therefore, MarjoTy went on,
with q gayety more touching TO jim be-
cause he knew it Was assumed for his
sake, eve viii 90 ont aud buy some
thing for supper. my dear jim. A great
| fellow like YOU cannot possibly 1--we on
bread and toa-aud not much Of that
az YOU have been doing Now ! won
der. looking round the room medita-
lively, eff there is nothing more We can
put away 20 They always called t
"puting away.
Carol did not speak. lie could not,
Just then. Marjory stole softly up stairs
/ 10 her bedroom, and slowly opened a
email box which stood there. 1t con-
tanned nothing Of Inuch value, seeming
ly. ONLY a few baby clothes and a tar
nshed silver rattle, Of which latter tho
tiny bells tinkled merrlly IS MarlOry
/ lifted it. Her tears fell thick and fast as
sho rubbed the pretty toy with an old
/ glove until II shOne quite brightly IN ne
dim candlehght Then she went down
stairs. Jim was etill sitting whore she
had left him, but he turned as she came
in and shiyered slightly; for tire night
was chilly, and Il fire was luxury not to
he thought of. she held the rattle out
| t. him silently.
och, Marory, not that can't I" lie
said hoarsely, hiding his face in lis
hands
Yes, dear" said the sweet, unsteady,
little voice. "We-we--" She stopped
uncertainty, and, to her husbands ter
ror and dismay, tainted suddenly and
quietly away IN his arms.
The next day Carol himself wrote to
old Joseph Linton. Ills letter was re-
turned-unopened.
Post these letters for me, King
will You ?" said Archie Lyle one Octo-
Der forenoon. "rm or in tearing
hurry to catch train. Don't forget
them, there's good fellow"
IAN right, said the young man at
dressed and be put the letters care