The Project Gutenberg EBook of Wife in Name Only
by Charlotte M. Braeme (Bertha M. Clay)

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Title: Wife in Name Only

Author: Charlotte M. Braeme (Bertha M. Clay)

Release Date: April 9, 2004 [EBook #11970]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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[Transcriber's Note: There were several words that appeared to be
printers errors in this book. These have been changed; the changes are
marked, and the original spellings are at the end of the text.]

WIFE IN NAME ONLY

By

Charlotte M. Braeme

(Bertha M. Clay)

Chicago

By The Same Author In Uniform Style

Dora Thorne
From Gloom to Sunlight
Her Martyrdom
Golden Heart
Her Only Sin
Lady Damer's Secret
The Squire's Darling
Her Mother's Sin
Wife in Name Only
Wedded and Parted
Shadow of a Sin

Wife in Name Only

Chapter I.

It was the close Of an autumn day, and Dr. Stephen Letsom had been
standing for some time at his window watching the sun go down. It faded
slowly out of the western sky. There had been a golden flush with the
sunset which changed into crimson, then into purple, and finally into
dull gray tints that were forerunners of the shades of night. Dr.
Stephen Letsom had watched it with sad, watchful eyes. The leaves on the
trees had seemed to be dyed first in red, then in purple. The
chrysanthemums changed color with every phase of the sunset; there was a
wail in the autumn wind as though the trees and flowers were mourning
over their coming fate. There was something of sadness in the whole
aspect of nature.

The doctor evidently shared it. The face looking from the window was
anything but a cheerful one. Perhaps it was not the most judicious
manner in which the doctor could have spent his time--above all, if he
wished to give people an impression that he had a large practice. But
Dr. Letsom had ceased to be particular in the matter of appearances. He
was to all intents and purposes a disappointed man. Years before, when
his eyes were bright with the fires of youth, and hope was strong in his
heart, he had invested such money as he possesse