The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-11
1--WE were discussing divorce"

SalnCieu my IOrceS together tnaC
might read her countenance. Not that
1 needed to do so In order to inform
myself what side had been hers in the
debate. Child of the Romish church
that she was, one could scarcely be in
doubt as to what her attitude would
be towards that great point in ethics
upon which depended all my hopes of
future happiness. But felt constra.n-
ed to look at her with much the same
vain and morbid curiosity which
prompts the condemned to seek to dis
cover beneath his mask the features
of his eXecutioner. And so / turned
my miserably inquistive eyes upon her,
wondering that a doomsman could look
so fair and gentle, while, with the trick
of stagecraft that long practice has
taught me so readily and efficiently
to employ, I made feint to smile lightly
and to respond to Allan's information
with admirable compoSure.
And who was pro and who COM"
/ asked, as smoothly as 1 could, you.
Lisa, Were-?" L paused, for / would
have her express her own sentiments
without aid or suggestion from any one
else. 1t was time indeed, that l learnt
her views. How could / have gone on
building my castles without reference
to her approval of the architecture?
How, in the very endeaVor to overcome
one strong conventual prejudice could
l have remained Indifferent to the
probable existence of a far more vital
one?
Her sweet face grew grave and wo-
manly. One could see that there were
stern and strong principles supporting
that lovely temple of youth and inno-
cence. She hesitated a second before
replying, but when her answer came
there was no sign of indecision or I'M
certainty in it.
fI1r
unrighteous and Ubiquitous institution"
she said, simply. How could it be
otherwise, mOther?"
How indeed? Cuckoo like had plac-
ed an embryonic embryo Of a wo-
mans mind-in an alien nest, and now
saw with horror and chagrin that it's
development had been in harmony
with the characteristics Of the foster
parents.
L raised my eyes to the face of Rich
ard Quintard when she had finished
speaking. If I had had pity at COM
mand for any one then, he should have
had it all. But I had none-despair
only. The thing was as plain to him
as to me, and our eyes, meeting, con-
fessed our mutual comprehension Of
the one wretched, unalterable fact. Our
cause had been tried and lost in an un-
expected moment. The verdict of a
child, uttered not lightly, but with no
slightest suspicion of the consequences
it entailed, condemned US to pay to the
uttermost farthing the costs of our suit
against happiness. All, the costs!
1 withdrew my glance from his bag
gard one of protest, and struggled with
the awful sinking at my heart suf-
fictently to compel my attention to
take in what Allan was saying in re-
ply to Lisa.
''You will see things differently some
day, Miss Mavis," he was saying. mo
man or woman should be obliged to
remain yoked to another who is moral
ly corrupt. The idea is hideous, intol,
cradle, and you will come to accept the
idea of the new dispensation, I am
sure"
"a man may separate from his wife,
or a woman from her husband, without
the interference of the law. Lisa re-
piled, and the color deepened in her
cheeks. She looked rarely lovely, for
the delicate nature of the subject she
was handling, together with her eager
ness to show herself firm adherent
OF church ordinances, had unusually
excited and reused her, and her sensl-
tive face was ever the mirror of her
emotions. Was it in order longer to
indulge himself with the enjoyment Of
the extraordinary luster excitement
had given her beauty, or because he
really hoped to change her views, that
Allan continued to offer fresh argu-
ments against her scruples? 1 cannot
say, but at all events he pursued:
That is true, certainly But without
the intervention of the law neither
party could marry again.
At that Lisa rose impetuously and
confronted him.
Marry again. exclaimed she, holly.
Marry again! How should they, in
any event? A man takes a wife for
better or worse. A woman takes a
husband until death do them part.
Let either marry again during the
lifetime of the other, and no law made
by man can sanctify the union In the
sight of Christ
There was an instant's silence,
while at the name of the Lord she
crossed herself The stiffness in the
room was like the reverent hush of a
cathedral at the elevation of the host
Then Richard came forward, passed
the child, and took my hand. l rose
mechanically and allowed him to draw
me aside. There was a look of pro-
testing apprehension in his grey eyes,
and his face was drawn and white.
Good God! You won't let this make
any difference, Pauline? Mere child
ish babble and nonsense!" he added
fiercely.
For the space of a heartbeat I
glanced up at him, and my breast
heaved and my lip trembled This was
the end, then! I must not see him
again, since it was forbidden US ever
to marry. My eyes chung to his face
as the eyes of a wife hold to the fea-
lures of her husband before the cas-
ket-lid hides them for ever from her
sight. Oh, I cannot write of that mo-
ment! 1t was no interval, but the
beginning of a term whose anguish
has never diminished.
1 gripped his hand hard, and laid
my other upon it. Then, dropping
it, or almost throwing it from me,
I motioned him imperiously to go.
do not come again,'I cried-"ever."
"Pauline!'
mo" My tone was firm and per-
mitted no contradiction. 1--WE have
tried living in a castle in Spain. It's
foundations have given way under u.s.
Co."
(To be continued)
$2-ST. PAUL &c DULUTH II. R.-S2