Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-08-20
THE WIFE OF TWO HUSBANDS.
A SCENE PROM REAL LIFE.

A SCENE PROM REAL LIFE.
".
Mr. Rlby's guess had been true one. The
pocket of Heathcote had been picked by one OF
his wicked companions in the bush, and he had
numbered the thief for the purpose Of recovering
the packet, in which hope he had been foiled.
This having been iound upon the body, had
been judged conclusive to identify it with his
own remains and for these so many years he
had not dared to show himself in civilized parts
to gainsay II, but had lived the maurading life
life of a bushranger. Tired of this, and having
10y a successful piliage obtained money enough
! for his transit homewards, he had ventured
hack TO England. Finding his unfortunate
wife well married and in such great happiness,
his hatred of her was Tedoubled, and his deter
miRaLion strengthened 10 Perseeute her at al
hazards. The poor lady had never before had
strength of mind TO reveal his existence and
now her confession and the certainty Ofhaving
to leave her beloved Markham Cor this dreadful
husband, had brought her into the most danger
Gus state. She prayed for death more fervently
than any dying man for life when, therefore,
the squire had carried up to her the result OF
my interview with Heathcote-for he did not
needlessly distress her with the account Of this
new atrocity, and Of the means whereby he had
| finally got nd Of him-she was almost beside
herself with JOY. Her gratitude towards me
was without bounds, and as she strOye to raise
her attenuateJ form from her couch to receive
| and thank me, tears choked her utteranee. The
i squire was but little more composed With
/ their mutual confidence, which had been but
this once broken, quite restored, and their very
life blood as II seemed, set once more flowing
in their veins, it fell to me 10 wake them from
their new found happiness, by reminding them
OF the real position in which they stood The
reaction from the extremity OF despair TO the
certainty OF safely, had been too great to admit
Of any thoughts, save those Of unallOyed con-
tent. Good and Christian man as the squire
was, the circumstances Of Mrs. Markham being
still the lawful wife of Henry Heathcote-
whatever that mans character might be-and
therefore making her continuance at the Grange
impossible, had never once occurred to him
The man having been thoroughly got rid of
and all idea of personal annoyance at an end
SIR. Markham had dissoeiated her in his mind
from all relation with her first husband at once
The poor lady must have indeed thought often
Of the sad case, but had put II from her, proba.
bly,, as something too horrible to be dealt with
Justly. Nevertheless, she was the first to SEE
the rightness of the path which It was my duty
as clergyman to point out to both OF them
If ever there was a case where spirit and letter
seemed at war-if ever one where innocent error
seemed to be more terribly avenged than crime
itself-I acknowledge that It was this Of theirs
Ny heart was wrung for them to its core; but
had no glimmer of doubt as 10 what was ne
cessary for them to do. Tenderly, but firmly,
put It before them; and before / had done,
Mrs Markham signed to me that it was enough.
Il go" said she, dearest George, at once ,whle
| haze Sfifl efrenOfh IN travel -
"The vicarage, madame, is of course your
home as long as you please"
81 thank you, dear Mr. Grantley, but leave
Woodisee,' said she, ''as far behind as posi-
bic, this very night"
sAnd ;" chimed in the good little old maid,
whom we had almost forgotten, she had been
so silent a spectator and / with you, sister
Jane, to the end of the world, if you viii. She
is my care, George, from hene6forth, for have
wronged her in my heart"
The squire's grief was terrible to witness, but
he made no opposition Miss Markham had a
small estate IN a distant county, to which It was
arranged that the two ladies should immediate
" remove Boxes were hurriedly packed, the
traveling-chariot ordered to the door; and, after
such leave-taking as l trust does not often
fall to the lot of mOrtals the invalid was lifted
in, in iainting state, and borne away swiftly
Into the night. DaTkly, indeed, It fell upon
the Grange, where the widOweT was left mourn
inc for his wife that was still alive Weeks
and months passed by, bat he would not be
comforted.
The sketch-boOk on the table, the piano in
the hall, the flowers that her graceful hand had
tended in and about the house, the garden
wherein she had loved TO busy herself, hel
iavoriie walks, the very prospect her soul had
delighted in, were robbed Of all their charms
for him at once Tears instead Of smiles, sprang
forth st the sight of them; horror was born oi
them instead Of joy-skeletOns Of their former
selves, wherefrom the glory had departed, and
into which the life was no more breathed. A,
|, KIND and as good as ever, his cheeriulness
seemed quite TO have forsaken him, and he was
growing old ut heart and grey on head apaee
Mrs. Heathcote-for she had re-assumed hel
former name-never wrote one line to him, MOI
be to her; but his sister cOresPonded with the
squire daily and to receive those letters, and tC
talk with me and others who had known her o.
; his departed wife, was his sole pleasure.
} 1t was some two years after the separation O
Mr. and Mrs Markham, that ! exchanged my
vicarage at Woodislee for the summer months
on account Of the sickness Of my eldest child
for a parish on the sea-eoast, and, with muei
! difficulty, got the squire TO accompany US
The novelty Of the mode of life and scene wer'
e some what benehtlng him. and long excursloni
! on the water afording him most amusement,
3 persuaded him to take them continually. On
q | evening, while he was thus employed, | wa
0 suddenly sent for from the beach, to see wha
4 could be done for poor fellow who had fallel
E off the cliff. lie was, the messenger told m
' as We hurried along, well known accomPhe
5 of the smugglers infesting that part Of tn
J, coast and had met with this accident, 1t Wa
n supposed, while signaling to some Of them tn
" approach Of a revenue-cutter- A little crow
S had gathered round him on the shore, but nc
If evincing that sympathy which Is usually fe
among the poor in places Of that sort for VIC I'M
y to the excise laws. They had, however, tui
e nishei him with a matrass, and were siyin
l. him water. He was speeehless, and seaTeel
sensible, they said; but glance at his terrific