Year: 1878

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There was no choice in the matter, and
Will Phelps was forced to return to the city
without his wife. Although he would not
listen to her few plans for the future, he
made one proposition to her, and after much
pleading she consented to do as he wished
to make the separation temporary and with
out publicity. She would remain at the
old homestead with her fathers house
keeper; he would return TO his business in
the city; at the end of six months, or as
soon as either desired to effect a reconcilia-
ton, he would come to her, or she would go
ito him, as the case might be; as either might
feel inclined, letters would be written, but
there was to be no conpulsion or surveil-
lance. In making this proposition Will said:
Maggie, think you are perfectly justified
in pursuing the course you have.
have done wrong; L acknowledge as
much, but 1 believe can in
time prove to you my penitence." :"
These words brought the glad light to the
young wife's face. ''Then, Will, will go
home with you. 1 can trust you forever
after this. You must take me with you"
can not conceive why these words OF faith
and forgiveness should have been unpleas-
ant to Mr.. Phelps, but they nettled him,
perhaps because in reality he was playing a
hypocriticsl part, as he feigned a sorrow he
did not truly feel, or ne did not want his
wife to think that he was true in his ac-
acknowledgements of his faults. "You should
never have doubted me. A jealous wife is a
contemplate creature, and she degrades her
husband as well as herself by her suspicious.
did only what all men in society do, 1
nirted alittle, and you assumed an air of out
ragged dignity and virtue, and accused me Of
baseness and neglect. 1 married you; that is
sufficient proof that cared for you" "And
did 1 not marry you, Will? Did L not give
up the shelter of my fathers home to go
trustingly out into the unknown world SIM
ply because / loved your Did 1 not put
aside every affection and memory of my
girlhood, and live but for you and to please
you? Have I not been true? And yet


would you excuse me to-day for even the
slightest variation of wifely loyalty, because
married you, and thus give an evidence of
my affection for you. Will, 1 can not
tell why it is sin for me to do wrong, and
nothing for you to do the same" You do
not understand the laws of society, Maggie.
1t is no harm for me to do thousand things
one of which committed by you would con-
denim you to social ostracism. The world
has different code for woman from that
which governs a man" "Well, then, ap-
peal from the code of the world to the law of
God. We promised mutually to cling to each
other, TO forsake all Others to be true and
honorable. Is not that as binding upon you
as upon me?' "What have done?' "You
love another. That is enough. And with
that knowledge, obtained from your own lips
as you told the story to her whom you love
can not be your wife another day. Mar
riage without love is unhallowed, and j can
not longer consent to be in disgrace and
agony what had hoped to be
in honor and love-your wife, But some
times, VIII, there will come moments to
each of us when life will hold but one de-
sire-to be again united. You will ever be
my husband, for love you. You have even