The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-25
COD ~ VIOLATE IL - sH BY
MANI lLL G. H STEVENSON
Author of " Kind Hearts and Coronets,D Etc

| laid up with rheutnatics and bad to do
With; but for old Joints Rachel
hardly know how mother would l,a
managed mt. all. She was always send.
Ing IN bits OF things to tempt hei
appotite, or coming to rcnd or cha,
with her. She was In that night OF
the seventeenth that her trouble cana
upon her. sho had been reading n
mother out Isaiah. Mother always liked
bit OF Bible reading when she was
sick; and think I never heard aught
SO beautiful as Rachel's reading.
us nasty windy night for you
to go home alone, let John see You
down, he'd mebbe like bit crack
with your husband says mother, who
had grown mighty fond 81 her.
| And 30 father and Rachel went
away nome together. Strange to say,
she began to talk to him OF her hug
| her. "
~ was SO fond OF him in spite OF
all his faults she said 4 Wouldn't
give up the hope he'd come back to mo
long after I'd dressed as widow. II
seemed SO hard to think OF him dea.i
and me not by him. and was so
| wicked and weak, there were time.
when cried out against God, but He
was verp potent, very good a rock
Of refuge In the time OF my trouble.
"Ihey found John sitting in his bee
hive chair. looking very aged, for hi,
years seemed to have come upon hin,
at galiop. Rachel began to hustle
about preparing supper, whilst my
father cracked WI John. But It waa
always. Rachel what do you say?
: Rachel what do you think OF it?' AS Sc
he could frame no opinion without her.
After supper they had drawn their
chairs up to the fire. Rachel's close to
the old mans and her hand in his,
and were busy talking, when a loud
knock came to the door. Rachel opened
It, a man stood on the step. but what
with the bad light and the way ha
was muffled up. she couldn't tell VIII.
| 1t Was, and for moment neither
spokt. Then In 10 deep voice the
stranger asked II Mrs. Bold was in?'
/ Why that's Rachels first name
says old John. querulously; don't folks
know she's married me-?
! was Mrs. Bold said Rachel, her
voice shaking just a little.
And you are still says the
stranger. why. Rachel. don't you
know me? Have you forgotten your
own husband%
"At that word husband Rachel
threw up her arms with cry. and poor
old John began to tremble like a leaf.
| Rachel laughed and cried:
| what. Joe! Come back-oh. Joe
after all these years.-thauk Cod
come back. oh. Joe!'
! Rachel says old John. RACHEL!
| And 1t was all he could say.
| Rachel turned and looked at him,
and then at the other who had come
inside. and burst into the most dreadful
laughing. To hear 1t. my father said,
| fair turned him.
/ "oh. Joe. oh. Joe, I've got two hus.
bands. Oh. my God. two husbands.
| she would have fallen II the other
man hadn't caught her In his arms: and
| he lifted her on to the settle as II she'd
been babe. Then he turned freely
| to my father nd pushed back his hat.
A tall, strong man he was. with
| longish black hair. bit frizzled In
/ front, and SO altered and well-dressei
| that nobody 'ud have taken him for
that good-for- nothins Joe Bold, who
used to set all Marsden by the ears
| with his pranks.
"'What does this mean?' he asked
my father. When did she mVrry
your
Father shook his head Old John
had got up and had tottered across to
the settle and was bending over
Rachel.
Rachel. my honey, my dear. what
is 1t? Rachel. I'm an old man. speak
to me, my dear
Bold watched him.
Did Rachel marry that old fossil?'
| he asked father. and before father
could answer. he burst out laughing.
"rhc laughing reused Rachel. She
opened her eyes, looked up into old
/ Johns face and moaned.
"Old John turned to Bold:
ITO be continued To-Morrow.)