Year: 1878

The days and weeks went by without
change, save that of deeper sadness in the
heart of the lonely wife. She lived life of
re .irement, but the moments were filled
with deeds of kindness and charity. Out of
her own sorrow she saw the suffering of
others, and she brought light to stricken
souls though still she sat in darkness. After
few weeks no word came from her husband,
and though she heard sometimes in va
rious ways of his welfare, directly there
came no word for her. She had answered
each of his letters, had tried to hope that
perhaps she would again be happy, but she
saw too plainly at last that she was an un-
loved wife. But she could have cherished
faint spark of trust and confidence had she
not been convinced that instead of her hus-
band desiring her presence he was entirely
Indifferent to her fate. One day, some
months after their separation, she longed so
tenderly to see him that unable longer to
control herself, she went alone and unher-
aided to the city. She knew Will had given
up the old home and was boarding for he
had written OF his purpose to do so, and had
sent her a few articles that had been presents
to her. She went to an old friends and
there she heard the worst. Her husband
had told a few of his friends his desire to be
legally separated from her. But not even this
had power to check her overwhelming
desire to see him, even though she spoke no
word to him. 1t seemed to her as if leaving


the city without beholding him would be an
utter impossibility. She knew that even


then he was arranging for divorce from her
on the plea of desertion, but she still loved
him, and she could not bid him good by"
even though it was a SILENT voiceless fare
well, without the greatest anguish. Her
friends were true and tried, and they pitied


her lonely condition, though not even to
them had she told the unfaithfulness of her
husband. She would spare him that, though
in consequence of her silence she was harsh
ly judged by society. She sometimes thought
perhaps she bad been too quick and hasty in
her action; that perhaps If she had waited
and hoped and prayed she might have won
his heart from its wanderings back to
her. She loved him so tenderly that
she could have forgiven him had
he come but half way in a reconciliation. AS
a last hope she wrote him a note to come to
her friends to see her. He came, but so
cold and passionless that Maggie saw in a
minute her mistake, and regretted that she
had allowed love to carry away the dictates
of her reason. He told her of his inten-
tons, but asked nothing in regard to her
future. He proposed to go to Europe and
travel some years, and, in fact, he could not
tell whether he should ever return or not.


81 have made deposit to your credit, and
have also decided the house to you" You
mistake; can not accept either. As your
wife was proud to have you confer on me
these favors, but. now all is changed. I can
not and will not accept single dollar
from your hands. 1 will have enough for
my few wants, and I hope soon to earn


something. 1 will not IN any way interfere
with YOU in getting divorce, but,
OH viii. this is so hard,'. but
she spoke only to herself; he
left the room when she commenced speak.
ing tenderly to him. In a few hours all that
he had ever possessed OF hers was sent to her,
with the exception OF q tiny gold ring that
she had put on his finger when they were
married. With breaking heart she left the