
CHAPTER I. A WIFE REPUDIATED.
CHAPTER II. THE FINAL RUPTURE.
CHAPTER III. A BACKWARD GLANCE.
CHAPTER IV. A YOUNG WIFE'S BRAVE STRUGGLES.
CHAPTER V. FLUCTUATING EXPERIENCES.
CHAPTER VI. AN OLD TEMPTATION REVIVED.
CHAPTER VII. SERIOUS DOMESTIC COMPLICATIONS.
CHAPTER VIII. HELEN PLANS HER FUTURE.
CHAPTER IX. - AFTER TEN YEARS.
CHAPTER X. A BRIEF RETROSPECT.
Helen Appleton stands at a crossroads, her calm demeanor masking a storm of resolve as she faces a husband who seeks to dissolve their marriage. In a terse courtroom‑like exchange, she refuses to contest the divorce—on the condition that their daughter, Dorothy, remains hers. The dialogue crackles with tension, revealing a marriage strained by selfishness, avoidance, and the clashing of pride with love. Helen’s steady gaze and measured words hint at a deeper well of courage beyond the immediate dispute.
As the first act unfolds, the story delves into Helen’s internal battle, painting a portrait of a woman who refuses to be reduced to a mere casualty of a failing union. The narrative weaves themes of loyalty, maternal devotion, and the search for self‑respect amid societal expectations. Listeners will be drawn into the emotional currents of a marriage on the brink, wondering whether Helen’s steadfastness will lead her toward redemption or further turmoil.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (379K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Al Haines
Release date
2019-04-14
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1843–1926
A hugely prolific American popular novelist, she wrote romantic, suspenseful fiction that reached a wide readership under the pen name Mrs. Georgie Sheldon. Her stories helped define the fast-moving, high-feeling style of late 19th-century dime and domestic fiction.
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