North Park union., 1900-10-05
cHAPrER vIII.-tCoutinusd.)

CHAPTER vIII.-tcontinusd)
Nj ~ strietsst purist % the earth
eogaA mytl u his writing 70 her. Al
- aslt-fhat u. fron his hsart-so -
vrets - her;
NJ OwA. Joyce: I an breaking ny
ssaf.sMD6sed rssoaution to tell you that
] an Ioaying Hnglsnd for Australia %
ths .CoAAss. which sails next week.
cannok lfve this life any longer. Do
yoa know I come out at night Just TO
Iook 1t The house that coutains you!
TAsrs b no Joy for anything. and
aN afraid Of breaking down undsr the
strain. I must work. sweetheart;
Aase do something. IAfe IL too hard
Joyes, do mot wish to see you again.
II saw you again l should never
Isavs you; bat must hear from you 70
knoW II you are we'll, dearest. ought
70 ~ to you that you should try and
forget me. and be happy with soma
other man. but cannot II 10 tTs-
asodous selfshness on my part: but II
veaA kill me II you were to look At
aAothey man. But II 10 not for that
] aA WritinG. but to tell you I am
leaving. Your own ALAN.
Whsa Joyce received this letter she
sat Suits ssill for . little time. She
felt - 4 her heart must break when
she thoaeht OF Alan. She knew what
his unrsst meant; she knew that II II
were possible that he could lay his
bod against her SHOULDER. and feel her
hand upon his brow. all his troubles
would vanish. But this might not be.
Never again could they go through the
asoay Of another parting. never again
woald they look into each others eyes
and 80 what It was costing them to
walk the path Of duty-the only way
for them. But she-she must look
upon his face again. She would go
down to Southampton. and then she
would try and get a glimpse OF his
dear face. 90 that s.,o could see for
herself how he looked.
She told NO one of her project. 1t
was not wise thing to do. but 1t was
. thing she must do.
Veronica was resting In her room;
the boy was with her. Now she had
q nurse for him, and she had 4 pretty
house and all comforts; but she looked
moro haggard than In the old days.
when she eked out q miserable exist
encs by teaching. Then there WAS
something to live for. now she had
nothing.
she heard tap at the door that
made her tremble. Hutchinson had
been . frequent visitor lately-since
she had been prosperous. His visits
always left her poorer and sadder. She
did not mind the money. having a
childish ignorance on the subject: but
she did mind the way he spoke OF
Alan. She prepared herself for battle
when she heard his knock. He came
in. looking more bloated and excited
than ever. Lately he had drank very
heavily. Today he was sober enough
but he looked more angry than he had
doAe Of late.
$50 that fellow thinks he is going
To elude met" he said. as he came into
the room: but he makes mistake!
Veronica turned pale. She knew be
was speaking OF Alan. and that he waa
threatening him.
whist do you mcan?" she asked
hoidiy.
DO you mean to say that you don't
know that that precious husband oi
yours means to sail In the Condor or
Friday! dare say he wants to de-
sert you, and to go on with that Other
voman!"
ALAN would not do that" said vero.
Mica, quickly. However much he and
she suffer, they will do nothing
wrong"
Il dare say he Is saint" sneered
Hutchinson. well. he will have 4
chance Of going to heaven quickly. fol
I've sworn to do for him, and this Il
ny last ehance!"
Veronica listened. Hutchinson hat
spoken like this before. and It hat
come TO nothing: still. 1t was possipl,
tAat he might be desperate now. HI
Locked It. and II he meant mischief
to Alan she must warn him. Not .
hair OF Alan's dear head should fal
By this mans hand. Still. she knew
thaa she must not let Hutchinson sus
pect that she was on the alert.
80 he sails on Friday!" she sait
quietly. From Southampton. is 1t not
He wrote to wish me good-by."
ut will be longer good-by than h.
knows Of" said the man. Lend m,
two pounds. Veronica"
Veronica hesitated. He might b
asking for money In order to kill hel
husband; but she had often lent hin
money before. so she rose slowly anc
went to the writing table and took II
out.
'I suppose he has made a settlement
upon your" he asked. with cunning
leer. And poor Veronica. falling into
the trap. answered.
Yea"
Then its all right" he said. ant
went out.
Veronica spraug up from her chail
the instant the hall door changed afte,
him. She knew he meant mischief &c
Alan. She kissed her boy many. many
times before giving him In charge oI
his nurse. She WAS always 10th to lei
him out OF her sight; but today sht
almost felt As II she would never loot
upon him again. AT the same time sht
felt strangely happy. for 1t seemed y.
IL at last she were able to do some
thing for Alan.
Alan had taken his seat in the trair
without thinking much Of .eaving Eng
land, It had ceased to be home Il
him; he thought he might be happier