The young woman had saved several hundred dollars, and she put the money into a first payment on a pretty little cottage.

During the first two or three years of the marriage the doctor's wife, from time to time, attended cases of illness, usually contributing her earnings toward the payment for the house or into furniture for the house.

In all she paid about a thousand dollars, or something like one-third of the cost of the house.

Then children came, and her earning days were over.
Unfortunately the domestic affairs of this household became disturbed.
The doctor contracted a drug habit.

He became irregular in his conduct and ended by running away with a dissolute woman.