Family Pride

Katy was panting for breath and Morris brought the wine again, after which she went on with the story, which made Morris clinch his hands as he comprehended the deceit which had been practiced so long. Of course he did not look at it as Katy did, for he knew that according to all civil law she was as really Wilford's wife as if no other had existed, and he told her so, but Katy shook her head: "He can't have two wives living, and I tell you I knew the picture--Genevra is not dead. I have seen her; I have talked with her--Genevra is not dead."

"Granted that she is not," Morris answered, "the divorce remains the same."

"I do not believe in divorces. 'Whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder,'" Katy said with an air which implied that from this argument there could be no appeal.

"That is the Scripture I know," Morris replied, "but you must remember that for one sin our Savior permitted a man to put away his wife, thus making it perfectly right."

"But in Genevra's case the sin did not exist. She was as innocent as I am, and that must make a difference."

She was very earnest in her attempts to prove that Genevra was still a lawful wife, so earnest that a dark suspicion entered Morris's mind, finding vent in the question, "Katy, don't you love your husband, that you try so hard to prove he is not yours?"

There were red spots all over Katy's face and neck as she saw the meaning put upon her actions, and covering her face with her hands she sobbed violently as she replied: "I do, oh, yes, I do. I never loved any one else. I would have died for him once. Maybe I would die for him now; but, Morris, I fear he is disappointed in me. Our tastes are not alike, and we made a great mistake, or Wilford did when he took me for his wife. I was better suited to most anybody else, and I have been so wicked since, forgetting all the good I ever knew, forgetting prayer save as I went through the form from old habit's sake, forgetting God, who has overtaken me at last and punished me so sorely that every nerve smarts with the stinging blows."

Oh, how lovingly, how earnestly Morris talked to Katy then, telling her of Him who smites but to heal, who chastens not in anger, but who would lead the lost one back into the quiet fold where there was perfect peace.