Smyrna times., 1890-01-15

child you have aided and abetted in dis
honoring mel''
Then the door slammed and was
alone.
Twenty years Of married life, and the
very first quarrel followed by a separa-
toni l drained that cup Of bitterness to
the dregs. For weeks I heard nothing
from my daughter, and for twelve long
months not a word from my husband.
The coloners lawyer took charge of all
financial affairs, and my comfort was
strictly attended to. In this respect
there was nothing to find fault with;
but, Ohl the utter bleakness and barren
ness of my lifel How plainly the whole
past stood out before mel
During all the years had spent with
Francis Lee, had never once asserted
myself. By entire conformity to his
wishes and implicit obedience to his
will, I had managed never to come in
contact with the angularities of his inn
petuous nature. My love for him had
kept me entirely passive, allowing my
husband and my master to rule me as
absolutely and imperiously as ever a
dOmineering king ruled over the weak
est of his subjects. To be sure, love
kept the chains from clanking, but they
were there all the same; and now they
cut into my very soul. The first ray of
light that penetrated my gloomy home
was a letter from Marion.
"Do not grieve any more about this
unfortunate business" she wrote. 81
say, do not, because such grief is wicked.
You have done no wrong. Let that
thought comfort you first of all; and
then do try and be happy in the thought
of my happiness. Archie is gaining
strength every day-in fact, he is almost
well; and he has received an order to
paint picture for one of the wealthiest
men in the whole west. He is to be paid
splendidly for it, and we are SO happy
about it and everything else. God only
knows how glad l am that 1 went to my
husband in his misfortune. He lust
needed me; and together, dear mother.
we can do anything paint pictures,
write poems and get rich, perhaps; who
knows? Father will come back to YOU
before long, and we shall evermore be a
happy family. am sure of it,"
Much more my darling wrote, and every
line infused fresh strength and courage
into my veins. AT the end of the year 1
visited them at their temporary home in
California. Orders for pictures had been
crowded upon Archibald so fast that they
had found it necessary to move to a
more public part of the city of Francisco
and were then boarding at hotel One
day, after dinner, Marion, who had re-
turned from short shopping excursion,
burst into the room where Archie and I
sat talking, with face pale as that of a
corpse.
Come with me, SOFTLY" said she, in a
whisper. "As true as live, have this
moment seen father in a room lust down
the corridor. The door was open a wav,
and, as passed, | saw him sitting in a
chair with his back toward me?"
But, perhaps" l answered trem-
blingly, lit may not be he".-
Gomez she interrupted, gaining con-
tdence as she saw my excitement. 81
guess l know father. Come! Wen sur
prise him."
''But, Marion"-
mo butts. 1 tell you to follow ME. IF
ever mans back expressed sorrow and
inconsistencies and remorse generally. nv
fathers back did, as 1 passed it a mo-
ment ago."
She led me out of the room and
through the corridor, and never once
halted until she had thrown the door
wide open, and finally pushed me in.
Marion and Archie followed. A second
more and had passed around the chair.
and was kneeling before my husband.
"Effie!" said he with shout Of iov
you here? God be praised!'
"And can you l was going to saw
forgive, but he interrupted me.
Don't say that word to me, EAie
Leer'
But the children, Marion and
Archie?" l stammered.
'Oh, yes" he smiled, ''the childrenl
Where are they? have nothing to for
give even there. l wonder if they can
ever forgive their obstinate old father!s
Then Archie and Marion came for
ward and the past was blotted out.-Sun
and Voice.