The herald., 1898-12-11

fell from her lips" He didn't speak
one word all that afternoon, but re-
mained in his study with the door
locked. He wrote a lot of letters. One
was to me. In 1T he said he intended
to leave the ministry for while and
go away from me forever. He never
wants to see me again."
THAT is sufficient grounds for a di-
vorce-under the claim of desertion.
can arrange it for you promptly and
quietly
II thought it might be DONE" said
the woman humbly, but I was afraid
you would not help me after / treated
you as I did. l thought a lot of you
| and counted on marrying you till he
got to staying in the house; then-oh,
got very silly. l thought 1t would be
nice to be preachers wife, and be re-
spected by the people, do good deeds
and never sin again"
Good deeds on fifteen thousand doll
lars of stolen money!" asked Bates, his
| heavy brows running together.
Don't say that" said Mrs Murray.
But that reminds me of another point.
1t kept me awake all last night After
what Mrs. Wittekind said about my
having confessed to Tabitha about the
will l was afraid it might revive-cause
them to take up the case again"
| "Undoubtedly." returned Bates calm-
ly. "Old Jeff Harris said this morning
that he was going to write to Hal
| Menefee and his sister and apply for
the management of the case; he is q
pretty fair lawyer, too"
The woman shrugged her shoulders.
"Then I shall have to go to court?"
II can get you out of that, too, If you
,t.;11
get your divorce, and when you have
waited long enough. You know how
impossible it is for me to give you up"
How could you help me?" asked the
woman evasively.
"Forestall Harris, and write to the
claimants at once that you are willing
to relinquish the property in question.
You might say that no will was made.
but on investigation you find that it
was evidently your husbands wish for
them to have it and that you release 1t
willingly"
The woman's lips parted.
would you advise that? Could they
gain the suit?" she faltered.
mo, the proof is insufficient. could
make it appear very reasonable to
jury that you were not confessing to
Tabitha Bogsworth when Mrs. Witte-
kind overheard you, but that you were
merely teasing her-playing on her
feelings. A confession like that Is not
in accordance with your general char
acter for shrewdness"
"Then, why give up the-the prop
erty?" asked the woman wonderingly.
Because love you; have loved you
it seems to me nearly all my life and
, can not get my consent to marry dis
honest woman"
but you, yourself
II know, but 1 have myself decided
not to be dshonorable again. 1t won't
pay. I cut Mrs. Spriggs and Hal out
, of their rights by my advice to you,
and if you had not made their loss good
[ would have done so out OF my saw
! ings. AS 1 said, dishonesty won't pay.
1t has not paid you. If I had been as
, even as honorable as that preacher you
: would have married me. You turned
against me the day I became your ac-
complice, and I was guilty of that sim
ply to save you. That is really the only
real dishonest thing I ever committed"
+ when you talk like THAT" replied
the woman, in a softened voice, ut
n makes me respect you more than ever.
{ Oh, do so want to be good!"
e The face Of the lawyer glowed with
tenderness.
IF I can make you see the Joy Of
8 correct living, shall be happy man."
he said, land 1 am sure can."
: "But where shall we live?" asked
Mrs. Murray.
Here" replied Bates with decision.
Public opinion will take turn when
It this property is transferred and we are
q married"
e '"There is one sin for which I can
never atone" sighed the woman, and
- she covered her face with her hand; sit
f is the sin against that boy. I ought
v never to have allowed him to care for
n me-"
u THAT is the greatest of your SINS"
!, answered the lawyer, ''and am glad
you realize it,
:. THE END