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

least painful. To act brothers part to-
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 to his pride, but to
his sense Of honor. Yet to thrust her
from him into hopeless misery was worse
than cruel, dangerous, knowing her tene
permanent, which was to escape from pres
ent pain as foolishly as 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 and responsible for any
brother, being himself man and hus-
band.
frederick looked at 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 unseparated
joys, and divided cares.
Bella" he said, in 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 Hsunder.'"
"But God did not join us; it was the
devil, 1 think" she answered, with bit.
ter laugh. "And If all other help fails,
the devil shall help me to get rid of him."
what do you meanW
"Never mind. Wait till Tn driven des-
perate. am nearly already. If only 1
could tear OFF this" She took hold of her
marriage ring and made as though she
would throw 1t into the fire. ''If at any
price, at any cost, could be Bella Jar
dine again, and never more set eyes upon
that brute, that fool, that"
"Hush!" said Silence, "He's baby's
father"
"Ah, that's it-that's the misery.
don't hate my child. | did Mt 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 to claim her. Oh, Rody, what
must do? what can l do?"
1t vas, indeed, a piteous strait. The
one false step, marriage, uncOnsecrated by
love, almost as great sin as love uncon-
secrated by marriage, had brought its
own punishment with it. The young pair,
to whom these things appeared as a
CHASTITY nightmare, scarcely comprehen-
sble as daylight reality instinctively
drew closer together, while they regarded
the hapless woman who had, as she truly
said, no future. A loathing wife, an UNI
thankful mother, what future could she
have, either in herself or in "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!
81 know very little about these things"
said Roderick, 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 your
child; think, too, of your mother~
While using this argument he knew its
futility. Whether from disposition or
circumstances, Bella had always been
that rather rare character among women
"a woman who thinks only of herself.
With a perplexed longing for help, for
counsel, her brother turned to the other
woman beside him.
w Iul uuCb Aug WlLG
81 don't care what she says--whNt any
body says" cried Bella, violently. II have
no love for him; l never had. 1t is sim
pie question of money If run away,
how am l to keep myself and the child?
She says-that voice of wisdom there
that if leave him ought not to accept
a half-penny from him. Very WE'LL get
mamma to maintain me, or else I'll main
tain myself"
"How"
II don't know or care. 1t may not DO
for long. He will drink himself to death
one of these days"
Rodericl turned away in horror, but 81.
lence laid firm, stern hand on her SIS
ter-in-law's arm.
Zone word more such MS that, and wO
will neither of us help you"
Bella shrunk into submission, even q lit
tie shame, then burst into piteous en-
treaties.
CTo be continued.)