Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1895-03-01
CHAPTER NIII-Continued.

1t was hard, very hard; but Silence was
neither hurt nor offended. "Faithful in
one thing. faithful in all" she murmured.
Claspiug botl, her hands around his arm,
she crcpt still closer to his heart; all the
trucr and dearcr bccausc even it's love for
herself had failed to dcadcn amy other
lawful tenderness.
.'Forgive me. my wife. You must not
think that"
II only think of you and of your pain"
cit must be conquered. and shall by
and by"
"Or else the tide may turn; who
knows:'
mo; | have little hope of that. My
mother las strong lrciudiccs. In one
sense she is, as they called her. IL thorough
Scotch woman. IL warm friend. IL bitter
enemy. No. no. do not give me hope of
things changing. Better let us submit to
the inevitable. 1t is inevitable now"
They walked n little way i'll sad silence,
then Roierick broke out again.
o hear what they said about
Rella's husband? Poor Bella! 1 knew
1t would come to that: i told her so. but
she wonld not believe me. She was daz-
zled. blinded. Ovcrpersuaded. Girls often
are, 1 suppose. Perhaps l ought to have
spoken out more thoroughly; but l hated
spcakins-they never would understand
me-. And then they worried me so. Still
L should have done my duty to them,
whether or no. have not liked to vex
you, my darling: but sometimes 1 have
veXcd myself for days together with the
doubt il l had really done my duty to
them all. l cannot forget them. My
dearcst-my very dearest always-you
vyN,,1t ,,,x ,",,1 49,, a., r,..A t...Gs
mo"
'Thank you!!" And then. with another
half sob. he recovered himself. Now we
understand n another quite. so let us
put it all aside. What is done we can
not undo: we would not il we could.
Blood is thicker than water-espcciully
with us Scotch-but love is beyond all
and stronger than ALL"
when it is II righteous love. Ours
would not have been such if it had made
us do wrong. We did not do wrong. We
had a right to marry if we chose. 1t
made us happy and harmed no human
being"
Firm and fearless, holding the balance
even, and as Just to herself as she would
have been to any other woman. Silence
spoke out. Her voice soothcd and
lllAt III IL IL utu ~ III
voice of his Own conscience.
you are right, as I think you always
are. After all, if it comes to the point, u
man must leave his father md mother
and cling unto his wife, and she will
clcavc to him-evcn though he may try
her a little. DO l?
Man-like. he might have wished this
fact denied: but Silence was too honest.
"Ycs. dear" and just then, as they
cnme ont of the dark wood into the noon
light. her pale face seemed to gain Il sort
of Abdiel-like look, angelic sternness min
gled With its sweetness. Yes, dear, you
do try ne very much sometimes. as no
doubt | do you-ls all married people
must. more or less. try one another; but l
love you'll love you!!"
DO you? ] often wonder why" Rod
erick answered. with that almost child
like humility and doubt OF himself which
was so pathetic. so winning.
~ love because I honor. and therefore
am afraid of nothing: because nothing
could make me cease to love. except
:easing to honor. Me. myself, you might
sorsakc. wound. torture. and If it were
for conscicncc's sake. I should accept it
all. But il | ever came to despisc you
as some women have to dcspisc their hus-
bands-pity might last. and duty: but
love would go dead out. and no power
on earth would light it UP again. But
.now-but now"
She turned to him. her eyes shining
with perfect trust-the very heart of
love. love rooted in righteousness. He
turned. too. and clasped her in his arms,
with Il passion such as even his lover days
had never felt. Then it was the restless
craving after uncertain bliss. Now it
was the deep content of satisfied union,
each finding in the other more and more
every day a perpetual refuge and rest.
MY mother told me | would soon get
over my love for you-and marry some
other woman. who would do just as well.
If it had been. and l had lost you, and
had to live all my life without you! But
now-oh. Silence! what in the world
should | do without you now?"
Without answering. she looked up Mt
MIN. q sudden, strangely earnest look.
Rodcrick. who had begun with IL laugh,
as if anxious to get back into the light
commonplace of life once moro, put his
arm round her.
care you tired? Let me help you. 1
think l could almost carry you. Lean on
ue, ulfilHs.
"Ycs. l always do"
And so. half led. half carricd-for shc
was evidently very wcary-thcy came to
their own door.
what u pleasant door it %sccrns!!" Rod
erick said. as they watched the long CLEAN
from tho parlor window across the dark
lawn. II enjoyed S%ymington. like
luxurics. as | like all pleasant things, but
can do without them. Now. there are
ccrtaia things 1 could not do without"
What are thcyy"
"A peaceful. sunshiny. orderly home.
and IL wife TO love nc"
SHE laughed mcrrily. YES. it is q
dear home. il we could only get into it."
For they had found the door fastened-a
rare fact-and had been ringing and ring
Ing. till at last Janet appeared, scared
and Hurried.
Have you been asleep, Janet? Moth
Ing wrong? No ghosts frightened you?"
snid Rolericl. kindly.
ma. ia. but the Teddy. she bode me
stock the door"
."\Nhat lady?"