North Park union., 1900-09-21
CHAPTER VII.

| Veronica's face was as haggard as
Alan's. The blow had been SO crush
ing, SO unexpected-that he had not
seemed glad to see her. that his heart
mad not leapt out to her, as hers did
to him. that his eyes did not rest for
one moment upon the boy. was bad
enough; but that there should be an
other woman in her place! oh, that
was anguish intolerable, At last she
spoke. You love her, Alan?" she
asked.
Better than my life!" he answered
passionatnly
"Oh!" She gave a little shudder.
Then will go and leave you to your
happiness" she said quietly. Its the
only way-the only way. l will take
our boy and go!"
But you cannot go!" he groaned.
Il made you my wife. Veronica. and
as long as you live you will be my
wife, although my heart and hers may
break"
II break your heart?" cried Yer
onica. why, l would give my life
happy for moment II could help It,
l love you as much as in the old
days, Alan. before the shipwreck. oh.
why was l saved?"
He looked at her, and poor Veron-
ica's heart failed her. There was no
love in that look. All the love Of
Alan's heart was given to Joyce.
rhar 1N,,t
love. When woman loves a man
she can soon see the difference. He
could not say that he praised God that
she was saved. and he did not. Tell
me about it," he said mechanically.
If she talked he would be able to
think what it would be best to do for
her. But as for him, the despair Of
his heart almost choked him when he
thought that in about half an hour
he must pull down that beautiful fab
ric Of their lives, must ruin Joyce for
ever! He could scarcely think of Ver-
onica in his overwhelming agony;
but she spoke, glad to see his inter-
est.
Il was washed in shore, into a
candy bay. Alan. l had gone through
the anguish of dying; but when the
people found me they brought me to,
but the shock had been too much for
me; / could not remember anything.
And then in about five months baby
was born, and then 1t all came to me
slowly | was i'll and weak and could
do nothing; l could scarcely think.
ut lac ,.yho 7 tho laffarS
were sent back to me. and | heard a
rumor that you had gone back to Eng
land. was penniless. l did not
know IL you wanted our marriage ac-
knowledged. SO l did not write to Mr.
Dempster; but as my strength re-
turned my courage did also. l began
giving singing and guitar lessons.
People were good to me. l worked
hard, and at last scraped together
enough money to take me in sailing
boat to England. | hate the sea. l
was afraid of it; but you were there,
and came. But it was year before
| could find anything of you, and
should not have found you at all but
Hutchinson told me he had seen you
and had spoken to you
when did he tell you that?'
Two days ago But he told me
that be had seen you two months ago.
and you had spoken of me. You had
told Itim we were married, Alan,
which he had not known. He tracked
me home from a music shop, where
they get me music lessons; but l can
not tell why he delayed"
But Alan could. Hutchinson, in his
cruelty, knew that it would be the
ruin of Joyce's life as well as his own
IL this marriage with her could be
consummated first He knew Hutch
inson hated him, SO this was his re-
venge
He tried to think OF Veronica, but
it was of no use. Joyce's image came
before him whenever he tried to think
of the poor girl who was his wife.
The little boy, also. was looking at
him with his, Alans, own blue eyes,
which were so great a contrast to his
curly dark hair. That these poor
creatures. dependent upon him for
love which he could not give, troubled
him.
Veronica he said at length will
YOU go back to where you live and |
will write 20 you when | have seen
| herr"
"The wife you love-" asked poor
Veronica.
Yes" said Alan. will you do
that? You know that you can trust
I me-"
"Of course" said Veronica, simply.
! II will do what you say always. 1t
is misery to me to think that have
made you so unhappy, when l thought
| only to make you happy
MY poor girl" he said, deeply
touched by the contrition in her tone
and by her sadness, you would have
done very wrong if you had not
/ come"
She gave him her address and left
him. When she had gone little way
from him she took her boy in her
arms and hugged him fiercely. HE