Year: 1878

Immediately, and march right home
with mem


All, If had been as wise then as |
now think I am, I might have man
aged differently. But 1 was afraid
Of Gerald; and was yet young, aud al
most wholly inexperienced in husband
managing.


Had then known what I now know,
and consequently viewed facts as I now
view them, should have said, "Where
is your home, Captain Grey ?" And /
should have decided that owed him no
allegiance, and would acknowledge none.
Had he not left me and my babes to
starve? Was he not responsible for the
dreadful Disagreement Of my baby Ger
aid? And was l not justified in snap
ping my bonds


But these thoughts did not occur to
me then. Ionly realized that was his
lawful wife, and as such must obey him.


On our way back to my hotel that
night inwardly prayed to God with all
the fervency Of which my soul was
/ capable to strike my husband dead.
could see no relief or release for me save
in his destruction; and il wishes had
killed him, could have donned a wild
ow's weeds the next day and carried out
the farce of pretended sorrow beautifully.


But it was not so to be. l have no.
ticed, through all my later years, that
the answer to a prayer depends alto
gether upon the nature Of the prayer
/ itself.


My husband was needy and destitute.
/ Like many another man who has left
his home to seek his fortune, while his
wife, left behind, has been the one TO
make it, he had failed in every attempt
to amass a competence. He was broken
down and dispirited, aud in all the wide
world there was nobody over whom his
perverted nature might tyrannize save
his own family.


Oh, that fearful night How my
woman soul shrank from the dread en-
counter with the infuriated, jealous
monster; for he was naught else in half
an hour from the time he had met me
on the balcony at the ball My chill
I dren screamed at sight OF him, aud Ger
aid well nigh fell into spasms. But he
did ut become too deeply intoxicated
to understand his legal advantage over
me-


whats yours is mine, and what's
mine is my o,rn g' he said, exultantly.


And be determined at once TO make a
sale on the morrow and dispose Of his
effects, so he could remove me and the
children from the evil influences Of a
mighty deadfall like San Francisco.


was as one from whom all hope had
fled. saw the fruits Of all my toll dis
sipated by breath. l saw myself le-
gally deprived Of liberty and PROPERTY
without due process Of law; and there
was not in the world redress for me, or
the smallest hope Of justice And was
in his power, too, in other and nameless
ways, from which l would have gladly
given my life to escape.


stole away for little while to cur
tanned corner Of the tent where l could
be alone, and invoked, as never in my
life before, the tender SYN pathy Of the
plying Christ. And I think realized
that the Crucified One was my elder
brother, who, like me, had drained the
deepest cup Of affliction, and yet, "as s
sheep before his shearers, was dumb, Sc
he opened not his mouth" But for th,
consolation Of the Christ principle,
must have died that night.
Baby Gerald moaned aud tossed il
his fitful slumberings, aud his wors,
, than baby father snored at last, in tb,
, heavy cultural manner Of the hopeless
inebriate.


After long while my husband ros
5 from his couch and left the room, nut
= tering. l covered my bead with tn


blankets and quaked in mortal agony
= Presidently l heard q noise like th


friction Of striking matches. Isupposel
r he was-trying to light his pipe, aud GOV
; cred my nostrils to escape the perfum
= of the smoke.


, To this day do not think he mean
= to set fire to San Francisco. He ha


nothing to gain and everything to los
by it; but be was drunk, aud he did il
( To be continued.l