Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-12-20

eyes.
poor little thingl" ne said, sadly and
J brokenly. "God knows what she il
spared I"
There was silence, for Marjory could
not speak. The rain dripped on the
window sill outside; the wind shook the
easement and moaned in the chimney
Then, with quick, dry sob, Carol TOOK
his wife in his arms and they mingled
their tears together.
So the autumn dragged on. AT last
-one dreadful day, when even Marjory
broke down and when Jim looked SC
weak and i'll as he set off on his weary
and fruitless quest for work that it al
most broke his wife'sheart to see him
at last, privately, and with many pangs
OF humbled pride, Mrs. Carol wrote her
uncle. She did not tell her husband,
for she knew that if she did nothing
would induce him to let the letter go.
The answer came soon enough; and it so
CHANGED that Carol met the postman at
the door and took the letter from him.
He gave 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
words it contained. 1t was short and to
the point:
DEAR you like to leave your hus-
band, | will take You back to your old home.
| On no other terms and in no other sody will |
help you. You took your own way; aud now
you may take the consequences.
JOSEPH LINTON.
II is said much for Jim's utter heart
sickness that he did not even show any
displeasure at Mariory'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 tie fire
place.
1t haunted Jim, though. II it were
not for him, he thought wretchedly, his
Marjory 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 de-
preston seemed to have taken possess
ion of him. Every way seemed closed
to him-saye one.
"Dear," he said one night with an ef-
fort-they had been sitting silent for a
long time in the dismantled little sitting
room-"would you not hke-to go
back-to Manchester
"What, without gOu, Jim a. she cried,
with incredulous amazement in her tired
little voice.
"Yes," very steadily.
"Ah, JIM" tones of keen reproach,
edo you want me to gol"
ttNfv Iorlip1 won paa1 not och mo
that" and Jim's voice shook slightly.
"But-it would be better-for you"
"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
think it I"
Then she suddenly laid her curly head
ON his knee and began to cry.
80, Jim, she sobbed, "dont send me
away How can you speak sol You
break my heart All, darling, you
could not do without me, could you"
"Post these letters for me, King-will |
you?" said Archie Lyle, one October
forenoon. "I'm off in tearing hurry |
to catch train. Don't forget them, |
there's a good fellow"
"All right" said the young man
addressed, and he put the letters care
lessly into the breastpocket OF his over
coat.
"Hang it all !" King said to himself
the next day, ave forgotten to post
Lyles letters However, / don't sup
pose it matters much. He'll be none
the wiser" He dropped them into the
first pillar box he came to, and lighting
q 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
feverishly, desparingly, 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
ooh. Jim I" said the little wife
Carol was white to his very lips.
"Never mind, childie," he said, put
ling his arm round her, and trying to
speak steadily.
"Oh, my dear, l can't help it" she
sobbed.
There was long pause; then Mariory
said, almost cheerily, perhaps if you
went to Mr.. Lyle, he could tell you, Jim
81 did go, Marjory, yesterday" he in
corrupted, quietly, but he has gone from
home for fortnight If my drawing
had been successful, he would have writ
Ten before he left Try not TO grieve,
darling; it can't be helped" Jim went
On, with a sickly smile. ''We must try
else. may hear of some
hing to-day"
Perhaps there will be letter to-
night" said Mariory, with renewed ,
nope, as she babe her husband good-by
It the door.
Jim came home about six, looking ter
IDLY weary aud depressed. He had been /
lnsuccessful-oncem more. ,
''No letters yet, dear" said his wife,
fastening to answer the unspoken ques-