The Eddy current., 1899-04-22
MY POOR WIFE.

BY J. P. SMITH.
CHAPTER XvHI.-IContlnuod.l


II made cautious inquiries, and
found to my surprise that my misor-
able identity was quite lost had
given no hint. uttered no name during
my stay there. that would lead TO dis
covery. learned that the clothes
wore when taken up by the police
were mere rags OF the coarsoat. most
loathsome kind, and BIT OF soliod pa
per bearing the namo elizabeth
Thompson found In the pocket OF the
dress served aa my certificate Of bap-
y tism, and 20 Elizabeth Thompson re-
mained to all who met me during
those seven years. Whom and how my
clothes we're changed and stolen a.
they undoubtedly were don't romom-
Der. After three years was dis
charged as cured and. as ! had shown
some oapabllity for nursing during an
epidemic that visited the asylum.
kind nun who had charge OF the Cath
olic ward offered 20 Get me a place rs
attendant IN n hospital, whore ! re-
malnod some time"
And you never thought OF me
never longod to see me- 10 know how
/"
She laughed bitterly. as she waved
the eager interruption aside, with q
gesture Of pain.
Never thought OF youl An. you
will never know how you Allied my life,
can never understand what felt--and
suffered knew you must believe mo
dead, and knew the best thing for
your happiness. your peace OF mind.
was 10 let you remain In that belief.
struggled 10 keep Rway from
you, 20 learn nothing about you;
but when nursing a patient whom
casually heard had lately been In do
armestio service in the neighborhood OF
Colworth, ! could not resist the temp
tation Of questioning her. From her
| learned, Paul. that Mr.. Dennys OF
Colworth was married to Miss Stop
4 ford, with whom he had inherited n
large fortune that he was very happy
and prosperous and the father OF three
beautiful children.
This news allayed all my doubts.
drove every lingering spark OF hope
and happiness from my future. I
begged the reverend mother who had
procured mo the place In the hospital
90 accept me as nOYlce; but she hest
tated for some time, knowing OF the
taint In my blood. However. after
couple OF years, seeing no sign OF a
relapse, and getting very favorable
opinion of my case from the asylum
doctors, ] was received into the con-
vent and on application allowed TO
Join the mission going 60 New Zea-
land
1--WE were 10 have sailed next week,
and as the time drew near a terrible
rostlessness came over me. q longing
so intense 20 breathe the air you
breathed once more. that felt I
Vcould never be n useful and contonted
servant of Heaven unless my longing
were grat!hed. | appealed 10 the rev.
orond mother, and she with her usual
goodness gave her consent | arrived
at duhk that-thet blessed night, in
tending only TO say a prayer for You
and yours at the cross preserving my
memory, and then steal away as had
come
"At the station I saw your brother
accidentally. believing him TO be you
his features are wonderfully like
what yours once we're found 10 my
utter bewllderment, and think relief.
that my love was doad-cOmpletely
dead, that Edith's husband was moth
ing 10 me.
II wandered out, ponderlng the
meaning OF this discovery. and saw
you stretched across my grave. AZ
the first sound OF your voice. at the
first glance into your worn altered
faee-ah, beloved, knew that was
not free, and could never be. no mat
ter what gulf divided u.s. tried 10
save you as ! thought-to leave youj
but-but-"