His Wife

Henry Dennys, a wealthy Englishman, has two sons who are frequently brought into the company of Edith Danvers, whose father, a retired general, lives on the adjoining property. As the youths approach manhood each one unknown to the other is secretly in love with the girl. The elder son is sent to Sandhurst, from there enters the army as an officer and sees several years' service in India. Upon the death of his father he returns home to take charge of the estate and finds that his brother has fled to Australia. The younger man, it appears, has led a wild life and his evil deeds and extravagance force him to depart under an assumed name. Very soon after his return, the heir resumes his courtship of Edith, but she refuses him, telling him that although she has always liked him she cannot marry him. Heartbroken, he departs from his home. In a little fishing village, he meets a beautiful uneducated girl and is flattered by the respect she pays him. He finally determines to marry her and she consents. The wedding is held in the village church and as they drive away he is surprised when his bride bursts into tears. She sobbingly explains that no one has ever loved her, her grandmother, her only living relative, was glad to get rid of her, and that her husband simply married her out of pity. She then adds, "The only friend I had was little Jim, my dog, and I have left him behind." Hoping to comfort her the husband leans out of the window of the carriage to give orders to the driver to return, and is touched when he sees the little dog painfully trotting along beside the carriage hoping to keep up with them. The animal is restored to his mistress. After a happy honeymoon the couple return to their beautiful home, and slowly sorrow comes into the wife's life. It is all due to Edith, and the worst of it is that the husband does not notice it. Edith is so hopeful, so ready to assist the heir's poor wife, that his heart is filled with gratitude to her. The wife is convinced that her husband's love is slipping from her. Edith and the husband have some secret they are keeping from the wife and the wife frequently surprises them in mysterious conferences. She does not know that the husband is protecting Edith from the consequences of her own folly. Edith has been secretly married to the younger brother and knew she would be disinherited if her father ever learned the truth. Edith's husband unexpectedly returns from Australia and refuses to depart without seeing his wife.