The Marriage of Esther

rstand that hitherto he had only vegetated; now he lived the life of a man who was not only a husband but a parent. The thread of his existence was a continuous one, woven and drawn in by the pink

nd blood-a veritable human, with a soul to be lost or to be saved by his influence. On the strength of hi

he love she felt for them-a difference that she could hardly account for or understand. One was of the other, yet not the other. One was a love she had in a measure created for herself; the other was nothing more nor less than herself. Indeed, their home life was now almost as perfect as it was possible for it to be. With a substantia

Ellison. If I had such a wife and son to

have changed, so much the better. I will make

willingly. You know you may alwa

k him warmly

ou have been a good f

forget it al

do you

the desk at which he had been writing, and took up some papers. "Now let u

two new divers will be here to-morrow; we shall

l intend goin

ee how things work out yonder, and what c

eans the time which would otherwise be occupied in sailing the distance backward and forward to the land station, not unfrequently a distance of some hundreds of miles, would be saved, and the luggers enabled to go on working uninterruptedly. A floating station is also capable of meeti

self away just at present," sai

I told you a month ago, I intend to put my shoulder to the wheel now with a vengeance. I think I've proved since we came here that I'

tha

a penny of that five thousand pounds. And I will deny myself no toil and no thrift that can help

t's your own money. As much y

the money I took it as a loan, and only as a loan. By God's help I will repay eve

every line of Ellison's face. He lifted his hand

brave man, and I

e you don't kn

of what I have just said. If there's any more at th

m away you will be in charge here. You understand that, don't you? I leave everything

I will guard them as if they were my

far for less. If we have much luck I ma

tful, I sh

by taking his hand, to look; then stooping she drew the mosquito netting back from the cradle head, and showed him the child lying fast asleep. Hand in hand they looked down upon the little pink face; and the one little arm outside the q

thing to tell

in the face, it is not very much. I meant to have told you before, but I've been putting it off from

-and-for-a mont

w she must be brave, and not try to hinder him from what was evidently his duty. Calling Mrs. Fenwick out to the ve

with me always," she said, when they had gone a li

u see, I must work now e

re doing well enoug

me I shall know no peace. It haunts me night and day. You would not ha

fear whatever you did,

ertain, darling, if you saw me idle, even

ly tell you beca

I want to work hard, that I may prevent

little out of our

own hand in hers, stroked it with her own white fingers. Then, looking up into his face wit

God prosper y

last of her

His own boat was the last to leave, and until the headland shut her from his sight, Ellison waved a farewell to the w

bed the pearly serenity of the ocean; the only spot of land to be seen was a tiny island just peeping up on the sky-line away to starboard. Ellison sat upon the combing of the main hatch, holdin

tion that it would be found to contain something valuable. If the truth were known, he was thinking more of Esther than the work upon which he was engaged. When he did look inside, he almost dropped the shell in amazement. Tangled among the beard, and half hidden from his sight, was an enormous black pearl, perfect, so far as he could make out, in symmetry, and larger than a hazel-nut. Trembling with eagerness, yet without allowing a sign to escape

r careful examination of the gem, put it away in a place of safety. If his calculation of its value proved anything like correct, he would now be able to pay off his debt, relieve his mind of its weight of anxiety, and start again with a fresh sh

e in the son and heir had to be described and noted. And indeed, as Ellison was only too glad to admit

having her husband with her again? She

they had adjourned to the ve

u met with, Cuthbert? I have prayed that

n answered, darling, as any

e was near to spy upon them, took from his pocket the little box which co

earl! and such a large one. Oh, this is the greatest luck that

ink enough to liquidate that debt, and l

it is indeed an answer to my praye

ree-qui

d back and laughed like his old happy self. Then, seating hi

ave chanced to be away just when I arrive

think. Cuthbert, I want t

old fellow been up to while I've been away? Making love

ou seriously; I am alarmed about him

s honest about Murkard, I'll stake my life on that. He would

for him he hasn't been able to come. I have serious

must not be too hard on him, poor fellow, he has mu

him, Murkard turned round, and the other saw his face. It was of a whitey-gray colour, almost that of zinc; the pouches under his eyes were dark and swollen, while the eyes themselv

kly, resolved not to show that he noticed the queerne

but I'm better now. I'm glad to see you back. I hope you think

ow take my arm and come in here fo

e of rope. Murkard picked idly at the edge of the counter with nervous

as been a wonder

u speak out? Why do yo

" Then aloud he continued, taking out the gem and placing it on the count

great black pearl over and over w

u will be a r

rt afresh, if that's what you mean. It's the greatest l

y heart. You'll be able to square that debt,

a new life had

we do with new lives, when we don't know how to make use of those

old man

hisper. "What's the worth of money when your immortal soul's in danger? Look at me and ans

r tale of someo

ink, upon the

e, and sworn t

tered and who s

nds, while Ellison gazed at

hat on earth's the

ously, and tried to

not very well to-day, that's all. Glad to

st go steady, old man. You're trembling like a

's only transi-trans-what the de

ning the pearl. "We must put it away somewhere where it will

fe standing in a corner of the office. A

n the lock, and swinging the heavy door open. Suddenly he jumped ba

u now, man?" Ellison

ed him back towards the other side of the hut. "Can't you see that the floor's giving way, and if we're n

-paper, and great beads of pers

s no pit to fall into, even if it did give way. Murkard, my friend,

t frightened me. But for the moment I really did think the floor was giving

e and Murkard held keys, and for the moment he was in some doubt as to whether he should give the dupl

me with my key again, Mr.

t? Of course not; there's your key? Now you jus

o mind your own business. When I want your sympathy I'll ask you for it.

him," said Ellison to himself. "This

lf to be led to his hut. Once there, he threw himself on

y do. I'll come back in a littl

there, to his surprise he discovered his wife sitting in the veranda talking to a stranger-a

roached he hea

s my hu

anda to meet him. He lifted his hat polite

e had seldom seen

sure of bearing a letter of introduction to y

coat, and gave it to Ellison. On the envelope w

sed to have the opportunity of making your acqu

s well tell you-though it will probably prejudice you against me. I

tay in Thursday Island

thinking of spending another month here. I want to

aps I can

nd enough to say he

ur company, my wife and I will try to m

ost hospitable people. I hope, if ever you visi

ays glad to see folk from the outside world. Our

to the house. She tu

e us. But I hope it won't bore you. Now I will go and prepare your room for you. Cu

plea

o take me in like this," said M

stranger was evidently a cultivated man. He looked forward to a week or so of very

ter a brief stroll. "The jungle on the hill, and the cluster of

when you have seen more of it. It is prett

men do y

ozen; most

g with a white man just now.

well enough to assist in welcoming you. By the same token, I think if you'll excuse

e door, but only the sound of heavy breathing came from within. He went in, to find Murkard lying prone upon the floor

d," he said, addressing the recumbent figure. "I shall ha

eye lighted on a hole in the palm leaf thatch. Standing on a box he could thrust his hand into it. He did so, and felt the smooth cold side of a bottle. He drew it out-an unopened bottle of Hennessey's Cognac. Again he inserted his hand, and again he drew out

hen he can't find 'em he'll probably go off his head right away, and we s

aby. He was a fluent and clever conversationalist, and by the time dinner was over both husband and wife had agreed that he was a very pleasant addition to their party. But the triumph of the stranger was yet to come. They sat smoking in the

said, after a few moments. "I feel sure you are a mu

rton?" she said, as she turn

you will perform first, I wi

lison. And his wife

ed her, and Merton rose from his cha

chest quality, his execution faultless. He sang as one inspired, and the song he chose suited him exactly; it was "Si j'etais Roi!" When he had finished not a sound came from the veranda; he smiled to himself. That silence was greater praise than any th

ove tho' given i

eath who puts

ich is sweete

sweet? Then bitt

bitter; sweet

eath be sweete

at seems not ma

t seems to make

ich is sweete

follow Love, i

ollow Death, w

llow, I follo

and tremble upon the silent air for some seconds after he had finished; the effect

her eyelashes. "I have never heard anything like your voice before, and yet

were still upon him, and he could not shake them off. They seemed in s

r channel. He had created the effect he desired, and that was

holding up her hand. "I thou

but no sound reward

husband, "or a night

t?" asked Esther. "I have not

as suddenly sat back. Ellison noticed his

s I'm rather anxious about him

t suddenl

. Ellison. I heard someone

was the voice of a man in deadly terror, and it cam

cried. "I mu

olding it aloft, he looked about him. The bed was disordered, half the clothes were lying on the floor. A moment later he sighted the man of whom he was in search. He was crouched in the furthest corner, staring wildly before him. His long legs were drawn up close to his

"I'm falling-falling-falling! Is there n

the candle and

s this mean? Pull yourself

ew himself further into his corner and

haking me, you're loosening my hold, and I shall fall!" His voice went up to a

nd fro, and next moment fell forward unconscious. At the same moment Ellison he

h him?" he asked. "Can

d a pretty bad case, I

d, I should say, and

let's

and carried him to his bed. Havi

r a minute while I send a hand acro

, I'll wa

as the door had closed upon him Merton leaned over th

is getting interesting. My friend,-what do you call yourself? Oh, Murkard-when you recover your wits again you'll ha

Ellison returned. M

you going

s. Don't you stay. Go to bed an

can be o

rta

l take your advice

d-ni

to the house Merto

ning. No, no, my friend, you and I have a score to settle befor