Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-08-19
THE WIFE OF TWO HUSBANDS
4 SCENE PROM REAL LTr.

THE WIFE OF TWO HUSBANDS.
SCENE PROM REAL LIFE.
H.
1t was on Tuesday, in the midsummer, and
the squire was gone TO a meeting, likely 10 be
a stormy one, upon education, at the neighbor-
ing town; Mss Markham, ever desirous of
little shopping had accompanied him, and had
intended to have done so likewise, had not
the illness Of a parlshiOneT suddenly pre-
vented it. His case requiring certain ali
ments which was not within the scope OF our
resources at the vicarage, walked down to the
Grange, according 10 custom TO request that
they might be sent TO the sick mans cottage
Mrs Markham was not within; but the beauty
of the afternoon eniieed me upon terrace, the
extremity of which communicated with the
walled garden. The gate was always looked,
/ knew, aud only the squire and the head gar
dener hsd the keys OF It. Sauntering slowly
along upon the turf, and drinking in the pros
pect dreamily, had reached the extremity Of
the walk, and was about to turn, when heard
the whispering of voices. | could not see who
the persons were, for they were behind the wall
in the garden close below me They had no
business there knew, and had probably come
after some very choice melons Of the squire's
| made no scruple therefore Of hsteningi but
after the first few words l felt though |
would have given both my ears rather than
have done so.
Il tell YOU, Jane, that now or never is the
/ time There is a heap of money in his desk
to-day, which will 90 to the bank tomorrow
Markham is away at Ruff Than, and it will not
kill him when he comes to find it gone"
Never" said clear full voice, which l
knew to be Mrs. Markham's Il will die first.
l will go away with you yourself, before
would rob my husband"
"Your husband 2" said the other with
sneer. ''POOh, pooh you need not be so
squeamish for 4 few pounds, since you are in
| for so many pennies already Why you've
made free of hundreds"
"Not shilling" she interrupted vehement
| ly-''not one shilling have you touched of his.
Ny own lu1uries, my comforts, the wants OF
Gods own poor, have gone TO support your
| prOhigacy; but not one penny OF his, heaven
knows
..Jane," said the ruffian slowly, stake you
| good heed to what say; I'll blOw upon you,
/ and tell all TO his face. I'll carry you on, l
swear it, before his very eyes. What you have
known of me hitherto Is nothing to what you
| shall know of me when you and l come to 1--we
together again" l seemed to see and feel
| through the wall itself the shudder that ran
through that poor lady's frame at these words.
If had thought the worst of her, instead OF
being assured, as then was that her wicked
husband Heathcote was indeed alive, and per-
scouting her with a power more terrible than
ever, nv heart would not have bled for her
less painfully, my Indignation against hun
would not have risen higher; but as It was my
teeth were grinding in my wrath, and my stuck
was furiously gripPed, as though It were a word.
Silently, like thief in the night, stole down
to the wall and setting my feet in some con
venient crevices, peered cautiously above it
Both luckily, had their flces turned away from
me but could see, even ON the mans back,
scoundrel and coward written. His poor wife $
wrongs and goodness and all that had heard
of his brutality, swept over me IN sea OF IN
dignation. Oh, for one quarter OF an hour OF
nv college days, before had put on that eeele-
siastical garb. Oh, to have given him ever 50
buef an example of that " one, two" which /
| remember TO have had some skill, in the bygOne
time Ny years aud profession indeed, were
already so far forgotten that -ather wished he
might have Just laid his hand upon her IN his
rage. NY stick was an ashen one, and would
not have broken for some time, / think. De
| wanted TO do It, could see by the twitehing
fingers: the bowed and trembling, but still grace
fui fipure-the appealing sobs, for which |
could only guess the meaning-the young life
withered and struck down in It's Joys by his
cruel threats and Presenee-they moved him not
one lot / dared not trust myself to look any
LONGER, but resumed my station at the foot OF
the wall. After storm of menaees, met by
almost hysteric exPostnlations that grew fainter
every moment, heard him say You know
where am to be found, woman; and if what
demand does not come to hand within the next
eight-and-forty hours, come to this house as
surely as YOU are my wife, and claim you"
heard fall upon the ground, and knew that his
moor victim had tainted but / waited until the
wretch-who needed her no more than If she
were lOg-had left the garden and plunged
swiftly into the copse that fringed its northern
side. l ran in then at the open door, lifted
Mrs. Markham frUm the path, and revived hei
al the spring that flowed hard by She was
afraid, on coming to herself, TO look up at me
taking me Tor Heathcote but told her how
had walked IN, seeing the gate open, and eI.
pecting to find her gardening, and how feared
the heat had been too much for her. She was
ice-cold, poor thing; but she murmured-"Yes
the heat, II was the heat" / supported hei
homeward up the hill. got away immediate
Iy, and pretending telegraphic message, pack
ed up a little carpet bag drove down to the
railway station at full speed and arrived in time
for the up express, as had hoped
III.
On tie next Wednesday at noon / WAS back
aqaiu. ard at once took my way down to the
Granee. Mrs Markham had been very III, !
heard, and was now no better the squire was
even then at her bedside / sent for him upon
the plea of very urgent business, and he came
down into the library at once. II had not been
in his own house, and expecting 10 meet no
other but himself, should not have known him.
His eyes were swollen and dull, his gait tOtter-
ing, and his features white and drawn like the
face Of dead man. She had told him all, ut
last; his first and only love, his true, devoted
wife, the partner of six happy, happiesI years,
was to be torn from him BY another, and doom
ed to life Of misery
"Grsntley," said he, in hollow, unnatural
tone, al have that 10 tell which will wiring
your heart, / knOw-it has already broken
! mine" He had fallen into chair Ike one
/ whose limbs refused to sustain him, and the
tears coursed down his cheeks unchecked and
unconcealed
aM,xkh.v, - LII al Lnarv all-aveTy.