It can be nothing
that I may not share and relieve. Tell me, dear."

"Oh, Rule, bear with me! I did not wish to distress you with my folly,
my madness. Do not mind it, Rule. It will pass away. Indeed, it will. I
will do my duty by you. I will be a true wife to you, after all. Only do
not disturb your own righteous spirit about me, do not notice my moods;
and give me time. I shall come all right. I shall be to you--all that
you wish me to be. But, for the Lord's love, Rule, give me time!" she
pleaded, with voice and eyes so full of woe that the man's heart sank in
his bosom.

He grew pale and withdrew his arm from her neck. She lifted her head
from his breast then and leaned back in the corner of the sofa. She
trembled with fear now, lest she had betrayed her secret, which she had
resolved to keep for his own sake. She looked and waited for his words.
He was very still, pale and grave. Presently he spoke very gently to the
grieving woman.

"Dear, you have said too much and too little. Tell me all now, Cora. It
is best that you should, dear."

"Rule! oh, Rule! must I? must I?" she pleaded, wringing her hands.

"Yes, Cora; it is best, dear."

"Oh, I would have borne anything to have spared you this. But--I
betrayed myself. Oh, Rule, please try to forget what you have seen and
heard. Bear with me for a little while. Give me some little time to get
over this, and you shall see how truly I will do my duty--how earnestly
I will try to make you happy," she prayed.

"I know, dear--I know you will be a good, dear wife, and a dearly loved
and fondly cherished wife. But begin, dear, by giving me your
confidence. There can be no real union without confidence between
husband and wife, my Cora. Surely, you may trust me, dear," he said,
with serious tenderness.

"Yes; I can trust you. I will trust you with all, through all, Rule. You
are wise and good. You will forgive me and help me to do right." She
spoke so wildly and so excitedly that he laid his hand tenderly,
soothingly, on her head, and begged her to be calm and to confide in him
without hesitation.

Then she told him all.

What a story for a newly-married husband to hear from his wife on the
evening of their wedding day!

He listened in silence, and without moving a muscle of his face or form.
When he had heard all he arose from the sofa, stood up, then reeled to
an arm chair near at hand and dropped heavily into it, his huge,
stalwart frame as weak from sudden f