Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-02-24

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THE only bad news that can
hear is that something has happen
ed to my husband" l gasped.
The man bowed gravely, the
other burst into tears.
Tell me the worst, while can
listen to you" said |.
There has been an explosion in
the laboratory" said the calmer
man.
mot killed! not killed. | Shrek
ed wildly. Wounded, but not
killed.
They only knew him by the
dress he always wears" said the
older man. II know what you are
suffering; I've been through the
same thing-think of the children
-yours--his."
But | thought no longer of any
thing. My senses deserted me, and
they took me to my desolated home
unconscious. There opened my
eyes upon the faces of my sister-in-
law and her two brothers-they
Mortified me. In their expression ]
read no real grief, only an affectation
of it. They had descended OH the
place like harpies, hoping to profit
by their brothers death.
They began their attack at once.
On the morning before the funeral,
the elder of the men, William, came
to me as my servant was clothing
me in my black garments, and
without waiting to dismiss the girl,
stood before me, his fingers inter-
laced and his thumbs pressed to-
gether in a fashion all his own, and
inquired:
well, now, what are you going
50 do?"
ITO do?" said |. II don't know
what you mean"
You've got to 60 somewhere
you know" said my brother-in-law
'you might as well think of it."
This is no time to talk to me,
said I. Il hope I shall 60 to my
grave. How can live without my
husband? Oh, Charles, my darling
Charles, my darling!'
Anyhow" said William, "yo,
can't come downstairs; the mel
folks will be enough. Sister Am
will stay with you, not to be to-
pointed-but, considering you can
appear
II will make no effort" said
thinking that after all he had onl,
expressed consideration for III,
health in an awkward manner.
I'VE can't disgrace the famil,
at such time" said William. w,
have always been respectable. Tn
kind of relation there has been be
tween you and him was his affai
while he lived, now it's ours"
What do you mean?" | gasped
THAT we don't think you cal
prove that you were ever his wife,
said William.
The servant stared at him in as
constituent.
mot his wife?" l gasped.
Then the remembrance of oul
marriage OH the deserted island by
a clergyman who died that very
night, in the presence of witnesses
who had vanished from my ken,
occurred to me.
never dreamed that my wife
hood could be doubted; but | had
no proof, no proof whatever. Ann
entered shortly, locking the door be-
hind her. Twas forbidden to offer a
token of respect to the man loved so
fondly. My children came to me.
Cast upon my pillow | held them to
my bosom, and we wept together.
Ann, grim and cold, maintained
her conposure throughout.
The next day | heard that no will
had been found, and that my simple
statement that ! had been married
to Charles Chester was Of no avail.
The only thing that could have
established my position as his wife,
his introduction of me by that title,
failed me.
MY husband had some detestation
Of ceremony, and got over his intro
auctions easily; his usual form be-
ing:
"Helen, this is Mr.. or Mrs. So
and-so." He had even introduced
me to his family in this way, saying:
"Well, Helen, here We are, all to-
gether. This is Ann, that is Will
lam. and young fellow over there is
Jim. He was poor mothers baby"
Oh, they knew well that | was
his wife. 1t was their greed of
gold that led them to deny it.
One day they stood before ne,