The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-12-24
CHAPTER nj.

CHAPTER Nj.
'You had better come to me at once, dear"
said Mrs. Steel when she heard of the scene
there had been in her absence.
Dorothy lay, white and weary, on her
couch. Pierce had been bathing her fore
head with some sweet essence that made
the room smell like a flower garden.
The scene had upset her, and following it
came Pierce's cntreaty for an early marri-
age.
He had told her his history in q few words.
While at Oxford he fell in love with q
girl who was at small boardingsch
and, led away by boyish ardor, married her,
disregardng the fact that she was but a
beautiful gypsy, whom heramb;tious parents
wished to make a fine lady.
She behaved pretty well the first year,
then boy was born, whom she simply wOr-
SHIPPED. He died in a childish illness, and
instead of being chastened by grief she
seemed to be made desperate.
She sought eXcitementfar and near visit
ed her own people, and, to Pierce's annoy
ance, spent most of her time with them
when they brought their circus to Cardiff.
One member of the company was a hand
some athlete, a man Of splendid physique
and the brain of brute.
Alison was cautioned against encouraging
his attentions, but she disregarded all ad-
vice, and her foolish parents INDUCED her
in this as in every other whim.
1t ended in her husband hearing of the
Irritation, and forbidding her to hold any
intercourse with her father or any member
of his company.
After this, Pierce met his wife and her
lover in the Sophia Gardens, and horscwhip-
ped the handsome athlete and ordered his
wife home, where there was an awful scene,
which was followed by many days of es-
arrangement and misery.
When the circus went away, Mrs. Penfold
was missing.
She had cast aside her letters, and flown
away free to the rowing life she loved.
She left her baby behind without regret.
Her father, a fierce-tempered old fellow,
fancied his girl had been badly used by her
husband, so he protected her from the
wronged mans just anger, and excused her
sin.
He would have pardoned anything for the
pleasure of keeping his hansome girl with
him.
This, of course, is bare outline Of much
domestic misery that Dorothy understood
and sympathised with in all the tenderness
OF nCT nedfC.
Then came the history of divorce.
you remember my coming home on New
Years Eve, dearest, full of happy relief?
Well, that day saw the last of all trouble
connected with that dark page in my his
tory. was free.
II had settled with my lawyers about the
allowance it was my wish to make her, so
that she should have no excuse for sin. I
wanted to wash my hands Of all connected
with her, and begin afresh with the new
year, new aims new hopes.
Nov, knowing all, can you love me and
be happy as my wife?"
II cain love you all my life, dearest, but
do you think it can be right to marry a man
whose wife is still alive? That is not living
together in holy wedlock as long as both
shall live. Can anyone, in sight Of God, be
Justified in taking another woman till his
wife is dead?'
why, certainly, If she takes another
man. Pray, my pet, do not let any foolish
scruple OF fancied honor come between us.
Is your little head more sure in Judgment
than the laws of our land? Justice has pro-
nounced me free to wed afrcsh, and am
sure God did not intend woman's sin
should keep man lonely all his life. Man
was not made to live alone. Think how
empty my life is, sweetheart, and make it
replcte with JOY. Say you will be my wife
soon, as you promised. Think OF little Ally,
and your wish to help me find her. Surely
l am not to wander away alone I should
be so miserable. Speak to Mrs. Steel, she is
| good, pure woman; she will tell you her
opinion, and I am sure she will be OH my
side.'
Dorothy promised to do so, and heard
quite motherly homily from the sensible
little soul, who, as Pierce had eurmised
was all on his side.
TO BE CONTINUED.