The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-03-28

shorter distance events is traced to
boy life is not known in this country.
week on a long, wild run across coul
bare idea Of anything amiss between the
girl and her husband ever crossed hel
mind. That he was vicious and unprin-
clped she had known. of course, to her
cost: for years. But hitherto, he had re-
Garded outward domestic dccencieS-had
pursued his evil courses away from home,
| under Il superficial cloak of decorum and
reserve. That was bad enough, although
tcr her child's sake she had put up with
It, wishing to avoid public scandal
I:ut this was intolera ble-this open, CON
tenIptuoNs f0uting OF her before the eyes
OF all the world. this barefaccd elope-
mcnt with girl employed III her own
house. And Ruth, too! She to whom
she had shown so much kindness, who
tomato. so supplemented. That she
should have behaved with this heartless
perhdy to her benefactress-oh! it was
past endurance. Alice Mabereigh, in
the bitterness Of her resentment, called
upon heaven to curse that viper whom
she had nourished in her bosom, whom
she had treated as a daughter. AS for
her husband-this was the last straw.
From that day forward she would never
have anything to do with the scoundrel
again.
On that day after the elopement she
left his house and went with her little
girl up to London. where she took cheap
lodgings in the neighborhood of Shop
herds Bush. 1t was now necessary, Of
course. that she should decide upon her
future mode of life. and she went to
talk the matter over with her uncle, Ben
jamin Barnstone. solicitor, carrying OH
business in Bedford Row
The latter. who was kind-hearted if
somewhat fussy and eccentric old bache-
Tor. was very much perturbed when he
heard her story.
The brutethe unmitigated brutc!!'
he exclaimed, rising from his chair and
tated maRner: We III there l." is sn one
thing to be sa1tl, my dear Alice. You
a divorce"
Alice shook her head. A resolutc OK
preston appeared in her pale face.
"Yon know, UNCLE she replied. what
my views are upon that subject
Yes. yes" he answered hastily; "that
may be all very we'll in theory-in theory,
you know; but in practice it is-excuse
my saying so-downright folly to refuse
those means Of desirable release which
the laws of your country offer you"
The laws of my religion forbid me to
take advantage Of it," replied Alice firm
ly.l
Il don't believe it, retorted the solicit
tor, almost irritably. Other Christians
see no harm in it,
If they see no harm in it, so much
the worse for them" said Alice; but I
have always been brought up to regard
divorce as contrary to the teaching Of
tie gospel
T''Ah! we'll, you know. your mother, my
dear sister-shc was an excellent woman;
Nowhere a better. But upon that point
50. However, if your mind is made up,
/ suppose there is no use arguing with
you
j'Not in the least" replied Alice, rcso-
lttely.
f"At any rate, You must have judicial
separa ton and a suitable maintenance"
said Mr.. Barnstone.
money! she cried. with proud determine
ton. II mean henceforth to earn my
own living. That is what I have come
t, consult you about
"Eh?" he calculated in mystifed be-
wildcrment. Earn your own living?
Not touch penny of his money? But
You have every right to it. my dear AL
ice: so has your little girl.''
II will not touch it," she persisted.
Coming from that polluted source it
would defle us both. AS I tell YOU. |
mean henceforth to earn my own living"
But how?'
Il think Of setting up in business as
dressnakcr: You know, l am clever
with my needle. And you nave little
will serve as capital to start upon.''
Only q thousand pounds, and you'll
lose all that in couple of years. know
you will. I've had to do with ladies
who have embarked on these rash specu-
lations BEFORE" exclaimed Mr.. Barn
stone.
'':ou are pessimistic. 1 mean to sue
'Pishr' fumed the solicitor. NOW is
>tlht likely? You have no experience;
nd knowledge Of business. And you will
have to make dresses for people not one
inIt ten of whom will ever think of paying
YOU. l know the sort. Ladies to whom
their own dressmakers have declined to
give further credit. They are the ones
1t is nonsense, say. You must make
your husband support you
IF you were in my place. and he had
used you 50, Uncle Benjamin., would you
tske this money!, demanded Alice.
yes. would" was the decided re-
could. 1t is the only way Of pushing
such heartless scoundrel."
"Ah! you are not woman!''
no! thank the l.. ahem! No! I'm
not. But really this is false pride, my
dear Alice. If you had no regard for
Yourself, you ought to think of your
aHis money would bring no blessing
to nv darling-only cursor cried Alice.
"There. uncle, dear. You mean very
kindly. But you cannot enter into my
feelings. have quite made up my mind.
want want you to help me look about for
anv likely little business Of the kind that
nav he in the market, and to negotiate
FOR for it's purchase in my behalf. You'll
10 this. won't you, uncle?" :.
..If / must, must" grumbled Uncle