The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-04-02

ment gnawing at his heart, who drew neal
to her with words ofaffectionate greeting
when his soul was filled with hate.
Jasper St. Clair was the only child o
Lord Weodleigh's only sister, who dice
when he was in the first dawn of man
hood. BY her dsathbed he promised to
be father to her fatherless and friendles.
boy, and nobly did he redeem it; he tool
him to his heart and home, and cherished
him as son.
Lord Woodleigh's aversion to matrimo
ny was well known, and Jasper was there
fore looked upon as the presumptive heil
to his wealth and title. The earls mar
riage was bitter blow to his proud heart
and when in little more than year Lady
Woodlelsh gave birth to lovely boy, he
inwardly resolved to loose no time in re-
moving the usurper to what he had SC
long considered his rightful heritage
And he succeeded-not by the force Of
arms. but by dark hints and soft insinua.
tons. Well did Jasper St. Clair under
stand Lord Woodleigh's temperament -
He was quick to perceive the angry flash
of his eye and the dark cloud which rest
ed upon his brow whenever Edward
Huntley addressed Edith. and he was
unwearied in his endeavors to convince
him that she entertained for her cousin a
more than sisterly affection.
Years passed on. The sunny light fa-
ded from Edith's eye, her cheek grew
pale, and her elastic steps slow and list
less. She sincerely loved her husband,
but his fits of jealous rage, his fiery and
domineering temper made her life misera-
BILE, and wore upon constitution natu-
rally frail and delicate. To please her
exacting lord, she gradually absented
herself from all society. The earl was
extremely unwilling that she should visit
her father, and finally, Influenced by the
evil genius forever by his side, he sternly
forbade all intercourse between her and
the dear friend she had always consider
ed as brother.
One day, nearly six years after her i'll
fated marriage, note was handed to La
dy Woodleigh, in which was hurriedly
traced.
edith, my sister, I am sick-dying;
will you not come to me?
EDWARD HUNTLEY."
A sharp pang of remorse pierced
Edlth's heart, as she thought of her long
and cruel neglect of her early friends
Lord Woodleigh was absent, and without
acquainting him Of her purpose, she set
out Immediately for the home OF her
childhood. AS she passed up the wind
ing path which led to the house, she saw,
to her infinite surprise, her cousin in the
garden adjoining. She threw herself into
his arms, and bursting into tears ex-
claimed:
"Dear Edward, I heard that you were
very ill.
81 have not been sick, Edith" he re.
piled, in surprised tone, affectionately
returning her caresses. "But you," he
added. gazing anxiously into her face,
you are looking pale and thin; I am glad
that you have returned once more to your
old home-forgive me, darling, but I
sometimes think it would be better if you
had never left it,
did you not write to me, Edward?'
inquired Edith, earnestly.
Before he could reply the garden gate
was thrown violently open, and Lord
Woodleigh stood before them! Ten
thousand furies were busy at his heart,
as he saw whose arm encircled Edith's
and upon whose breast her head lay 90
fondIy, but with a violent effort, he con-
trolled himself.
Il have not come. lady Woodleigh,"
he said, in tone of calm and icy polite
ness, "to interrupt your interview with
your lover, but to tell you that you are
free-that the law will soon give you
right to wed him for whom you have for
saken your husband and your child"
"What do you mean?" gasped Edith,
her cheek blanched to ashy whiteness.
II mean this, Edith Woodleigh; that
from this hour we are strangers--that we
separate at once and forever!"
"You cannot be in earnest" exclaim-
ed Edith. throwing her arms around him;
shear me. only hear me, my dear hus-
band!''
At these words, his long suppressed
fury burst forth. "Womanp' he ex-
claimed, fercely; "never again address
me by that title!" And thrusting her
from him, he turned away, and mounting
his horse, rode furiously from the door.
Edith gazed after him with a strange,
bewildered expression in her large, mourn
full eyes, and then, with low, heart
breaking moan, fell senseless to the
ground. There was no need of the inter-
position of the law-for, in less than a
week, the tie which bound Edith to her