The Two Wives

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The Two Wives

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Title: The Two Wives
Author: T.S. Arthur
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
Release Date: November, 2003 [Etext #4621] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on February 20,
2002]
The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Two Wives, by T.S. Arthur
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THE TWO WIVES;
OR, LOST AND WON.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.
PHILADELPHIA:
1851.

PREFACE.

THE story of the "Two Wives; or, Lost and Won," is intended to show
the power of tender, earnest, self-forgetting love, in winning back from
the path of danger a husband whose steps have strayed, and who has
approached the very brink of ruin; and, by contrast, to exhibit the sad
consequences flowing from a want of these virtues under like
circumstances.
This book is the third in the Series of "ARTHUR'S LIBRARY FOR
THE HOUSEHOLD." The fourth, which is nearly ready, will be called
"THE WAYS OF PROVIDENCE; OR, HE DOETH ALL THINGS
WELL."

THE TWO WIVES.
CHAPTER I.

"YOU are not going out, John?" said Mrs. Wilkinson, looking up from
the work she had just taken into her hands. There was a smile on her
lips; but her eyes told, plainly enough, that a cloud was upon her heart.
Mrs. Wilkinson was sitting by a small work-table, in a neatly furnished

room. It was evening, and a shaded lamp burned upon the table. Mr.
Wilkinson, who had been reading, was standing on the floor, having
thrown down his book and risen up hastily, as if a sudden purpose had
been formed in his mind.
"I shall only be gone a little while, dear," returned Mr. Wilkinson, a
slight air of impatience visible beneath his kind voice and manner.
"Don't go, John," said Mrs. Wilkinson, still forcing a smile to her
countenance. "I always feel so lonely when you are away. We only
have our evenings to be together; and I cannot bear then to be robbed of
your company. Don't go out, John; that's a good, dear husband."
And Mrs. Wilkinson, in the earnestness of her desire to keep her
husband at home, laid aside her sewing, and rising, approached and
leaned her hands upon his shoulder, looking up with an affectionate,
appealing expression into his face.
"You're a dear, good girl, Mary," said Mr. Wilkinson, tenderly, and he
kissed the pure lips of his wife as he spoke. "I know it's wrong to leave
you alone here. But, I won't be gone more than half an hour. Indeed I
won't. See, now;" and he drew forth his watch; "it is just eight o'clock,
and I will be home again precisely at