The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-05-22
THE FIRST GRAY HAIRS
OR, THE BARONETS STORY.

OK, TIE BARONET STORY.
The following story was related to me by an
old friend, an Irish baronet, and, as far as my
memory serves, will give it to. you in his ow n
WOrdS:-
About four months after my marriage it was
my wont, each morning after brerkfast, to stoll
about my gardens and fields, until, perhaps, one
o'clock, at which hour | returned home to en-
joy my wfcs society, and when the weather per-
mitted, we occasionally took walk or ride.
One morning, feeling myself not quite we'll, |
returned much earlier than usual, about eleven
o'clock, and went into the house by back en-
! trance as neither knocking nor nging announ-
ccd my arrival, my wife was not aware of my re-
turn.
l sought her first in the drawing room, but not
finding her there, proceeded to her bedroom,
and, whilst passing through my drcssing-room
to it, l was surprised by sudden rush to the
bedroom door, which was instantly boltcd from
Within Idstincly heard a low whispering, and,
as thought, a receding step; yet altogether |
was not kept waiting more than a few seconds
my wife S maid opened the door, when, to my
great perplexity, bcheld my wife's usually pale
face sutfuscd with crimsoncd bushes: | also de-
tectcd her maneuvcring comb through her
head, to hide, as instantly suspected, her blush
es from me, or her disordercd curls.
"What is the meaning of all this, - thought /;
and frightened" .,... .as
My wife did not hasten to meet me with her
usual sunny welcome; there was not even ono
smile to greet me. At length, recovering her
self little, she, with hestating MANNER said,
''Well, love, how goes the farm"
But was grievcd; for the first time in my
life, felt that was not welcome. felt some
| thing was going on that was not to know; so
merely saying, 81 will tell you when we meet in
the drawing room,'' abruptly quilted her. 8.
Not knowing whittier was going, or why l
Suffered SO sudden, frightful revolution of
feelings, hurried down stairs, rushed through
the hall, across the lawn, and plunged Into the
fir-path that leads to sequcstered part of the
grounds; nor did slackcn my pace until was
fully mile from the house, when threw my
self upon the green bank by the side of the riv-
cr, the most miserable of men. |, who, one
hour before, was the happiest Of men, now, un-
accountably, unuttcrably wretchcd. *
Pride had, at the moment, prevented my ask.
ing for an explanations; that, thought, ought tc
have been given unsought; ana ! determined
not to ask Lady ----- aohy MY visit had been
so unwelcome r.. -.,-' ..: .s....
But thenceforth, resolved to keep watch.
full eye upon her. A thousand cruel thoughts
crowded upon me, now that discovered there
was something which my wife concealed from
me; she, whom thought so artless, SO free from
all duplicity.
at this period had attained my thirtieth year
Lady - was only two years younger than
myself; but, from her sweet and girlish style Of
beauty, and gay, happy manner, no one woult
suppose her more than twenty. She had beer
educated on the continent. knew that, soo1
after leaving school, she had received matrimo
NAL proposals-if she had not been actually en-
gagged to a gentleman before quitting Paris
Hitherto, this circumstance had never given m,
the slightest uneasiness; but now my thought
involuntarily reverted to it; it haunted me da,
and night. ....... .,...,... : ...... -
Between my wife and her maid, there was a,
unusual intimacy, owing, as understood, to tn
latter being what is called an old follower Of tn
family. This woman was one of the tallest
ever saw, and large in proportion; her face wa
handsome, the features strongly defined, lie
eyes large, intensely dark and penetrating; he
long black ringlcts looked false; in appearance
you would have said she was nearer fifty tina
forty. This person, with her erect figure, was
taken altogether, what many would pronounc
: very fine woman, but some what masculine.
8 Having described my wife maid, how sha
l | tell you Of the horrible suspicion which seize
upon my imagination.
, thought perchance the maid was her forcig
: lover in disguise!
q And yet did not, could not believe it, thong
. the frghtful idea never abscntcd itself from IL
c brain. To paint such al idea to my beautfi
: Agnes, my beloved wife, ] could never brin