The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-01-15

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injuries your temper has heaped upon me
you have added an insult, which, in
man, would have punished with fear
fnl retribution. Coming from you, car
only hide it in my heart, among the ru
ned hopes and corroding sorrows which
have been my marriage portion.
al have one consolation. My dea
child is left to me-. am with her now
and shall never leave her. shall devote
myself TO labor for her happiness. Dc
not think that will prejudice her mind
against you, for she shall never know o
'your fault. nor of the cause Of our separ.
alton, nor of the ruin you have wrought
"Enclosedis check for $500, which
trust will supply your immediate wants.
have retired from all business with the
world, and my income will now be small;
but one third you shall receive, quarterly,
while on one third shall myself live fru-
gally. | will devote the remaining third
10 the maintenance and proper education
of my child.
ga part of our furniture | have directed
TO be sold; but everything which thought
you would wish to preserve, is now stored
Tor you, and at your disposal, as you will
learn from my friend and agent, MIR.
Grey"
Lucy read this brief cpistle eagerly,
and re-read it with dismay. But she had
still purpose and hope. She flew to
Mr.. Grey, her husbands agent.
Mr. Grey was calm, stern, unap-
proachable man; faithful, taciturn, self.
possessed. From him, with all her pray
ers and entreates. Lucy could gain no
intelligence Of her husband and her child
All he could grant her was the delivery of
letter TO William.
Accordingly Lucy wrote. Pouring all
her remorse, sorrow, love and power Of
prayer into her letter, she hoped that Will
liam would relent. ..-.
But William placed no confidence in
woman entirely controlled by fits OF pas
sion; and his reply was formal, severe,
perhaps cruel ....
After struggling long with her despair,
Lucy at last began to feel resigned to her
fate. Upon one thing she was resolved:
the bane OF her existence, her abominable
fits of passion, should never again ruffle
the evenness OF her temper; she would
conquer herself it the effort killed her.
:" must be patient" said the unhappy
Lucy 10 herself. " | have no one TO blame
but myself. My misery is my own crea-
tion, and it is just that | should suffer. |
will be patient, then, and resigned"
But oh, it was hard task, for a young
wife and a fond mother to live divided
from her husband and child, with no
bright spot in the sky Of the future on
which TO look and repose her hopes; with
no consolation, no friend in whom to con-
fide and find comfort. ........
Dreary indeed was Lucy's life, but new
er did she complain She suffered in 81
lence, and endured with patience her
wretched lot. She seemed plunged in the
deepest humiliation, and her face ever
wore the mourniul apparel of her heart
1t is impossible 10 describe the adherence
with which she looked back upon her past
= fits Of passion" ..,
Five years of sorrow, regret and humil-
alton, rolled their heavy burdens over
Lucy's heart. During this time she had
written frequently 10 her husband, through
Mr.. Grey, and received no reply TO her
etters All she knew of her husband was.
hat she received, every quarter, an allow
'nce, which she knew came from him.
lad he left her to starve, her remorse
could not have equalled that which this
manifestation of his goodness, four times
| year, kindled in her heart. ...
One day. however, Lucy was surprised
~ visit from Mr.. Grey.
" Mrs. Mowbray,'' said he, abruptly, 81
come TO you with a message from your
The blood flowed back upon Lucy's
leart, almost suffocating her; then it
ushed again to her brain, causing it to
eel with dizziness. The sudden intel
igence quite overpowcred her. and she
ank upon the sofa. She could not speak,
ut her clasped hands implored Mr.. Grey
o 60 on. .... -
Your child" said he, coloring, ais
yin,g. II you wish to see her, go with
ne."
What Lucy did after hearing this as
onishing Intelligence, she knew not; but
lr. Grey declared, afterwards, :hat she
'as completely out Of her senses. She
'ished to go-to fly without moments
nought or preparation, and would have
eft the house without so much as her bon
eft or shawl, had he not taken her under
is care. said Lucy knew nothing OF
MS: when she recovered her conscious.
ess, she was riding away with her hus-
and's agent in a carriage.
The journey seemed TO Lucy like a
lid dream. She afterwards recalled
omething of what she had seen. and
imly remembered riding on the highway,
'hen the sun was shining brightly and the
irds were singing. She also had some
ecollection Of the speed. clatter and dizzy
ockinp of railroad cars, but not until she