Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1895-03-08

least painful. To act a brothers. part Co.
ward his poor sister he did not shrink from;
but to aid and abet a runaway wife in
concealing herself from her husband was
most CALLING, not only tN his pride, but to
from him into hopeless misery was worse
than cruel, dangerous, knowing her TEN.
permanent, which was to escape from pres.
ent pain us foolishly us a child does, at
any future risk and cost. The medium
course, to come boldly forward and insist
upon the separation she desired, was
equally difficult md responsible for any
brother, being himself a man and a hus.
band.
Roderick looked Mt his own wife, grow
ing closer to him every day, in the mu.
tual dependence which so gently and
naturally replaces passion, and gives to
both that ineffable rest, of un%separated
joys, and divided cares.
Bella" he said, in n moved voice, "do
you know, my dear, exactly what you are
doing. or wish to do? Remember what
your Bible says: What God hath Joined
let no man put a%sunder.'"
"But God did not join us; It was the
devil, l think" she answered, with a bit
ter laugh. "And if all other help fails,
the devil shall help me to get rid Of him"
what DO you mean?"
"Never mind. Wait till I'm driven des-
pcrate. l am nearly already. If only I
could tear off this" She took hold of her
marriage ring and made as though she
would throw it into the fire. eff at any
price, Mt any cost, l could be Bella Jar
dine again, and never more set eyes upon
that brute, that fool, that"
"Hush!" said Silence, Hes baby's
father."
"Ah. that's it-that's the misery. I
don't hate my child. 1 did at first, but
not now; it's nature, I suppose. Besides,
she is my child, all that 1 have of my
own; and cven that is half his, if he
chooses to claim her. Oh. Rody, what
must l do? what can I do:"
1t was, indeed, a piteous strait. The
one false step, marriage. unconsccratcd by
love. almost as great Il sin as love uncon-
sccrated by marriage, had brought its
w punishment with it. The young pair,
10 whom these things appeared as a
CHASTITY nightmare. scarcely comprehen-
siile as Il daylight reality. instinctivcly
drew closer together. while they regarded
the haplcss woman, who had, as she truly
said, no future. \. loatlins wife, an un-
thankful mother, what future could she
have. either in herself or in ''tllc world"
fer which she had sacrificed so much and
gained SO little?
What could she do? AS she put the
question her dcspairiny eyes supplied the
answer. Nothing!
II know very little about these things
said Roderick. sadly; but l believe there
are two ways of parting mai and wife
by divorce, enabling both to marry again.
and by judiciai separation. But, OH! the
pain. the scandal of it! Think of your
child; think, too. of your motllcr!"
While using this argument he knew its
futility. Whether from disposition OF
circumstances, Bella had always been
that rather rare character among women
"a woman who thinks only of herself.
With n perplexcd longing for help. for
woman beside him.
"What does my wife say?"
II don't care what she ~says-what any.
body says" cried Bella. violently. 81 have
lit love for him: 1 never had. 1t is a sim.
pie question of money. If 1 run AWAY,
how am l to keep myself and the child:
She says-that voice of wisdom there
that if | leave him l ought not to accept
Il Hitii-pelius from llLu. very Well. gel
mi to maintain me, or else Ill main.
tain myself"
"How?"
II don't know or care. 1t may not he
for long. lie will drink himself to de,t,,
one of these days"
Rodcrick turned away in horror. but 81.
lcncc laid a firm, stern hand OH her sis.
tcr-in-law's arm.
Zone word more such as that, and we
will neither of us help you."
Bella shrunk into submission. even a lit.
tie shame, then burst into pitcous en-
| treaties.
CTo be continued.)