"A shadow fell over her face, and she answered mournfully,
""Even he is against me. How it is I cannot tell; but my husband seems to have my father completely under his influence."
""Your mother?" I suggested.
""Can only weep with me. I have no adviser, and my heart beats so wildly all the time, that thought confuses itself whenever it makes an effort to see the right direction. Fear of a public trial suggests pa.s.sive endurance of wrong on my part; but an innate sense of justice cries out against this course, and urges me to resistance."
""If you are innocent," said I, firmly, "in the name and strength of innocence defend yourself! All that a woman holds dearest is at stake.
If they drive you to this great extremity, do not shrink from the trial."
""But what hope have I in such a trial if false witnesses come up against me?"
""G.o.d and justice are stronger than all the powers of evil," said I.
""They might be, in your case," she answered, mournfully; "for you have made G.o.d your friend, and justice your strong tower. But I--what have I to hope for in G.o.d? He has not been in all my thoughts; and now will He not mock at my calamity?"
""No--no, my unhappy friend!" I answered. "He never turns from any; it is we who turn from Him. His tender mercy is over all His works. All human souls are alike precious in His eyes. If you trust in Him, you need not fear your bitterest enemies."
""How shall I trust in him?"
"She bent towards me eagerly.
""In the simple work of doing right," said I.
""Doing right?"
"She did not clearly understand me.
"Do you think it would be right to let a charge of crime lie, unrepelled, against you; a great crime, such as is alleged--destroying your good name, and throwing a shadow of disgrace over your children!"
""No," was her unhesitating reply.
""Then it would be wrong for you to suffer a divorce to issue on the ground of infidelity, without a defence of yourself by every legal means in your power. Do right, then, in so defending yourself, and trust in G.o.d for the result."
"I shudder at the bare thought of a public trial," she answered.
""Don"t think of anything but right action, said I. If you would have the Hosts of Heaven on your side, give them power by doing the right; and they will surely achieve for you the victory over all your enemies.
Have any steps been taken by Mr. Dewey?"
""I fear so."
""How long is it since your husband entertained this purpose?"
""I think it has been growing in his mind ever since that unhappy affair at Saratoga."
"As she said this, her thoughts seemed to turn aside upon something else, and she sat looking down upon the floor in a state of deep abstraction. At last, taking a long breath, she looked up, and said with trembling lips and a husky voice,
""I have something more to tell you. There is another aspect to this miserable affair."
"And she drew forth a crumpled letter.
""I found this, sealed, and directed, lying on the floor of my husband"s room, two days ago. It is in his hand writing; addressed to a lady in New York, and signed R. D. I will read you its contents." And she unfolded the letter, and read:
""My dearest Caroline," it began; and then went on for a few paragraphs, in a lover-like strain; after which, the divorce from the writer"s wife was referred to as a thing of speedy attainment, there being little fear of opposition on her part, as he had given her to understand that he had witnesses ready to prove her criminal conduct; if she dared to resist his will in the matter. "A few months of patient waiting, dearest Caroline," was the concluding sentence, "and then for that happy consummation we have so long desired."
""What do you think of that?" asked poor Delia, looking almost wildly into my face.
""I think," said I, "that you hold in your hands the means of safety.
Your husband will not dare to force you into a defensive position, when he learns that you have this doc.u.ment in your possession. It would tell strongly against him and his perjured witnesses if produced in court.
Then take heart, my friend. This worst evil that you dreaded will not come to pa.s.s. If a divorce is granted, it will have to be on some different allegation."
"She grasped my hand, and said, "Oh, do you think so? Do you think so?""
""I am sure of it," was my confident answer. "Sure of it. Why the man would only damage his cause, and disgrace himself, by venturing into a trial with a witness like this against him.""
""Oh, bless you for such confidently a.s.suring words!" and the poor creature threw herself forward, and laid her face upon my bosom. For the first time she wept, and for a season, oh how wildly! You will not wonder that my tears fell almost as fast as hers.
""I turned in my despair to you," she said, on growing calm, "you whom I loved, and almost revered, in the earlier and better days of my life, and my heart tells me that I have not turned in vain. Into the darkness that surrounded me like the pall of death, a little light has already penetrated.""
"May it shine unto the perfect day!" I answered fervently.
"And, dear husband! it will shine," said Constance, a glow of enthusiasm lighting up her face, and giving it a new beauty, "even unto the perfect day! Not the perfect day of earthly bliss--for I think the sun of that day has gone down never to rise again for her--but the perfect day of that higher life, which to many comes not, except through the gates of tribulation."
CHAPTER XXII.
I was shocked and distressed by the painful revelation which Mrs. Dewey had made to Constance. A sadder history in real life I had never heard.
A few days after this memorable visit to the Allen House, a note was received by my wife, containing this single word, "_Come_," and signed _Delia_.
"Any change in the aspect of affairs?" I inquired of Constance on her return.
"Yes. Mrs. Dewey has received notice, in due form, of her husband"s application for a divorce."
"What has she done?"
"Nothing yet. It was to ask my advice as to her best course that she sent for me."
"And what advice did you give her?"
"I gave none. First, I must consult you."
I shook my head and replied,
"It will not do for me to be mixed up in this affair, Constance."