Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 201: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

192 THRICE WEDDED. seen much of suffering, but I trust all is over now, and that the future has only blessings in store for us.’ Ralph turned again to his mother, seated himself by her side, and took her delicate hand. in his. She smiled a sweet, fond smile at the caressing toaek: and clasped her other hand over it, then turning to her husband, began her tale: “My life has been a dreary one indeed! When I returned to our home, Alfred, and found your letter, or what I sup- - posed to be yours, and also that the only proof of our mar- riage was missing, | could not do otherwise than believe you false and heartless, as your cruel words indicated. “I believe I was der anged for awhile, for 1 remembered nothing for several days after. Finally, I went to my brother Kalph, and questioned him. “I knew he never had liked you, and had never felt the same toward me after I married you; but I was not prepared for the fury and abuse which burst forth upon my ~ defenseless head, when I asked him if he knew anything about your sudden disappearance. He answered affirm- atively, saying he knew you were a vile and unprincipled man; that he had warned me against you in the beginning, but I had chosen my path in life, and now must walk in it; he would have nothing to do with a nameless outcast like myself. “T bore all meekly until he hinted that you had fled to the. arms of another; then with a shriek of agony I took my child, and I too fled! _ “JT eared not where I went, so that I hid my shame and sorrow from familiar and prying eyes. My brother, glory- ing in my anguish, had already blazed the story of your de- sertion around, and | left the place, leaving no clew by which they could trace me. “IT sold my jewels, which, though few in number, were rare, and realized sufficient to take me abroad; and I went to Naples. There for a year or two I lived quietly with my baby. He was myonly comfort, for I shunned acquain- tances, and lived wholly by myself. «Finally he sickened, and I feared he would die. For weeks [ watched him, siving myself no rest, until the fever turned, and I knew he would live. Had I lost my idol then, I think I should have taken my own life; existence ~ without him would have been such a burden, I prayed as comicbooks.co