The Delta independent., 1913-02-28

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. Pret-
ty soon he begun to neglect me and at
last went off to sea afore the mast.
We was poor as poverty. but l could
have stood that; did stand it. took
in sewin' and kept up an appearance,
somehow. Never told a soul. His
folks come patronizin' around and Of
fered me money, SOS / needn't dis
grace them. l sent 'em rightabout in
a hurry. Once in while he'd come
home, get tipsy and abuse me. Still
| 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. ]
could have divorced him easy enough,
there was reasons plenty, but ]
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 l kept house for him till he
died and they offered me this place
here at the parsonage. There, that's
ny story. part of it. more'n I ever told
a i:vin' soul afore, except Sol"
She ceased speaking. The minister
ell hy ha I'M
alphabetically listening or trying to lis
ten, turned his head.
'T apologize. Mrs. Coffin" he said
DULY. "you have had trials, hard ones
But"
But they ain't as hard as yours,
you think? Well. haven't quite fin.
ished 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;
wouldn't. though It wrung my heart
out to say no. l give him up-whyi
cause / thought l had a duty laid on
me-"
Ellery sighed. 'T 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 flame.
rs that as fur as you can see?" she
asked fiercely. 'ft's an easy duty.
then-or looks easy now. I've got
b,r I'd hv ha
Use | gave and the man | married"
He looked at her as II he thought
she had lost her wits.
The man you married?" he replied.
why. the man you married is dead"
No. he amt. You remember the
letter you saw me readin' that night
when you come back from Come-Out.
ers' meetin'? Well, that letter was
from him. He's alive. Yes, he's alive
Alive and knockin' round the world
somewheres. Every little while he
writes me for money and. II ! have
any. ! send It to him. Why? Why
cause I'm a coward. after all, l guess.
and I'm scared he'll do what he says
he will and come back. Perhaps you
think I'm fool to put up with It:
that's what most folks would say IL
they knew 1t. They'd tell me ought
to divorce him. Well. l can't. can't.
walked into the mess blindfolded:
married him in spite OF warnin's and
everything. ! took him for better or
for worse, and now that he's turned
out worse. must take my medicine.
can't live with him-that ! can't do
but while he lives I'll stay his wife
and give him what money l can spare.
That's the duty ! told you was laid on
me. and It's a hard one. but | don't
run away from It,"
She stopped short; then covering
her face with her apron. she ran from
the room. John Ellery heard her de.
ITO he Continued)