Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-06-10

(cold The tumult of her own emotions must
have killed her the moment the door was
closed upon her. BY some means kept my
secret from the knowledge of Watson and
every one else. All that night | was trying
to recover her. Then formed the project
of shutting her up in the closet-locking up
the chambers, and going abroad for twenty
years. But that idea was rejected as quick
| ly as formed, for it would be hardly possible
that the presence of dead body in the house
should not be discovered before that time.
Next, thought of setting fire to the place,
burning all my books and papers, making a
funeral pile of them; and thus running my
self to save the secret But that thought,
too, was dismissed. 1t might cause loss Of
life and property to many innocent people,
and would be bungling proceeding after all;
as, if the fire was discovered early, police.
men, firemen, mob, all would break in, and
finding her body there, all would be lost
for it was more to save her reputation than
my life, that | was striving and plotting.
In the meantime was prey to the most
painful anxiety. WAS sure that by that
time she must have been missed and sought
for. Perhaps she has been seen to enter my
chambers. Every step that heard, feared
might be that OF a policeman. In the:morn.
ing stranger called on business. This, of
course. was nothing extraordinary; but, when
he had gone, felt that he was detective
officer, aud had come as aspy. | thrust 4
few clothes into carpet.bag, intending to
escape to France. caught ups box Of
matches, to set the place on fire. | graspcd
IL razor, and looked eagerly at its keen edge
as the surest and swiftest way of ending my
misery. But then, all these would leave her
to the jests of the world, and my own snf:
ferings were nothing in comparison. At
this distance Of time, can look back i'm
partially and coolly upon that dreadful day;
aud can solemnly declare, that | would
rather have been hung for numbering her,
than to have allowed breath to sully her
fair fame.
had Just laid down the razor, when a
hurried step crossed the ante room. 1t was
h husbands:
Now, thought, all is lost. She was seen
to enter here and he has come to claim her.
"My dear -" he began in nervous,
unsettled way, YOU remember the business
that came here about Yesterday"
Perfectly"
"And do you remember the words used,
as was going? j mean, in answer to what
you said about my not being able to touch
that til s:... -
e" Yes, L remember them distinctly"
"My wife has disappeared since yester-
day morning." he continued, turning even
paler than before :" and if anything should
have happened, you know, and You repeat
those'cxpressions they might be laid hold Of,
and don't know what would be the con-
sequence. might be suspected of having
murdered her.
Poor fellow! If had not known the
truth, should have suspected it myself,
from his excessive terror and anxiety. He
wiped the pcrspiration from his face, and
sank into chair. The sight Of IL person
more frightened than myself reassurcd me
was camer than had been since the pre-
cedng morning.
"Where did she go? How was she
dressed!" inquired, anxious to know all
that could on the subject.
al don't know. She told me she was
going out shopping and visiting, but no one
saw her leave the house, and none OF the
servants know exactly how she was dressed.
When | went home to dinner, the first
thing heard was that she had not returned
"What have YOU done? Have you sent
to the police and TO the hospitals?' -
eyes, and to every friend and tradesman
where she was at all likely to call"
"You may depend upon it" replied,
very imprcssively, ct that | will not repeat
what you said yesterday. You are right in
supposing that it might tell against you
very much if she should be found dead un.
der suspicious circumstances"
He talked little longer, and then went to
renew the search for his wife, How pre-.
served my self: possession during this inter.
view do not know; so far from being
really calm, could have gnawcd the flesh
of my bones in my agony.
That night, when the doors were fasten.
ed, and | was alonc-cxcept for the com
pany of the dead shut myself up in the
closet for two hours, to ascertain whether
she died for want of air, for | dstrusted my
own knowledge of the appearance OF suf'
focatcd persons. The place was we'll sup
piled with air from several large crevices
My first idea was correct-she had dleo
from some other cause.
When emerged from the closet, | lounc
that the night was intensely dark. 1t was
raining in torrents, and the thunder ant
wind roared in terrific chorus. The river
was at high tide and swollen by the rain
sat there in the dark upon the floor, hold
ing the cold, stiff hand Of the dead withi'
my own. l thought dreamily how often i
had welcomed me with its soft pressure
while her eyes had heamed brightly int
dimples of delight Now that hand tina
used to be so plump, so full Of warmth ant
life, was rigid and cold-those eyes wer'
glazed and ghostly, the lips were clamm,
and hard. Tears came to my relief
wept as grown men seldom weep, and witt
hcart.easing gush came new idea of escap
, for her and me. was ready to believe a
that moment that her spirit rested upol
mine and inspired the thong ght--for it burs
upon me suddenly, with conviction that
executed that instant it would he crownc
: with success. How could otherwise hav
| the termity to snatch her up in my arms
oorrv her down stairs at the risk of bpin