Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-19

piece of delicate embroidery. Enraged at
her silence, snatchcd it from her hands,
threw it on the carpet, and placed my foot
on it. The blood rushed to her pale check
her eyes flashed with their former fire,
as she sprung TO her feet, and bade me res
tore it to her.
20, iciclc," I replied, ''arc you melted at
las,7 Give it to you! No. indeed: | will
teach you more respect for your husband
than you have lately shown. See | CON
tinued, as | picked it up and tore it to frag-
ments, "seel there is the frippery which
YOU think more worthy of your attention
than your husband"
ANY thing is more worthy oft than
my husband at this moment, she replied" I"
"Say you so; say you so, madam" ex-
claimed. grasping her by the arm, and his
sing the words through my teeth; then,
what say you to a separaton!' You need
not refuse, | will have one: will live no
longer with such wife. Do you consent?
answer mel" l continued, shaking her
by the arm.
"As you please she replied, "nothing
can be worse than this"
"You consent at last then do you! Well,
this very day | will commence arrange
ments'
"Whcn you please" she replied, and she
left the room.
| stood aghast at what had done; /
had proposed separation, and she had
consented had said that on that very
day would commence arrangements for
the purpose, and could break my word!
Could go,o hcrand beg her rnotto leave me,
and that, when |, myself, had proposed
such a step! My pride again forbade me,
and | obcyed its dictates; but there still re-
NAMED secret hope within me, that on
cool reflection she, herself, would refuse
[ determined TO consult lawyer in whose
secrecy could confde, and make such ar
engagements as were absolutely necessary.
| did SO, and patiently awaited the result.
My wife did not appear again during that
dav-thc next morning | found note on
my plate at the breakfast table: Emily was
not there. | opened it, and found that 1T
contained a proposal 10 the effect that she
should be permitted TO JON some friends
who were about to visit Europe, ostens-
bly, on account of her health; that she should
remain absent one year, and If, at the ex-
pirntion of that time she still lived, that a
permanent separation might be arranged;
but at present such thing should not be
made public. The note was written in a
calm, clear manner, yet thought The de-
sire to avoid publicity in the affair. bctray-
ed some token Of relcnting. | replied to
it at once, saying that | should make no
objection to such an arrangement, or to any
other tina. might suit her convenience
With the note sent large amount OF
money for her Preparations
The next day we received an invitation
to party, which, contrary to her late hab-
It's, Mrs. Mansfield accepted. She sent 1t
to me in a note, stating the fact, ard say
ing that she thought it would afford an ex-
cellent opportunity 10 make known to soci-
ETY. her intention OF visiting Europe. |
signilied myasscnt. Duringthe time which
intcrvcDcd | saw my wife only at table,
where she appeared as calm as ever, though,
perhaps, triile pa'cr than usual. Hour
on hour | looked for her pride to fail her.
Deeply injured as she had been, could
not bring myself to believe that, loving me
as she once had loved me, ana iondiy
hoped still did, she would really leave me;
but after having once made public her ~
ienton feared lest she might not shrink.
Would she do so! ., how anNlously l IA
waited that cvcntiul night, and when, at
last, 1t came, | was dressed and IN attcn-
dance at an UNUSUAL carly hour. As !
paced the floor anxiously, l hoped
prayed that her heart would conquer
that love would subduc pride; but how
could how dare hope II! W hat in-
diSmties had she not borne from me! onght
L not TO humble myself and ask her to ior-
give me! j,
Had shccome in al thatmoment would
have done so, but she came not. Won
dcrcd how she wculd dress. Perhaps
some carclessness IN her apparel would
bctray that her mind was too much pre-oc-
cnWcd to think OF 1t glanced at the
clock; 1t was time that she should be there.
just then she entered and as pale and
calm as usual. l looked at her dress; 1t
was OF dark velvet, trimmed with rlch lace
-shc had worn just such dress IN happier
days because | admired It. and thought
thatit became her style OF beauty. but
now. what was her object! D,d she desire
to please mestill' or was 1t habit! glanc-
ed at her arms-on her neck;-she wore a
set OF diamonds which L gave her shortly
after our marriage. She rarely wore them
at first, because she thought them unsuita-
bic ornaments for one SO young but now,
when she looked SO queenly and moved
so statehly, they gave to her a grandeur
which startled me.
could detect no careiessness IN her
dress-no agitation IN her manner. Iler
hand trembled not when led her to the
carriage. She showed no emotion during
our drive to the scene of iestivlty. Could