The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-03-07
redomina-t spirit Of the family.

prudence, but petty. worldly wisdom lug
been mt the root of Bella's morr''
Those who had the making Of II. VII
they not on the same principle do ,ba:-
best to prevent its being unmade, In
felt sure his mother would. Anvtbir'
everything, she would sacrifice rail.
thar be talked about" as the worl,
would talk, if there was a public senara
ton between Mr.. and Mrs. Thomson
two people who. in their own opinion ona
that of their respective families, held sunh
ii very important place in society.
He knew his mother and the rest wor,,
view the catastrophe. as they had vie,cni
the marriage which resulted in it. sololr
from the standpoint Of society. No bict
or law that what the world would thinl
and say ever act,sated or guided them. In
old times he had dimly guessed this
sccondarily and chiefly by its effect IN
his silent. patient father; but now. wben
he himself came to mans estate. md
viewed things with his own eyes, he saw
it clearly.
Still, this affair was, as all such cases
are. most complicated and difficult: and
in it Rodcrick's own position was not tba
least painful. To act a brothers part 10.
ward his poor sisterhedid not shrink fsm.
but to aid and abet Il runaway WIFI
concealing herself from her husband was
most CALLING. not only to his pride. bur IN
his sense of honor. Yet to thrust bo,
from him into hopeless misery was Worse
than cruel, dangerous, knowing her tom.
permanent. which was to escape from pres.
cnt pain as foolishly as a child does. ot
any future risk and cost. The medium
course. to comc boldly forward and insist
upon the separation she desired, was
equally difficult and responsible for any
brother, being himself u man and a hus.
band.
Roderick looked at his own wife, grow. |
ing closer to him every day, in the mn.
tual dependence which so gently and
naturally replaces passion. and gives 10
both that incffablc rest. of unseparated
joys. and divided cares.
Bella" he said, in Il 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 asunder.'
but God did not join us; it was the
devil. | think" she answered. with IA bit
ter laugh. And if all other help fails, |
the devil shall help me TO get rid oi linn" |
What do You mean"
"Ncvcr mind. Wait till I'm driven des.
pcrate. | am nearly already. If only |
could tear off this" She took hold of her
marriage ring and made as though she
would throw it into the fire. IF at any
price. nj any cost. | could be Bella jar
dine again. and never more set eyes upon
that brute. that fool. that
Hush" said Silence, Hes babys
father"
All. that's it-that's the misery. |
don't hate my child. | did at first, but
not now: it's nature | suppose. Besides.
she is my child, all that | have of my
own; and even that is half his, if he
chooses 10 claim her. Oh. Rody, what
must ! do: what can | do!"
1t was, indeed, Il piteous strait. The
one false step. marriage, uncOnsecrated by
love. almost as great Il sin as love unc0n-
Secratcd by marriage, had brought its
own punishment with it. The young pain,
TO whom these things appeared as a
CHASTITY nightmare. scarcely cOmprehea-
Sihlc as Il daylight reality. instinctiyey
drew closer together. while they regarded
the hapless woman, who had, as she truly
said. no future. A loathing wife, an I'M
thankful mother, what future could she
have, either in herself or in 1.-THE world
for which she had sacrificed so much and
gained SO little:
What could she do? AS she put the
question her despairing eyes supplied the
answer. Nothing.
Il know very little about these things.
said l;odcrick, sadly: but | believe there
are two ways of parting man and wife
by divorce, enabling both to marry again
and by judicial separation. But, oh. the
pain. the scandal of it.. Think of YOU
child; think. too, of your MOTHER"
While using this argument he knew ls
utility. Whether from disposition OF
circumstances, Bella had always been
that rather rare character among women
a woman who thinks only of herself
With a pcrpleXcd longing for help. for
counsel, her brother turned to the other
woman beside him.
What does my wife say?"
Il don't care what she says-what any
body says cried Bella, violently. IL have
no love for him; | never had. 1t is a SIM
pie question of money. If run away,
how am to keep myself and the child
She ~says-that voice Of wisdom there
that if leave him l ought not to acceW
Il half-penny from him. Very well; s'
mamma to maintain me, or else I'll MAIN
tain myself"
How"
i don't know or care. 1t may not D
for long. He will drink himself to DEAN
one of these days"
l'oderick turned away in horror, but p
fence laid a firm, stern hand on her SIS
trr-in-law's arm.
one word more such as that, and We
VIII neither of us help YOU"
Bella Shrunk into submission, even III
Tie" shame, then burst into piteouS en-
treaties.
CTo be continued.)