The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-12-06

She did moi rebuke me for calling her so
and, emboldened by her silence, took he
hand 10 lead her from her narrow prison.
Shemovcd forward, and fell into my arms Q
corpse.
/ cannot recall what followed. I only
know that every means was tiled for her res.
toralion 10 life; but alas withou, success
Oh one thing ! was firmly convinced-she
had moi died from sufIocation. She was pale,
rigid, cold. The tumul of her own emotions
musl have killed her at the moment the door
was shut upon her. By some means kept
my secret from the knowledge of Watson
and every one else. All that tight was try
ing to recover her. Then formed the pro-
ject of shn,lng he: up in the closet, locking
up the chambers, and going abroad for TWEEN.
ty years. But the idea was rejected as soon
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 10 the place,
burning all my books and papers, making a
funeral pile of them, and thus fuining my
self 10 preserve the secret. But that thought,
too, was dismissed. Ii might cause loss of
life and property 10 many innocent people,
and would be bungling proceedings after all /;
and if this fire was discovered eaily, police
men, firemen, mob, all, would break in, and,
finding the body there, all would be lost
for it was more 10 save her repu,ation than
my life, that was striving and plotting.
In the meantime I YVES prey to the ost
fearful anxiety. l was sure she must have
been missed and sought for. Perhaps she
had been seen 10 enter my chambers. Ev-
cry step that ! heard feared might be that
of policemen. In the morning stranger
called on business. This, of course, was
nothing unusual; but when he was gone
felt that he was detective officer, and had
come as spy. thrust few clothes into a
c~sspe: eag, iEseaa:ag to escape fer France.
| caught up box Of matches 10 set the place
on fire. grasped a-razor, and looked ear
nesty at its edge, and as The surest and swift
est way of ending my misery. But then all
these would leave her 10 the jests of the
world, and my own suifsrings were nothing
in comparison. At This distance of time
can look back impartially and coolly upon
tha, dreadful day; and can solemnly de-
clare that would rather be hanged foS MUIR
Gerlng her, than 10 have allowed breath to
sully her fair name.
| had just laid down the razor, when a hur.
ried step crossed the ante.room. 1t was her
husbands. Now, Thought, all is lost; she
was seen 10 enter here, and he has come 10
claim her.
"My dear -" he began in nervous
unsettled way, "you remember the business
that brought me here yesterday
"Perfecily."
"And do you remember the words used by
me as was going? mean in answer TO
what you said about my not being able TO
touch this money until after the death OF my
w:fe!"
eyes, remember them distinctly"
"My wife has disappeared since yesterday
morning." he continued, turning more pale
Than before; "and if anything serious should
have happened, you know, and you should
repeat these expressions, they might be laid
hold of, and don't know what might be the
consequence. might be suspected of nnnr.
dering her,"
Poor fellow! III had not known the truth,
I should have suspected it myself, from his
excessive fear and terror. He wiped the
prespration from his face, and sank into a
chair. The sight of a person frightened
more than myself treasured me. | was
calmer than was since the preceding morn
ing.
"Where did she go? How was she Dress
edq" enquired, anxious 10 know all could
on the subject.
s'I don't know. She told me she was 60
ing out shopping and visiting; but no one
saw her leave the house, and none OF the ser
wants knew exactly how she was dressed
When went home 10 dinner the first thing
heard was that she had not relurned.n
"Wbat have you done! Have you sent TO
the police, and 10 the hospitalsW
eyes, and 10 every friend and iradesman
where she would be likely 10 CALL"
"You may depend upon it," replied very
impressively, "tha, will not repeat what
you said yesterday. You are right in sup
posing that il might tell against you very much
if she should be lound dead under suspicious
circumstances"
He talked little longer, and then went lo
renew the search of his wife. How pre-.
served my self.possession during this inle:.
view, do not know; SO far from being re-
ally calm, could have gnawed the flesh of
my bones in agony.
That night, when the doors were fastened
and was alone, shut myself up In The clos
ct for Two hours, to ascertain whether shs
died from want OF air; for disTusted my
own Knowledge of The appearance of suffo
Gated persons. The place was well supplied
with air from a couple of crevices. My frs
idea was correct; she died from some olhe
cause.
When ! emerged from The closet, foun'
that the night was intensely dark, and rain
ing in torrents, and the thunder and win,
roared Terrific chorus, passed by the sullel
booming of the river, then at high tide, an,
already sweleG by the rain. sat there il