The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-02-15
CHAPTER xII.-(Cntinued.)

CHRH
Never mind about the other man.
He was handsome then, in way, and
he had money to spend, and he liked
me. He wanted me to marry him. If
IL the other, the one that went away
had written / never would have
thought of such thing, but he didn't
write. And, my pride bein' hurt, and
all, finally said yes to the second
chap.
We'll. for the first year 'twa'n't so
bad. Not happiness exactly, but not
misery either. That come later. His
people was we'll off and he'd never
worked much of any. He did for a
little. while after we was married, but
not for long. Then he begun to drink
and carry on and lost his place. Pref
ty soon he begun to neglect me and at
last went of to sea afore the mast.
We was poor as poverty, but l could
have stood that; did stand it. took
in SEWN and kept up an appearance,
somehow. Never told a soul. His
folks come patronizin' around and Of
fered me money, SOS l needn't dis
grace them. / sent 'em rightabout In
a hurry. Once in a while he'd come
home, get tipsy and abuse me. Still
I said nothin'. Thank God, there was
no children; that's the one thing I've
been thankful for.
"You can't keep such things quiet al
ways. People are bound to find out.
They come to me and said. Why don't
you leave him. but wouldn't. l
could have divorced him easy enough,
there was reasons plenty, but l
wouldn't do that. Then word came
that he was dead, drowned off in the
East Indies somewheres. l come back
here to keep house for Sol, my broth
er, and kept house for him till he
died and they offered me this place
here at the parsonage. There! that's
my story, part of it, more'n | ever told
Twin soul afore, except Sol"
She ceased speaking. The minister,
who had sat silent by the window,
alphabetically listening or trying to lis.
ten, turned his head.
Il apologize, Mrs. Coffin" he said
DULY, you have had trials, hard ones
But"
But they amt as hard as yours
you think? Well, l haven't quite fin
lshed yet. After word come Of my
husbands death, the other man come
and wanted me to marry him. And
wanted to-oh, how | wanted to!
cared as much for him as ever did
more, l guess. But l wouldn't
wouldn't, though 1t wrung my heart
out to say no. / give him up-why
cause l thought had duty laid or
me-"
Ellery sighed. 81 can see but one
duty he said. THAT Is the duty
given us by God, to marry the one We
love-"
Keziah's agitation, which had grown
as she told her story, suddenly flashed
into fame.
rs that as fur as you can see?" she
asked fercely. Its an easy duty
then-or looks easy now. I've got 6
harder one; it's to stand by the prom
Use gave and the man married"
He looked at her as If he though
she had lost her wits.
"The man you married." he replied
why, the man you married is dead"
NO, he amt. You remember tn,
letter you saw me readin' that nigh
when you come back. from Come-Out
ers' meetin'? Well, that letter wa
from him. He's alive. Yes, he's alive
Alive and knockin' round the worl,
somewheres. Every little while h.
writes me for money and, If l hav
any, send II 70 him. Why? VIII,
cause I'm a coward, after all, guess
and I'm scared he'll do what he say
he will and come back. Perhaps yor
think I'm a fool to put up with 1t
that's what most folks would say
they knew 1t. They'd tell me | ough
to divorce him. Well, can't, cant
/ walked into the mess blindfolded;
married him in spite of warnin's an,
everything. took him for better o
Tor worse. and now that he's turne,
out worse, l must take my medicine
/ can't live with him-that can't do
but while he lives III stay his wifi
and give him what money can spare
That's the duty told you was laid OF
me, and it's a hard one, but / dom
run away from It."