The St. Johns herald., 1900-05-26
hnd nethine.

At first their life was az sweet al
 the strains of love song. Practict
 came slowly, for the clientele of
 young physician always consists of in
 cura bles and patients who cannot pay
 but then, they had managed to live
 for each had owned several pieces o1
 valuable jewelry. These had been
 pawned to friends, or sold, one at a
 time-reluc:antly perhaps, yet cheer.
 fulIy-for Margaret always said: "li
 we can ony manage to stay here long
 enough, practice will come, and we can
 afford to part with these things now.
 After all they are of little value," and
 then she would twine a lock of bis
 hair gently through her fingers, look
 into his eyes with the sweet confidence
 that only true love can express, and
 press a gentle kiss upon his brow.
 Such love is priceless, and they were
 very happy, for awhile.
 But time came when money was
 needed, and there were no patients with
 credit to collect from, and there were
 10 jewels. The larder was filled with
 produce that the farmers brought in
 payment for their bills, but there were
 other things, such as clothes and house rent, that required money, and for weeks the family purse had been empty. The clouds had been gather ing for so long that heavy gloom had crept slowly but successfully into the little cottage; but one day it suddenly cleared, for letter came that seemed like special dispensation of kindness from Fate. It contained 9 commission for Dr. Girsrd Duval as physician on board the steamer -, plying between Melbourne, Australia, and Houg-Kong.
 Margaret's eyes were blurred with tears as she read 1t, for she said, aP- pealingly: "You know, Girard, that this means our separation"
 "Yes. but only for little while. dear, and it also means $1Oo per month be- side my expenses. can afford to send you $50 or $75 of it every month. and 1t will be big improvement on starv- ing along as we have done so long,"
 "But the climate Is bad. and suppose 1t should ruin your health. or. worse than that-if-" but she could not fin. ish the sentence.
 "In that case. you know. Margaret, you would be provided for; my life in. surance would take care Of you."
 Within a week the furniture had been sold; Margaret had gone home to spend Q few weeks with her family before making permanent arrangements for herself during the two years that her husband had planned to stay away. h that time. he argued. something would turn up that would enable him to take her with him. or to bring them together again in some way.
 Of course the parting was hard. but Margaret suffered keenest, for while her seif-sacrificiug, womanly spirit could love. with the saw-toothed whir of poverty buzzing in her ear, threat ening any moment to cut of her exist- ence, it was not SC with her huA;~ad. l iirard had spent his money lavtAnly in college. depending on his diphpsna | 10 pull him through afterwards. but the | intermediate stnge of starting he had | never figured or, and now that he hat | some to the end Of his financial ropt l ae was unhappy. He loved his wife put not to be able to support her as h, lad expected to do hurt his pride, ana ,e was glad to get away.
 After many weeks the letters begar o come. If Margaret had felt the ieas pit hurt at her husbands anxiety t 70, her fears vanished after reading lis letters. They were full of the samt ove and devotion of their honeymoon lays, and though the separation was evere sacrifice, Margaret lived only il he thought that he was prospering ant hat one day they would be brought to yether again.
 For months Girard's letters were ful 'f enthusiasm and good news. but on, lay the tears gathered in Margaret yes as she laid down his last letter Eight months of tropical climate ha< ,een too much for him, and Girard'i lealth was breaking. After that eacl etter was an evident attempt to spar, Ter feelings ard 10 be cheerful ID ine of gloom, and not many mon weeks proved it, for one day 8 cable ram announced his death. Then camG
 letter from the captain of the ship vith few words Of consolation, ont rom the United 6tates consul stationed t the port where Girard had died, aut Ater his mail and other possessions Tere returned to her.
 The $1o.00o life insurance was col ected, but Margaret's heart wal roken. She cared for no one and foI othing but Girard's memory, so shs ought the pretty little cottage where heir married life had been spent; fur ished it as nearly as possible the way was before, and even trained the ,orning glories over his office window 3 that they would shade his desk jus7 3 they used to do. Margaret's devo on was beautiful. For 20 years sht ved in the quiet little town, leaving ow and then for short trip abroad ut always returning 10 the shrine ei ] CT affection. Her devotion was the { 'arvel of the community, and the lit. e village was proud of it. for halo oI omance rested upon her head. and beic ] er aloof, in aweEome reverence, fror l ,e rest of the world. 1 But one day the little eop1nunsy as startied. A stranger man was seer