Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-08-26
The Wife of Two Husbands.
A SCENE FROM REAL LIFE.


On the next Wednesday at noon Twas back
again. and at once took my way down to the
Grange. Mrs. Markham had been very i'll.
heard, and was now no better; the squire was
even then at her bed side. sent for him on
the plea of very urgent business and he came
down into the library at once. If | had not
been in his own house, and expecting to meet
no other but himself, / should not have
known him. His eyes were swollen and
dull, his gait tottering, and his features white
and drawn like the face of dead man. She
had told him ALL at last; his first and only
love. his true. devoted wife, and the partner
of six happy, hapiest years, was to be torn
from him by another, and doomed to a life of
misery.
"Grantley," said he, in hollow, unnatural
tone, Il have that to tell which will wiring
your heart, / know-it has already broken
mine" He had fallen into a chair like one
whose limbs had refused to sustain him., and
the tears coursed down his cheeks unchecked
and unconcealed.
Markham" said /. II know all-every
thing-more, think, than you can tell me.
Yonr agony is not for yourself, but for your
for her, am well assured She shall not
be dragged away. Be comfOrted. He shall
never touch a hair on her head"
His despairing eyes turned towards me not
without touch of hope. / was about to
speak further, when the front-door bell rang
gently.
THE man has come" groaned the poor
squire. as if memorable fate had laid its very
hand upon his shoulder.
'.Show him in," said to the servant, for
his master seemed to have lost all power of
speech. For my part, drew hopeful au-
curry from the delicate bell ringing; a ruf1ian
that had nothing to fear would have pulled
with both his hands.
Heathcote slouched in with an insolent air.
half sneak, half bully.
81 don't want the parson to hear what
/ have got to say to YOU were his first
words.
Mr.. Markham, who kept his back turned to-
wards him, waved his hand to me in sign that
| should speak for him.
lyon may say whatever yon WILL said
quietly" L am aware Of the object of your
coming; you want to extort the money from
this gentleman, which you tried to persuade
another to steal from his own desk"
''Oh, she told. did she?' said the william
with diabolical smile. at will be the worse
for her, presently, that's all"
No. sir, she did not. if you mean your
wife, Mrs. Heathcote. Ay, sill" added /, as
he started back, ''we are aware of all that
and very much more. You were overheard
in the garden. There is more than one thing
known, witnessed. Henry HeathcOte, of your
old doings, which you are not aware off,
himself Whether or no." said he after
little, Il shall have the money or shall have
my wife-whO has committed bigamy-Which-
ever that gentleman there pleases"
THAT gentleman, said l, as | observed Mr.
Markham was about to speak, lis not to be
inundated month after month. as Mrs. Heath
cote was. into supplying your bOttomless
purse. Nay, sir your oath is not to he trus-
ted. hold in my hand a warrant for your
hon PpH U trnp Ia m
shire by Mr.. Raby, upon charge Of forgery,
the proof of which | have now with me. The
consequences are upon your own head, re-
member, and when you leave this house, it
will he for jail.'
II was quite prepared for this sir, said the
ruffian, with look of indescribable malice.
"Mrs. Markham that was, will, however, ac-
company me to prison. Fine food for the
scandal of the county that will be, and a
good cOnvict's wife she will make to me in
my Punishment without doubt
Mr.. MARKHAM writhed like one in torture
upon his chair. We were indeed in the man S
power, as he said, and my journey into Hamp-
shire had been but of small service. One
desperate course, however, which had been
suggested by Mr.. Raby, was left to me, and |
tried it. Miserable man." said | sternly, do
you then dare to force us to eXtremities? Y on
scolf at Punishment, but what say you to the
gallows? you'll strobe up to the trembling
wretch, and laying my hand upon his shout
der. whispered aloud-''you murderer
The sweat stood upon his pallid brow his
knees smote together, and his hair seemed alb
solutely to briste up, so ahject was his terror,
'Mercy! mercy! l never found the note" he
murmured.
No" said |; "but here is the packet
and produced it-"and red with the blood
that still cries out against you'll" At the
sight of this frightful evidence, the coward
knelt upon the floor and covered his face with
his hands.
Rise, wretch-go!" Numbered the squire,
who had risen up like a man returned to life
from the grave. Here is money-the sum
that you demanded-take it. If ever again
these eyes of mine light on you. sure as
there is a sun in heaven, | will hang you"
The cast-down, half paralyZed figure of Mr..
Markham seemed to dilate as he said these
words he looked like some incarnate Nemesis
denOuncing certain vengeance upon the crea-
ture at his feet. II gathered itself up Ike a
stricken hound, seized the proffered notes
without daring to look up into the donors
face, and rushing out OF the door and from the
house, as though the executioner was even
then upon his heels, sped away under the
flaming eye Of noon from Woodislee, for
ever.