Eastern times., 1855-09-27
GBe Storp GeIItr,
THE REDEEMED HUSBAND
BY MRS. MARY A. L1vERMoRE.

BY MRS. MARY A. LIVERMORE.
The clock told the hour Of twelve-the dead
hour of night In various and dlssonant
chimes it rung from the numerous steeples of
city Z; and with solemn slowness, and startling
clearness, it sounded from the brass time keep
er stationed on the mantel of the little parlor,
where sat Frances May, awaiting her hus-
bands return. Reused from the painful rev.
cry into which she had fallen, she sprang to her
feet, paced the room rapidly for few moments
as in tumultuous agony, then suddenly stopped,
clasped her hands over her bosom, and raising
her eyes to Heaven, uttered the ejaculation,
The childlike trust expressed in these words
filled her heart as with light; and in the bles-
sedness of calm confidence in the Holy One,
she sat her down beside her infants cradle,
and sang soothing lullaby.
Slowly paced the hand of the clock around
the dial's circle. One of the morning pealed
through the little apartment, and still James
May returned not. A thousand vague, un-
formed fears fitted through the mind of the
pale and weary watcher; heavy sigh burst
from her bosom, her needle work fell from
her nerveless fingers, and the song which she
attempted died upon her lips. Two o'clock
three o'clock-four o'clock sounded the gray
light of morning broke over the heavens, the
rattling of wheels over the payements, and the
occasional tread of passer-by told that the
world was awaking to the cares and duties of
the newborn day-still the absent and ne
glectful husband came not. Brighter and
brighter dawned the morning, and soon the re-
joicing sun streamed into the parlor, where
still stood the little table bearing the evening
meal intended for the absent one, where rested
the wrought slippers beside the cushioned
easy-chair, with the dressing-gown flung
across it. Noon came-and then the wester-
ing sun began slowly to decline in the horizon,
and still James May was absent.
In the fever of anxiety and the torture Of
suspense, poor Frances passed the long and
weary hours. Her brain whirled, her temples
throbbed, her heart was sick ; and she could
neither give her attention to any employment,
nor interest herself in the innocent playfulness
of her infant daughter, or the lively prattle of
her sprigh'ly boy. If a coach passed, she
sprang to the window, hoping and tearing, she
hardly knew what: if door was opened or
closed, she started nervously and turned pale :;
if the door-bell rang, or a knock was heard,
the palpitations of her heart almost suffocated
her; and still the day waned, and waned, and
before the suffering wife there seemed but the
prospect of another lonely night, another eter-
nifty of suspense. The certainty of any calam-
ity seemed more tolerabe than. these harrow
ing fears and forebodings; and leaving her
children in the care of neighbor, she hastened
with fleet footsteps to the house of -, in
the heart of the city, where her husband had
been employed for years as senior clerk.
God of Heaven what agony was in store
for her Her husband was not at his post in
the countingroom, nor had he been there
during that day, or during that week. She
pushed her queries farther; and the kind
hearted merchant at last owned, reluctantly
and painfully, that he had been compelled to
discharge him from his service year before,
for dishonesty. Frances gasped for breath,
and for moment it seemed as if the very Jaws
of death were opened before her. But by a
mighty effort she crushed down her feelings,
apd loapipn he NIT Of
faintness and fear than before, inquired yet
farther. Little by little she wrung from her
unwilling informant, while his heart bled for
the wretched wife, the whole bitter truth. She
listened to recital of the doubtful and sus-
picious sources upon which her husband had,
during the past year, depended for subsst-
ance, Of the dissipated and vicious haunts
which he had punctualIy frequented, to the
declaration that he was a reputed gamester
and libertine, and to the appalling announce
ment that he was that morning arrested for a
desperate and daring forgery, just as he was
on the point of embarking for Liverpool, and
was then lying in the city Jail; and the deep
groan which burst from the heart of the poor
wife, the heavy dropping of her head upon the
counter, and her fall to the floor, senseless and
corpse-like, told how unexpected and full of
anguish were these sad revelations.
The fatherly merchant raised the pale young
creature in his arms, and applied restorative
measures; and, half an hour afterwards, he
was seen driving rapidly towards Leverett
street Jail, with Frances May seated beside
him, where both alighted; he giving to her
that support without which she would have
fallen. They passed within the gloomy build
ing few seconds delay occurred; and then,
preceded by the turnkey, she tottered, rather
than walked, to her husbands cell. The key
turned gratingly in the lock, the ponderous
iron door swung open, she stepped forward,
the door was closed and locked behind her,
and Frances May was alone with her guilty
husband. She moved slowly towards him,
gazed into his haggard face, and read there a
whole volume of suffering and sorrow and
! every shade of resentful feeling faded from her
heart; from the depths of her soul she forgave
ana pltled him, and laying her head upon his
bosom, she wept like an infant. The frs,
burst OF feeling over, long and earnest con-
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