“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 affirmatively, 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. “I 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! “I cared not where I went, so that I hid my shame and sorrow from familiar and prying eyes. My brother, glorying in my anguish, had already blazed the story of your desertion around, and I left the place, leaving no clew by which they could trace me. “I 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 my only comfort, for I shunned acquaintances, and lived wholly by myself. “Finally he sickened, and I feared he would die. For weeks I watched him, giving 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 only a broken-hearted wife and mother can pray, and Heaven in His mercy heard, and gave me back my child from the jaws of death! “Then my slender stock of money began to fail, and it was the old, old story of cruel poverty, seeking for employment, and finding scarcely sufficient to sustain life. “At length when Ralph was four years old, my own health began to fail, though I still dragged myself about, and strove to work that he need not go hungry. “One day I sat drearily gazing from my window, when my eyes fell upon a familiar form. I started wildly to my feet, and looked again. I could not be mistaken, and my heart beat with fresh hope and courage, for I felt assured that help was near. “That familiar form was my brother Ralph. I rushed forth, followed him at a distance, and found out the place where he stopped, resolving to go to him the day following, and claim his care and protection. “Alas, for human plans! That night I was taken violently ill, and when morning came I felt that my earthly race was almost run. I immediately sent for my brother, and he came. But only to curse me anew, and taunt me with my shame and degradation, and to swear that he would do nothing for me. I begged and pleaded that he would take my boy, and care for him, when I was gone, telling him I felt I could not live a week; but with a heart like adamant, he turned from me, and, as I thought, left me to die alone, and my darling to the cold care of strangers.