She turned on him fiercely. “What right had you to go away and leave me for three years to believe you dead and buried? If you had ever written me a line or sent a message even by some one else, this would never have happened. You are responsible for it all, and you have no right to claim me now. Where have you been all these years?”
“In Mexico. I’ve made money enough to enable us to live in comfort and even luxury, and I thought to share it with you and our boy.”
“Money!” she cried, with ineffable scorn; “you would bribe me with money to leave this darling,” gazing down at her babe with tear-dimmed eyes, an expression of unspeakable love and tenderness stealing over her features, “and—and the husband who has been far, far more tender and true than ever you were, Perry Golding.”
“Not your husband, madam; he can’t be that while I live; and now that you know that I am living, you will leave him at once if you are a—the virtuous woman I always took you to be.”
“Go! leave me this moment!” she cried, imperiously. “You, and you alone, are to blame for this dreadful state of things!”
“I go,” he said, bowing himself out; “but you and Jasper will hear from me again.”
“Oh, how cruel, how cruel he is!” she sobbed, sinking into a low rocker. “He knew I was married again; he had heard it; and why couldn’t he stay away and leave me in peace? Oh, it would break my heart to leave Alonzo, and you, my precious, precious baby!” clasping it close, and covering its face with kisses and tears.
“Don’t cry, mamma; the naughty man’s gone,” said Perry, creeping to her side and putting an arm around her neck; “don’t cry; he sha’n’t come back any more; I’ll watch the gate, and if I see him coming, I’ll run and lock the door.”
“Oh, Perry, we can’t keep him out!” she sighed, hugging and kissing the little prattler, while the big tears rolled down her cheeks. “What shall I do?”
“Send for papa to come right away.”