The Two Wives; Or, Lost and Won

the quick attraction of another. Not a moment did he hesitate, on gaining the street, but turned his ste

s thoughtful of the company ventured to make on the appearance of Ellis in their midst-for, to most of his friends, it was no secret that his wife's uncertain tempe

ce of what had occurred early in the evening was present to his thoughts; and, still beyond this, a remembrance of how he had been received on returning a

rtain lecture! There now! I'

is pocket, and lighting the former, placed it betw

ilkinson has alrea

He remained only a few moments after they retired. Then he turned his steps again homeward, with a clea

ed through his mind as he m

rong in me, I know. Very wrong. But I can't bear to be snapped, and snubbed up, and lectured in season and out of season. I'm only flesh and blood. Oh dear! I'm afraid evil will come of it in the end. Poor Wilkinson! What a

is night-key, he applied it to the latch; bu

y; the loud and continued ringing of the bell sounding in his ears where he stood on the doorstep without. A little while he waited, and then the ringing was

mpatiently from his lips. "If I

over the door. Then he perceived the distant shuffle of feet along the passage floor. There was

id the servant, "or I wouldn't have

nsteady motion of the lashes that lay over her closed eyes; and he was not far wrong in his impression that she was awake, and had heard his repeated ringi

o oblivion, and he did not awake until

nguish of her wild alarm to summon her husband, and she re-entered and flew up-stairs without the pause of an instant. Wilkinson was but a moment or two later in reaching the house, and in gaining their chamber. The sight that met his eyes sent the blood coldly to his heart. The mother had already snatched the child from th

looked first upon the face of her child, and then into that of he

kinson, with a composure of voice tha

es! I'm sure she's dying. Oh! r

had been thrown into spasms, "let us do what we can for her. She is in convulsions, and we must get her into a bath of hot wat

she is dying! My precious, precious babe!" And the

ards he returned with him. The good effects of the hot-bath were already perceptible. The face of the child had resumed its placid sweetness of expression, and there was but slight convulsive twitching in the limbs

that lay in a deep, unnatural slumber. They were standing, side by side, and bending over the bed on which little Ella lay. Wilkinson had drawn his arm around his wife

fession and promises for the future were on his tongue; but, their utterance, just at that moment, seemed untimely, and he merely answered the mute appeal of tears with a fervent, heart-warm kiss, that, if t

usband! M

iled, or was checked; for she hid her face on

past errors in that solemn hour! and how

grief upon that gentle heart, or to make

lation of Wilkinson, and

u, and take this shadow quickly from your heart! Believe me, Ma

f her husband's. There was more of confidence and hope in them than pages of written language could express.