The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-09-06
A QUESTIONING,
:. ROMANCE q REALITY,
BY MISS ANNIE EDWARDS
CHAPTER v.
Continued.

well-worn purse, containing such slen-
der savings from the proceeds Of the
poultry yard and dairy as We're legiti-
mately hers to give. Daphne's bus-
band must not go away from them in
anger, nor feel hurt by her Offering.
1t was a little loan that, ii his cash
ran short, might prove useful, and that
be could return when things were look
ing brighter. She wished him all sue
cess; was confident he would meet
with work if he sought for it in ear
nest, and and, meantime, would he
promise to write home faithfully, for
Daphne's sake?
Well, reader, for a moment, Barry
Chester hesitated. To accept Aunt
Hostess money was an action that, even
to his conscience, suppose, bore an
unpleasant resemblance to the robbery
Of child At all events, he hesitated.
Then-the good moment passed; he
thrust the purse away into his pocket;
muttered some incoherent words about
pride, about i'll fortune, about speedy
repayment, and, without looking into
Aunt Hosie's face, was gone.
1t was probably the most foolish ac-
lion Of Henrietta yansittart's life; yet
was 1t one Of the follies that have
sweet taste in the memory. In the
dark days to come this was the soil
tary moment, out Of her whole. inter
course with Barry Chester, to which
Aunt Hosie could look back unpained.
With her ready promptness at distill-
Ing the soul OF goodness out Of things
evil, she remembered, not that Chester
accepted, but that he hesitated to ac-
cept her gift, and from this frail prem
lse argued that self-respect, that honor,
might have come to light still in that
lost heart.
IF life had been kinder to him"
This was an unfailing apology of Aunt
Hosie's for ill-doers virtually past the
pale of apology. I'VE women, whose
portion lies in sheltered places, know
so little of the fierce temptation that a
man has to withstand. If life had been
kinder to himr'
Life pressed with piteous harshness
upon Daphne from that day forward.
No tidings Of Barry Chester reached
Fief- de-la7Reine for more than fort
night; and long before the expiration
of that time the import of his abrupt
departure had become matter of COM
mon talk even among the world OF
fisher-folk in Quernec Bay. He had
flown, not from his wife alone, but
from his debts, Of honor and otherwise.
Fin Short so, tardily. he wrote to
Daphne, his return to the islands
was impossible. She might write, if
there could be any good be failed to
see it--in such correspondence. Let
tiers sent to a certain address, Lon
don, would be forwarded to him. But
b, must beg her not to look for con-
giant replies. If anything in the shape
Of improved money prospects befell
him he would let her know fast
enough And not one word of affec-
ton, of regret at leaving her, Of in
puietude about her state. The letter
might as well have been written to
Miss Theodore, to one of his creditors,
to any Indifferent man or woman on
earth as to her whose love followed
him night and day, whose thoughts
were one prayer for him, whose pros
poets. for evil or for happiness, were
bound up irrevocably with his until
death should set them apart!
Her heart was crushed; her faith
fulness stood the shock bravely. Poor
Barry was an idle correspondent, just
that. AS soon as there. was cheerier
news to communicate his letters would
grow longer, and she, oh, she would
cure herself perforce, Of this foolish
habit Of fretting over their separation,
and be content. AS to the stories set
afloat about him by wicked tongues,
Daphne believed none Of them. When
his prospects frightened his creditors
would be paid, Of course. A poor two
or three hundred poundsi What was
this to a man Of Barry's talents, Bar
ry's resources? Give him time to look
about him for employment, time to set
going the interest of his friends, and
nll would come right. Meanwhile
Meanwhile, when the early clouds
Of cherry and hawthorn lay white upon
the hillsides, Paul opened his blue eyes
upon the world. Daphne, as have
said, had stood up resolutely at first.
Her heroism ended now. With physi-
cal weakness came reaction from the
moral tension of all the past unhappy,
sleepless weeks. and twas long before
the doctors could pronounce, or Aunt
Hosie believe her to be out Of danger.
She spoke of her husband in her de-
lirium only, not asking for his pres
ence; she looked with dull, unwelcom-
ing eyes upon the child. Alas! and
worse was to come. When, at last,
her pale lips did murmur Barry Ches-
ter's name, with what response must
she be met? How could it be broken
to her, family struggling back from
the stiffness Of the dark valley to the
pain and glare iof living, that he had
deserted her forever; that the tiny
baby who lay upon her breast was
worse than fatherless2
Twice only had Mr.. Chester written
during Daphne's illness, in the first
letter acknowledging, without note or
comment. the news of his sons birth,
In the second coolly announcing his
own departure for America. His at
tempts at finding work in England,
the promises Of friends. interest that
he thought could be relied upon-all
had proved empty. At the present mo-
ment. after paying bis passage money
to New York (where he would most