The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-07-09

| ''oney WHICH VIII ieIray inc expenses,
and Mr.. Raymond placed a note for thou
sand dollars in the lap of his wife.
1t was dinner time, and Elsie had had
all the morning 10 reflect on her conduct
at breakfast, and bitterly had the young
wife rcproached herself for the unkind
words she had spoken. But her will was
unsabducd still, and when the footsteps
OF her husband rang through the hall, the
old pride came back to her heart, the
morning curl to her rosy lip, and she
thought to herself, alden shall speak
| first"
And he did; and that generous deed of
h's ovcrcame at once, all the pride and
self will of the really loving wife.
She sprang up quickly, and wound her
white arms round her husbands neck,
| while tears of remorse and tenderness
swept down her face. "Ob, Alden" she
sad, forgive ne, forgive me for the cruel
words said this morning ] have been
so sorry for them. do love you better
than all the world beside, and would not
leave you for thousand grandmo,hers.
Say just once TO me " Elsie, | forgive YOU"
and shall he SO happy"
lie drew her bright head to his bosom,
and he rained down kisses on her sweet
brow, rs he said, elsie, once, and forever
| forgive you, but have been very weak.
ani have suffered muca this morning.
Let me lie my head in your lap. and see
If shall not feel better, while You talk to
me-"
| And Elsie sat there n long time, running
her little dimpled fingers through the
thick brown curls of her husband. and
laying her cool lips every few moments TO
his !evered forehead, chatting TO him in
her sweet humming bril- style, vf her par.
ty, and What n delightful affair it would
be; dreaming little of the darkness, and
sin, and shame, that was drawing closer
ana closer 10 their thrcsl hold.
!. was the morning after the party. It
had hccn as the young wife had predicted
~ brilliant affair"
And now she walked through the elc
gan, confusion Of her parors, and thought
what g!a-ccs If admiration had followed
her during the evening, and how proud
! Alden would lie when she recouated to
hIn the compliments which the guests
had bestowed upon their beautiful hos.
tess, and how she had inadvertently
heard Mayor uamln, who was pronounced
the most artistic judge in tAe city, call
her the rare blossom of the festival But
these pleasant dreamings experienced a
rude Interruption.
Two rough.looking men entered the
parIor, aud inquired ii Mr. Raymond was
NO" answered his wife, surprised and
startled. He went to the store this
morning"
Ome OF them replied with significant
look around the rooms, that be was not
there, they had just come from his store.
(" have not seen him SINCE" WAS Mrs.
Raymon!'a laconic rcjoinder; and after
conferring together mon ent, the two
| men lr!t the room.
The lady sank down upon sofa, and
covered her face with her hands. They
were policemen she could not disguise
from herself this fact, and vague, terrible
fear took possession Of her soul.
A few moments later, and her husband
stood before her, wild, pale, haggard.
Elsie" he asked hurried!v, "have there
been two policemen here after me- 2"
les, and told them you were at the
store. Oh, Al,len"-she could not finish
the semtence, for lie rushed rom her, out
into the hall, and up the stairs like a
madman.
EIsie's heart died within her, and it
was only by graspng the cushions of the
sofa, she prevented herself from sinking
to the door. She feaYed-she knew not
what, but the next moment the woman's
Eeart Of Elsie Raymond awoke within
her. Alden, her husband, was suifering,
1t might be in disgrace and shame, and
vino should stand BY him. and where
should he find comfort and strength, but
in herl
She spraTg up, and though her limbs
shook like n reed beneath her, and her
face would not he whiter whea it Law un-
! der the cotliu plails, she went straight out
into the hall, and up the long stairs TO his
room,
Tne door was not locked, and she open
cd it without knocking. What a scene
for the blue eyes of Elsie Raymond -
Her husband stood in the centre of the
room, with pistol pointed at his heart.
One minute more, and she had been too
late.
With one blow other small, white hand,
she struck the heavy pistol to the floor,
aud with wild, sad cry springng from
her pale lips, Saved, saved, Alden," she
wound her arms about him.
lbe desperate man pat her away
Saved" he cried, hoarseIy, "saved to
rum, degradation, TO worse than DEATH
Leave me, Elsie, and let me do the deed
| now"
But she cape hack to him. for she
could not be put away. "No, no" she
answered, and her pale face shone almosl
like an angels, with its beautiful wifo ten.
derness, "did yeu think, Alden, your e.
sic would leaye.sou now, when your arms
have sheltered her so long Did you
think she would not follow you through