Sunday dispatch. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1845-1854, 1852-03-14
sCETCH OF LIFE IN
CHAPTER ".
1NsIx CHAPTERS.

All circumstances considered, 1t were
vain and homeless task to attempt any ae-
acr;ot;on of the scenes which were occurring
81 Anster villa, the house Of Mr.. Richards
81 psndIeton. Though Mrs. Richards allow
al herself apparently to be pacihed by his
Assurances Of Harriets insanity and his own
;nnocence regarding her, she was far from
heinO convinced of the truth Of his asser-
tions' and resolved, as early as possible 10
fathom the mystery. Nor was 1t merely DO
cause her husband had been moral deiin-
ouent that she felt, beyond expression' pam
ed Int because he had committed hlmsen 70
another female, in such o manner, sne lully
believed, as brought him within the reacn oi
the law, and, knowing this, his having ,al'er.
wards paid his address to her, won ner near'
and gained her hand. Harriet, she saw was
no more insane than herself, and, from her
appsarance, and unless certain OF the power
she held over Richards, and justly Wouiu
never have made 80 bold an entrance luSS
her house, and have 80 boldly conIronSSe w.
that assembly, or uttered the Iansuass -
ten 5ocnments from Richards, by producing
,ybicb abe could accuse him successfully OF q
hroocb of nromise of marriage Mrs. Richards
suenscted but never did such thougnl
once gleam across her mind, as that IN ner
sbe beheld q rival wife-a wife with prior
claims TO her husband-a wife who mad lor
season consorted with him, privately USED
his name. made him a father, and been, ID
sorne respects, mistress of his resources.
That dav had been to him one of trouble,
and shadowed darkly forth complication OF
troubles, Of which he could see no end. Nor
,gban he arrived at home did he find an ely
sium of love, or a shelter from their iniiu
enee The mind of his wife, filled with the
event of the evening before, was morose ana
gloomy. while the burden which lay upon
and nressed him down, prevented him from
attempting to rally her spirits by an INFUSION
of bis own Her piano was silent, her voice
was mute, and time rolled heavily ana SLOW
lv away A few visitors to welcome nome
the bride and partake of her marriage cneer'
appeared at intervals but, chilled py onelcy
ASPECT of affairs ere the honeymoon was wen
over, they departed, wondering al tne pres.
ice of unhappiness, which was so clearly
evinced. If he lifted book, the Wnole Pags
soon became blotch, and ne founa I'M ms nlino
wandering wildly with Harriet Jenson'
The evening at last passed away-mornlne
dawned, and with it brought new SUCCESS
sion of busy cares and active grieis anu svr.
rows Mr.. and Mrs. Richards did not lake
breakfast together, as the LADY Ielt lIulsPos.
ed and remained in bed to later hour o.
tbe C dow and he seeming to be somewhat con
cernei on account of her trihing ahment
was in no hurry to depart for business. TnS
bonr of eleven had struck by the clock, ane
hronobt with it an unexpected visitor, In th'
nerson of Arthur Burslem, from Kocndale
fbe brother of Mrs. Richards 6 What, Ar
tbnr already l'' cried Mr.. Richards, as If re
;o;ced 10 see his brother-in-law, when, II
truth, he could have wished him at the Nortl
poIe g Who could have expected q visit 81
early Breakfasted, no doubt :"
go. certainly" replied Arthur, someWha
,oldIv and "a If undecided whether or no
o w ~ at Richards. "Would you expec
me- In come here from Rochdale near mid -da.
without breakfast We are early business
people" .a..d p;ob
ards
ter"
g She complained of headache this morn
inr.n answered Richards, perceiVlng Dy nj
brother-in-law's coldness that something wa
aniss But be seated, and l shall announc lou =
your presence to her, and dare sne Will
with us instantly. Shall say tnat you nav
something particular to say to her;
Z" AS you please, Ni0noi 10
strange news ahoat." -.
"I1deed p' observed Richards, eyeing MIN
closely. Something peculiar !"
g Gve. very peculiar; but not public get
GO dear p slyly remarked Richards, VII
tba ohost of q smile; {" some bankrupt cy'
expect" ,,o,,
Far from it, Richards, can assure you,
answered Arthur, with significant 1901
&C R,+ soDoetb;no much more serious IN Il
consequences"
As vet Richards had not announced TO n
wife the visit of her brother nor as yet ma
Arthur Burslem, in disturbed state
mind. taken seat, but paced up and 90"
fine room, momentarily expecting her a.
nearance. while Richards, seeing tnaI
mind was fraught with some momentous me
soca was anxious to learn its nature, al
yet afraid to ask. ,.I,,.
{" NV sister is tedious, Richards, observe
Arthur. with impatience "speak TO NJ
again, and let her know that my time is pr
cious, and that have much to do-
Richards rang the bell, and servant a
peared. "Tell your MISTRESS SAID d
& tbo+ her brother is waiting, ana must 30
depart"
INC servant had no sooner gone on b
MESSAGE. and shut the door behind her, tn
Arthur confronting Richards with look
sternness, said, g Henry, can disguise 1t
longer. Ny parents wish my sister to !
turn home for a time, until 1t be seen NJ
affairs terminate"
Affairs, my good fellow what do y
meanF
{" You cannot be ignorant of my meanir
Richards. You know how 1t happened I'll
thai apparition broke into your house t
night before last, and threw cloud over
company by her look, voice, and languaI
and the meaning it contained. You kn
her then. YOU know her still, and need I
ask the cause of her threats and denunc
tions against Yourself 1t is not fitting,
saw at home, that my sister, as rival "
to her of any former marriage, should
main under your roof, attached to ana
fooled by such a consummate vlllaln' Z
villain p
eThese be hard words, Arthur Burslen
reioined Richards, staggering and survey
his brother-in-law with stern eye
Hard words, precious brother r retor'
Arthur. "They are drawn forth py na
actions. When a man marrles virtue a
ruins it, casting it from him like base CO.
and then. presuming upon the Ignorance
society. marries virtue again to debsse a
contaminate it, what may he be considered
Your hints are serious, Arthur, but
ouire explanation" the conscience conden
ed cotton. spinner said. g But speak out
am not inclined to read your riddles,
without cause to swallow your charges"
ssMv riddles are somewhat plain, and
charges seem to come home to you, Hen
Richards" Burslem retorted, with CURL
lin. "But," he continued, drawing let
from his pocket, holding it in his hand a
telling Richards to stand and read it, h'
ia evidence, and have found confrmati
Read it, man-read it, and then say
words are hard"
Richards, looking over the corner Of
shoulder, read the following:-
"MR. ARTHUR BURsLEM,
sSir.-Before Mr.. Henry Richards
housed YOUR sister, he was married m
having upwards of two years ago been uni
at Gretna Green to young lady named H
riet Jeffson. They lived together privat
for u year in this town, where she becam
mother. She afterwards left him, when
told her the marriage was farce and
lived for above year IN the nelghborhoot
London. Since his marriage to your slst
she has again come to Manchester, and,
am told, to avoid observation, lives someV
in a place called Gibraltar near Du
Bridge. Yours, &c.'
"A WITNESS OF THE CEREMONY AT
"GRETNA GREEN.
False-false as perdition !" exclain
Richards, when he had read the docume
~Think you that false charges are to
made and mems regulations blasted, beca
some anonymous scribbler may choose to c
his malice to the winds in such shape p
Anonymous letters, unsupported by o
er evidence, heartily despise, Richards
much as you, in this case, appear to d
warmly remarked Arthur =" but is there
oonfirmatory evidence What did the
male seek here the other night, if there
no truth in it? What did she do at your
tory Yesterday, if there be no truth in
what did her brother seek you for vest
dav. if there be no truth in it And W
If there be no truth in it, has he now 6
full speed off to Gretna Green to insE
registers and compare signatures ?"
what may be his motives for acting s
did not ask him." replied Richards, tame
to the questions so hotly showered upon h
cor do you think that am responsible
the whims that may enter into the brain
any such lunatic,-for evidently the woI
is insane,-or the actions she may COMM
* Are you insane, Henry Richards e
"Does not the question, Arthur, n
nearly concern yourself for, certainly, J
-. bav To 4