Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-06-04
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY AT

sistance so much-to be spy upon her hus
band"
Sir Francis clenched his hands involuntari
ly, and, looking fxedly at his wife, said, in
tone so low and suppressed that it became al
most whisper, Emily Lester, is this true ?
Much as Lady Lester had erred, she wa.
not yet so far advanced in the ways of wrong
as to veil that error by falsehold she an
swered steadily, though deep blush spread
itself over her face and neck, " Yes, it is"
Her husband, to Emily's great surprise, die
not answer syllable. His head was bent
and his features inmovable. lie offered nc
| justification, uttered no reproaches, and his 81
violent bursts of sobbing, she Toured out q
torrent of recriminations all her forced calm
ness had departed and she upbraided Sir Fran
els with the bitter ess of an injured wife.
al have endured too Iong-I will endure
no more," she cried. You trust me not, and
therefore you cannot love me. | will 60 tc
one who does both--my kind, dear father.
will leave you've must part"
"We qcW part" said Sir Francis, in tone
of freezing coldness, that went like an ice-bolt
to Emiys heart Her husband rose up, walk
ed slowly and firmly to the door, but wnen he
reached it, he staggered, and felt about for
the handle, like one who was blind. In an
other minute the hall door closed, and he was
gone.
Emily sat as he had left her, but her tears
flowed no longer she was rs still and white
as marble statue The mother-in-law storm
ed, sneered, revled but she might as well
have talked to the dead. At last she went
away. When the servants entered with the des-
sert they found their mistress still in her seat
half leaning on the table, but perfectly insen-
sible
Eunce WolferStan was reused from the con-
temptation OF her own reyerScS to SOOthe the
unfortunate Emily. For two days, during
which her delirium lasted, no news of Sir Fran
els came to his wife. His supposed guilt be-
came as nothing compared to the fear that he
should take her wild words in earnest, and
that they should part. But this fear became
an agoniZng certainty. In letter to Emily s
father, Sir Francis declared his intention to
return no more to the home his wife occupied;
that all her own fortune, and a portion OF his,
should be settled upon hear, but that hence
forth they must be separated. Ia vain the
poor old father, his natural anger subdued by
witnessing the agony of his child, pleaded for
her. Sir Francis was reSolute That his wife
should have dared to discover what he chose
to conceal, was deep offense in his eyes but
that she should have sent servant to watch
him-no power on earth would have made
the naughty Sir Francis Lester forgive that.
The desolate wife prayed her cousin to try
her power to soften his obstinate will for Sir
Francis had ever respected the high but gen
tie spirit Of Eunce She went, strong in her
woman's influence her words touched even
him, as she could see by the changing of his
countenance. He bore more from her than
from any one for man will sometimes bow to
the sway of high souled, pure-minded woman
when he will not listen to his brother man.
Eunice pleaded Emily's sorrow--her love :;
but all failed to move Sir Francis Then she
spoke of the child, and at the mention Of his
boy, she saw the very lips of Sir Francis
quiver.
You will take him away from her Poor
Emily's heart will break to lose both husband
and child"
Mrs. Wolferstan, | wish to be Just to my
self-not cruel to her. would not take the
child from his mother, though it is hard to
part with my boy" And the fathers voice
trembled, until, erring as she thought lin; Eu-
Lice felt compassion for the stern, unyielding,
yet broken hearted man.
"Oh," she thought, had poor Emily but
known how to guide this lofty spirit"
Sir Francis continued, "When Lady Les
ter and | are parted, could wish the world
to know as little about the fact as possible
You can say incompatability of temper was the
cause, or anything you will but let there be
no shadow cast On her fair fame-or mine
Emily need fear none," answered Eunice
A nd you"
Sir Francis drew up his tall figure proudly
-" Nor neither, Mrs WoIferstan. TO a
wife who insults her husband by mean suspi-
cons, no explanations are due. But | owe it
to myself to say, and wish you to know also,
that Emily was deceived !; that never stoop-
ed to a vice so detestabe as gambling and
that the nights / spent in torture amidst scenes
loathe, were devoted to the attempt to save
from ruin friend whom love as brother.
Now judge me as you will"
Eunice could only mo0rn that the little
cloud which had arisen between the husband
and wife, had so darkened the vision of both
But it was passed now no peace making
could restore the alenated love. Once only
did Sir Francis and his wife meet it was on
the signing of the deed of settlement. 4 cold
bend of salutation was all that passed between
the two who had once loved so fondiy Sir
Francis preserved his old reserve and calmneSS
of manner Emily strove to maintain equal
compoSure, and the excitement Of her mind
gave her strength. Sir Francis placed his
signature on the fatal parchment, and then
her father led Emily to the table She gave
one wild imploring look at her hus5and-but
his face seemed passioness there was no hope.
She took the pen, wrote her name-her fin
gers, her whole frame, grew rgid-and, with
out sigh or moan, she tainted at his feet
1t was over Sir Francis went abroad and
the young wife, widowed by her own deed, was
left alone. But for the babe who remained
to cling round her neck and look at her with
Lilo thn-c of -L..,, clio Lnl