Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-06-22

it, she slowly raised her hand 10 his face
and her from swelling with every con-
ceivabe emotion. she said IN voice
that went 10 bis very heart, :. ' illaln-
lying, periured villain" And now the
woman rose within her, superior 10 all,
and. assuming a calmnesS which was
perfectly terrible, she added -Read
that
He took the note, hastily Perused Il
and looked into the basket; but he saw
nothing there to cause such dreadful
feelings in him, as he had seen exhibit
ed by his wife. sWhy Jane! surely IS
it this that has disturbed you! Do you
not know me too we'll to believe, for an
instant, that this is aught but contemp-
tIble trick to foist this brat upon me
''Oh, very well, sir, 50 be Il; shall
not handy words with YOU. | thought
knew you; but how have | been de-
ceivedi 1t is a very extraordinarily
good trIck-very Iaughable-ha. ha.
ha!' and she laughed such laugh as
made his blood curdle-"I believe all
you say-perhaps my father viii too
at all events, he had better know L. had
he not? You know ne will ENJOY the
Joke so muchl"-and here she laughed
again, so long, and so loud. that Ar
thur, who feared she had gone insane.
rose to lead her to a chair; but she wav-
ed him off; and, with a look that was
almost Medusean, she turned and left
the room.
Arthur did not attempt TO fOllaw her.
for he knew it was useless; 50, seating
himself, re-read the note; and. after
taking another peep at the little respou-
sibility thus singularly thrust upon him.
he seated himself. and thus communed
with himself: well, this Is a pretty
predicament indeed Who the devil can
this Louise be?-Jane certainly takes
It in earnest. How the devil shall get
out of it-D-n the brat" 1t this
moment the infant set up a regular squall.
which so disturbed Arthur, that, rather
than listen to it, he took up the child.
which was really a beautiful one. and
began to caress it. calling II by every
endearing name that he had ever heard
among his female acquaintance, and he
succeeded IN stopping It's cries, and was
about to deposit it IN its wicker recepta-
Gle, when he heard his wife's voice at
the door; and, on looking up, he there
saw her gazing at him with a counte-
nance fairly demoniacal as she said.
What capital joke this Will be TO tell
my fatherw and with historical laugh.
she fell senseless on the floor. Tie rang
up his servants, to some of whom he
committed the care Of his wife. and,
pointing to the basket. into which he
had deposited his burthen, he babe the
old housekeeper 10 take charge of II
for the night, and she very directly
obeyed, without asking any questions.
| must pass over the scene IN the bed
room that night.
The next morning Jane did not ap-
pear at the breakfast table, and Arthur.
knowing that in her present state Of
mind, 1t would be useless 10 say anv-
thing, forbore to trouble her with any
message. The meal finished, he bade
the housekeeper bring the child. and
proceeded to the Aims House, where he
gave up his little charge, Just giving
strict orders that he should be informed
of its future fate. As he was leaving
the room, the housekeeper, stopping
him, handed him a gold locket with some
braided hair In 1t, and on II were engrav-
ed the letters, "A. w. TO L. W. which
she said she had taken from the child's
neck. Without making any reply, he
proceeded to his business; but not with
a mind at ease Something seemed To-
hang over him; and, as he wended his
way homewards, at dinner time, a fore
boding crept over him, that something
was wrong. On reaching his house.
every thing was in the utmost confu-
sion; and, with dreadful feeling al his
heart, he rushed up 10 his wife's bed
room, and he actually felt as If load
had been taken from his heart, when
glance told him IL was deserted. He had
dreaded the worst; and, bad as II now
was, he was pleased to know that his
fears had not been realized He did
not condescend TO ask any questions of
his servants. He had no idea of exci-
ting their sympathies; but, merely saw
ing he would dine out, he proceeded 20
the house of James father But he vas
here denied; and, knowing that II would
be folly to parIey with him, he turned
away; and, with feelings which NAV be
imagined but not described, he went %
an eating house, and eat his solitary
dinner.
In a few DAYS, Arthur's furniture
was sold of, the house closed, and he.
with an aching heart and clOuded brow.
sadly pursued his solitary. daily routine
of business; and when any frivolous
friend would bring up the subject, his
betrayed such intense ago
ny, that the speaker forbore TO press it I
further
In this way had Arthur passed SIX
occasionally hearing Of Jane
from a servant whom he had bribed-I
and hearing that she was fast fading /
away He knew not wha. 70 do: ne 4
would have given all he possessed 70 I
have cleared the mystery and every ef- 4
he made proved unavailing-
One evening while seated al his soli- 4
tary supper in VS.. eating house, ne 4
heard some person in the next box, 70
whose conversation he had paid no az
.ention, say-s.I tell yon. Arthur w
bave b1haveI Ike - --zr.-T j