Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-03-29

"A good wife is better than riches,
but poor wife turns heaven into hell.
| am sure your uncle would not have
the property preserved at the risk OF q
sacrifice" the doctor said, a little
doubtfully.
''She is very much too good for me, in
any case," Stanton said, taking out his
watch-a legal trick which rarely fails
to distract the attention. lnvolun-
tarily DIR. Borden looked 1T his own
watch, and his thoughts turned upon
the time.
1T is 1925, Robert he said. ''Too
close to the last moment. Too much
like a death-bed repentance. But we
can make it by taking carriage direct
~ to the house. Have you the papers
ready?"
Stanton handed him the Brooklyn
permit. He glanced at it and said:
esther Thorndike, Brooklyn. It's a
good name, Stanton. Whatever there is
in name I don't know, but there's
something; and that is good one. But
don't seem to remember it. Where
does she Eve?'
"She attends DR.. Atwood's church, -
Stanton replied, with some hesitation.
He was not an expert al answering
questions, especially when he had some
thing to conceal, and from the doctor S
tone it was evident that if he knew the
facts his assistance would be doubt
fui.
''Yes, but her home?" DR.. Borden said.
There was wild cry forward. Some
one was overboard; and it was not sur
prising that Stanton's first thought was
of Esther Thorndike.
Instantly leaving the doctor, he
pushed his way frantically through the
ladies' cabin till he found her, and,
laying a trembling hand upon her Shout
Ger, said:
THANK heaven! I was afraid that it
was you, and that had driven you to
it. I've been blind to every interest but
my own. want youto ask whatever it
it, and a great deal more, if can, and
we will let this miserable business drop
right here" t-..
II am not troubled, sir" she replied,
quietly. 'Unless you are afraid to
trust me, the end that you wish to ac-
complish is worth more than any sac
rifice which I am making, and ought
not to be abandoned.'
Afraid to trust her-to trust Esther
Thorndike? In his present condition
that idea struck him as so unjust to
the woman before him that it instantly
threw the other thought from his mind,
and he exclaimed: "Of course 1 trust
YOU"
"Then we will carry out your PLAN ~
she said; and as the excitement forward
became intense, they turned their at
tention towards it, and for time Meth
er spoke.
Some poor creature had gone into
that icy water in search of the friend
ly hand of Death; but he was dragged
out again at last and carried in triumph
into the opposite cabin, to be forced
again into the miseries whence he had
tried to fly.
"a life saved. A grand omen for
those about to marry" DR.. Borden ex-
claimed, coming upon the two. And
this is the lady? thought So. I've a
great instinct. I congratulate you
heartily upon your husband. I've
known him from baby. He's of the
salt of the earth. I've congratulated
him already, for Esther Thorndike is
a grand good name. When know you
better shall congratulate him again.
But, Stanton, I must have a word with
YOU"
'Don't hesitate, doctor. Miss Thorn
dixie understands the predicament,' -
Stanton replied, quickly, touching his
companions arm to prevent her turn
ing away; and for the instant he re-
allied thrill of pride and satisfaction
in the thought that she was there and
that she understood. He felt safer than
when he was alone with DR.. Borden.
He remembered it afterwards.
"It's only about the worldly side of
this matter, Robert" the doctor said,
hurriedly. "a good wife is more than
a thousand fortunes. You will be am
ply the gamer; but I'm afraid you will
have to let the fortune 60. You see,
we ran with the tide after the drown
ing man, and have drifted against the
New York piers, we'll up the river. 1t
will be some minutes before we get
out, for we're wedged behind a long
tow. 1t is now only II minutes before
H."
Stanton put his hand to his forehead
and staggered back.
In the last four-and-twenty hours
his mental and physical being had been
tortured and dragged about in most I'M
accustomed ways. He had been ready
to yield of himself, but to be driven to
it at the last moment was too much.
Esther Thorndike called him TO him
self by gently touching him and ask
ing:
"Why shouldn't we be married right
here?"
CHAPTER vi.
"Marry lls here. DOCTOR" Stanton