The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-04-02
THE FATAL GONCEALlIENT
By AN EsGL1su DARRTsrER.


Some years after commenced practice
but the precise date shall, for obvious
reasons avoid mentioning had friend
at whose house I was pretty constant
visitor. He had a wife that was the
magnet that drew me there. She was
beautiful was fascinating and she
was captivating; her presence was to me
like the intoxication of Opium. / was
only happy under its influence; and yet
after Indulgence in that pleasure, | sank
into the deepest despondency. In my own
Justification I must say that / never in
word or look betrayed my feelings, though
Iehad some reason to suspect that they
were reciprocated: for, while in my COM
pany, she was always gay, brilliant and
witty; yet as 1 learned from Others, at
times she was often sad and melancholy.
Powerful, most powerful, was the temp
tation to make an unreseryed disclosure
OF my heart, but / resisted it.. That had
the firmness to do so, has been for years
my only consolation.
q One morning was alone in my cham
ber My clerk was absent. A gentle
knock was just audible at the front door
/ shouted, seome IMP in no very amiable
humor, for.I was indulging in delicious
resefie upon the subject of the lady of my
heart, and the presence of an ordinary
mortal was hateful. The door opened
and Mrs. entered. do not know
exactly what i did, but it seemed to be a
Dong time before had power to rise and
welcome her while she stood there with a
itimid blush upon her lips, which made
me feel that it would be too great a hap
piness to die for her.
= Z 81 don't wonder that you are surprised
: to. see me here,n she began, with pre-
voking little laugh; but is your astonish-
Hment too great to allow you to say how
do you do?"
The spell was broken. / started and
took her hand; fear pressed it more
warmly and held it longer than was neces-
sary.
aPerhaps your surprise will be increas-
cd, she continued, when | tell you l am
ron business.
sTa muttercd something about not being
20 ambitious as to hope that she would
visit me on any other motive. She took
mo notice of what said, but perceived
J that her face turned deadly pale, and that
/. her haAd trembled as she placed before
me bundle of papers.
ssT sYou will see by these she said in q
low, hurried voice, that some property
was left to me by my uncle and my grand
father, bat so strictly settled that even
Tcan touch nothing but the interest. Now
my husband is in want of large sum o.
8 money ct this moment, and wish you to
) gsxamine the matter well, and see whether
by any twisting of the law, ! can place
Z gsny part of my capital at his disposal
Internationally / have done him grea
: wrong, in tone SO low that ears les'
, Jealous alive than mine could not have
understood their meaning, tand, poor al
this separation is, it is all that l can make
and must do it if possible.
aesyI pretended to study the papers before
'fme, but the lights danced and mingled
! and, II, by great efforts, / forced myeye'
to distinguish q word, it conveyed not tht
Z slightest meaning to my whirling brain
e Every dropaof blood seemed imbued witt
"a sePcratc consciousness; and to be ting
: ling land rushing to the side next to her
Whose presence within short distance O
Isms kassthe only thing of which ] had {
) distinct PERCEPTION. / hung my head, tc
hide from her the emotion of which / wa.
thoroughly ashamed,
It may we'll be believed that ! was in
NO condition to give professional opin-
ion, but / got over the difficulty by telling