Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-05-23

very clever one; and baby's mother, her
grand silk dress replaced by n soft wooden
one of Silence's-the two women were
nearly the same height-sat by the parlor
fire. Idle, certainly-Roderick remember
ed how Bella would sit for an hour
"toasting her toes" with her hands before
her-but apparently quiet and content,
He went up and kissed her with brotherly
affection, saying something about his
pleasure in having her in his house.
"Then you'll not send me back to mine ?
You did not telegraph to mamma as you
said you would"
mo"
"Nor writer"
"How could l write to my mother?"
said Roderick, with n mixture of pride
and sadness. "No; whatever is done, you
must do it, not l. We will talk of it af-
ter dinner" For he saw that Silence
had given herself the unwonted trouble
Of late dinner, just to make Bella feel
things more like her own ways" 1t was
little matter, but it touched the young
husbands heart. While he sat talking to
his sister his eyes were perpetually follow
ing the fitting figure of one who never sat
still-never knew what idleness was till
she had done everything for everybody.
"That wife of yours makes me so COM
Portable" said Bella benignly. "And she
is so clever SO inventive, really quite a
treasure in small household. In mine
now, never could do anything myself as
she does. 1t must be very pleasant"
"Only, perhaps, very fatiguing. My
wife, come here and rest, just for five min
utes." And as he kissed the tired face
he felt sure that the comfort" which
Bella so enjoyed had cost Silence some
thing.
Dinner passed, and the half hour after
ward, during which Roderick tried hard
to admire his new niece and to make
things as easy and cheerful as possible
with his sister. When Silence-always
Silence-had put baby to bed, the three
gathered round the cozy fire, listening
to the howl of the wind and the patter
of the rain outside, which only made most
peaceful the deep peace within.
What quiet, pleasant life you must
have here, you two" said Bella, with a
sigh.
They looked at one another and smiled.
"And are yon so very poor? What do
you live upon?"
First there is Blackhall. Then, my
wife has her income which cousin Silence
left her, and earn mine. We put the
two ogether-marriag should be a fair
partnership"
"But it is not" broke in Bella; at is
mere slavery, unbearable slavery. Oh,
that mine was ended! Oh, that were
freew
Roderick took hand of his wife and
sister. "Let us have n little talk together,
and face our position, which is not an
easy one. Bella, what do you mean to
do?"
81 don't know"
"Then what do you wish me to do?"
II haven't the slightest idea. But, oh,
Rody, why bother me, when l am SO
comfortableW
Just the old Bella-easy, pleasure-loving
dwelling only in the present moment,
acting entirely on her impulses, Of which
both the good and the bad ones were
equally transitory. There are many such
women, who please n great many men
as she had done; who generally find some
one or other to bear their burdens for
them, and go through life, as she ex-
pressed it, quite Comfortably" But as
RodericI looked from one to the other of
the two beside him, he thought-no, he
loyalty refused to think-but he instinct
lively clasped his wife's hand tighter in
his own. Small as it was, and tender,
that was the hand for q man to cling to,
ay, and lean on-as, soon or late,me must
lean on women when trouble comes.
Bella" he said, earnestly, "do you at
all understand"
II understand that l am henceforth
what is called a grass widow" inter
rupted she, with reckless laugh. "Mam-
ma must keep me, or give me my money,
and let me keep myself. My husband will
never give me half-penny. And Silence
says ought not to ask him. She has the
very oldest notions, that wife of yours"
Roderick pressed the hand he held.
"Have you two been talking together?"
"a little"
"And you have told her everythingW
Everything-made q clean breast of
it. A pretty story, isn't it, Silence? But
it's at an end now, thank God, said Bella
setting her teeth together. Even a worm
will turn at last"
"Shall you not go back to your husband?
that is, if he will take you backY"
"Trust him for that. He knows on
which side his bread is buttered; all the
Thomsons do. They were glad enough
to catch me, bright, clever, pretty girl
yes, was both clever and pretty once, my
dear--to be a sort of caretaker or keeper
over him; he needs keeper when he is
drunk. And wife is the best sort of
appearances. Thomsons as
well as Jardines would do anything in the
world to save appearances"
Roderick made no answer. He knew it
was true. The sight of his sister had
brought back the memory of many boy
ish struggle, quiXotic as vain, against the
spirit of the family-a fami-
ly in which the first question that arose
was never rs it right?" or us it wrongY'
but only 'Is it eXpedient"
This law of expediency, not righteous
prudence but petty, worldly wisdom, had
been at the root of Bella's marriage.
Those who had the making of it, would
they not on the same principle do their
best to prevent its being unmade? He
felt sure his mother would. Anything,
everything, she would sacrifice rather
than be talked about" as the world
would talk, if there was public separa-
ton between Mr.. and Mrs. Thomson
two people who, in their own opinion and
that of their respective families, held such
q very irnnnrtn Mt nlnnn in ancintr