Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-09-16


Ifancy that any nan less noble than mi
husband would have struck me. There wa
intense pain and anger in his eyes--stil
laughed my insulting; unnatural laugh. HI
left me. / chose to believe that he had lock
ed the door; would moi 60 to ascertain.
ceased laughing, and grew very indignant
|, Kenelm's wife, to be treated like naughty
child. Very bitterly would he repent bis
injustice! Then, as.I loved him, my hear
grew tender at the thought of the pain he
would feel when my hour Of triumph came
For the first time doubted of the possibilit,
of this triumph. c,uld uot rejoice if he
suffered. We were one.
threw myself on. the ground, rested my
head on KeDelm's sfstool, and cried my.
self TO steep. / suppose ! was thoroughly
worn out. i must have slept many hours
1t was dusk when the opening Of the hall
door and my husbands step in the passage
reused me. L heard him enter every room
in the house be fore he came into the study;
this, and my not detecting the sound of the
turning of the key, staggered me in my be-
lief that had been locked in; but would
not think that had been voluntary prison.
er all this while.
My husband could not see me when he
entered. He peered about, then hastenec to
the open window. "Good God! She has
jumped out!" he cried.
81 am here, Kenelm!" said, rising.
"You have been here all the time | have
been away"
81 believe ! fell asleep"
"Tea is waiting In the parlor-wiIl you
make it,"
followed him. noticed upon how hag-
gard face the lamp shone; but his manner
was cold, and represssd tenderness. He
broke painful silence by saying
MARY! | have made arrangements for
your going home to-morrow!''
"Your eldest sister passes through Lon
don on her way home from Keut, tomorrow
| shall take you to the station to meet her.
| have written to her and to your father
Your health requires change of air."
alt is well you should let me know on
" hat plea you send me away"
"Tne scene of this afternoon taught me
that we cannot live together, feeling as we
now do towards each other will not risk
again feeling towards my wife as when you
laughed but now. In your absence, will
strive to discover where l have
been wrong in my conduct as a husband"
hardly needed his words; my foot was
beating the floor restlessly. | answered.
'You will be sorry; my day will GOMEZ
you will repent this harshness.''
"Am harsh, Minnie! then l shall indeed
repent. strive to be calm and Just, only
70 act for your good"
"Oh, you are very cilm; you VII! be
happy without me, quite! But you are most
lnjust!''
81 repeat again Mary, that suspect YOU
IF no wrong. Your want.of confidence has
rritated me. When / m alone, hope to
zee clearly how | lost your confidence, and
low | can regain it. fyou were reason
lble, you would own that it is best for us
o part for little while"
81 am very reasonable! 1t is best!'' an
and know my eyes shone gleeful-
y, for had jumped over dismal weeks, and
vas thinking of our joyful meeting. He left
ne abruptly.
My heart was ready to break when, next
lay, was whirled away from my husband,
Who stood on the platform, gazing after US.
Regardless of all lookers-on, gave way to
great burst Of weeping-hiding my face
IN my sisters shoulder.
My time at home was chiefly spent in
about the garden, orchard, and
lie Ids, recalling pas, courriDg.days, and
reaming over my coming trump.
They were all very kind to me-petting
ne as they had been used to do; but | liked
pest TO be much alone, to think uninter-
uptedly of Kenelm Several times he
;ame to spend an hour or two with us; he
ejoiced at my improved looks, but neither
If US said anything Of my return.
My friend had written to me in most
ervent praise of my book. She was work.
ng at it diligently-was to write preface
or It, and had made favorable arrangements
or its publication. Time slipped away
'apidly. My husbands visits were the only
events of my life, which passed in dull
lreaminess. suppose nature was avenging
herself for the excitement in which had
ived for SO long.
At last nv book was ready, and receiv-
ID, through my friend, what considered
Tery large sum, as part payment for the
work.
My family had reason to think me sud-
lenly demented. 'HsTne, home, home!
;red. 1 insisted on departing the very
morning on which ! received my friends
etter, only promising to give them an ex-
,lanation of my strange conduct before
ong.
Completely reused from my forpidity now,
ny longing for Keneim and home was in
ense. would travel alone, too; had
planned a meeting of which l could endure
10 witness.
Leaving my luggage at the station, |
walked homewards across well-known fields.
But the nearer approached, the more my
courage failed me-. 1t was bright early
lfternoon; but there seemed to me some,
hing eerie in the wind that swept the sun
stepped fields. Ii Keneim should be ill!
paused at the garden gate; the parlor
blind was down; saw no sign of life about
he house. paused ilonger yet before |
;ould bring myself to open the house door.
NV heart stood still when knocked at
he door of my husbands study; then it beat
again SO violently that lost the sound OF
his listless "Coue in" | waited. A slow,
leavy step crossed the room-the door
,pened--my husband stood before me.
"Minpiei nv darlinu, Come back 10 me