Year: 1877

suppose, To tell me that you nave hrIhi' ged everything for our final separation, Have you found your month of freedom so sweet ?'

 "IIeaven forbid, my dear wife l' he answered, earnestly What you arc pleased to call month of freedom hus been month of wrelched loneliness and remorse for the nasty, angry words that hurt you so, and that l never meant. And, Camilla, should sooner contem plate suicide than n final separation from you. Both are impossible, what ever may have said"

 The fair woman shuddered, remem- bering him who lay in his suicidal sleep beneath the smiling Summer sea.

 You said that you had ceased To love me; that you were glad to get me out of your sight, aud you hoped il might be forever" she said, emphasizing every word. "Is it possible q man and gentle man can say anything so cruel unless he means 1t It would be far more merci- full, Ralph, for you to sleadfastly abide by those words now, than to persuade me to forget and forgive them, and then just as begin to believe anew in your love and kindness, to repeat them on the first trivial occasion. Better tear my heart out and grind it beneath your heel and have done with it than to wrench it out by piecemeal through tagging years. 1 had Father have small steadtast love upon which l can cling and rely, than hot stormy passion that brings one day surfeit of caresses and the next tornado of senseless vituperation,

 Ralph Kenwick flushed painfully and gulilily His hot nasty temper had been his bane always, and none knew it better than he.

 My dear wife," he pleaded humbly "If you will trust me again will try to conquer this fault that has made our welded life so unhappy. l can't be a saint all at once; but think if you will be patient with me darling 1 may be worthy of you after time, Will you not come to me again, and be once more my own loving, forbearing wife ?"

 II cannot" she cried in an agony of emotion they tell me there is blood on my hands"

 "What do you mean, Camilla have l driven you mad, poor soul by my injus- tice ?"

 She crept into his arms then, broken and weeping bitterly, gasping out the tragic story and fatal endiug of her Sum- mer Irritation.

 "Poor child !' he whispered caressing her tenderly; poor child, the blame was mine after all. You were too beau tful to be left alone in such a mad and bitter mood without my protection Never speak nor think of NJ. Chariot again. Come with me to the beach, and let the breeze from the surf bring back your spirits"

 II hate the sea-" she said, "the sight and sound of it will accuse and accurse me so long as shall live"

 He kissed her, and, arm in arm, they went forth, crossing Wild Rose Cliff on the farther side, and stroling up the beach toward where fishers hut and luminous boat house arose in d dark jag ged mass against the blue-green waves With their'sringe of foamy surf.

 What picturesque picture p observ- ed Ralph, pointing toward the spot where on the sand in the foreground they saw a boat drawn up and overturned, and sitting upon it petite form, scarlet shawl draped about her shoulders, her dark hair flying in the wind and lover reclining at her feet.

 "Why, love. isn't she your maid, Min on ?" asked Ralph, giving Camilla his glass.

 The fair woman gazed through it with eyes wild with eagerness.

 1t is she, indeed, , she cried and that is Antoine Chariot with her. He is sav- ed. Oh, my Ralph, once more I can look in your dear face---an honest wom. an.

 Impatient were their hearts and foot steps as they trayersed the slvery space of distance between them and the two who seemed too happy to hear or care for their coming.

 Presently Ninon looked up, her pretty infantile face as radiant as star.

 .sOh, monsieuIi Oh, dear madame r