Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-20
TIL f WIFE,S S seer f. Il !;
Or, My First and asst Novel.
1CONCLUDEb.1
PART II.


wrong-doing, and dread of being driven to
tell dir, ct fasehood.-
After pocketing my letter | carefully
avoided looking towards my husband.
Read this, Minnie he said presently.
putting one of the letters he had received
before me.
| obeyed.
what shall you do Kenelm? Shall you
go?'' | asked, when | had finished. 1t was
from one of my husbands brothers, begging
his mediation with the stern old father, who
had been bitterly uffended--how, does not
concern my story.
Shall ace 90, you surely mean. Minnie"
| dropped my head; my work was nearly
completed: it would he dreadful TO me to
leave it now. We had been so estranged
lately, my longing to have done with this
and every secret was every great; if | were
left alone day or two, it could be safely
completed.
Perhaps Won are right. and ought to go
! alone" Kenelm said. after painful silence.
Il think You should. 1t is an expensive
| Journey: your father does not like me- and"
Il had rather my wife had been thus eager
that we should not separate. You have pru-
| dence on your side, but-you are changed,
Mary" He rose as he spoke.
"Do not say | am changed! Do not speak
So! / cannot bear it," spoke passionately.
! He came to my side, sat down by me, and
| took my hand.
| IF am to he of any use, | should go to-
dav-at once" he began. The last few
weeks. Minnie. something has divided us.
! Shall we not be one again before we part"
| was silent; did not raise my eyes Perhaps
| in the struggle to appear unmoved. | looked
! obstinate and cross, for kenelm's tone
! changed.
! THAT Iettcr-rcmembcr, Mary, that do
! not stoop to suspect you OF wrong; 1t is
simply your want of confidence that de-
| plore."
Suspect me of wrong. indeed!'' I cried,
again taking refuge in that petulant unreal
| condolences which battles men sorely. 1T is
| YOU. kenclm. who have no confidence III me!
! You treat your wife as if she were a more
| child
| III the time is gone by when she loved to
| he So treated-when she made me her con
| science and hid nothing for me- must pain
| fully learn how this changed wife desires that
| | should treat her"
! He left the room; when he was gone | wept.
| But was little angry, or, as passing his
| study door on nv way upstairs TO pack his
clothes | saw him seated at his study-tahle
with his head bowed upon his hands, could
not have resisted the temptation to 60 to him
| and confess everything.
1t was only by looking buck afterwards
that could understand how much change he
| found in mellow many signs he saw that my
thoughts were not all. or even chiefly his
| besides reading that in my often distracted
face. Many of my little duties were neglec-
ted, or performed 10y Ann: many minute
cares for Kenelm omitted during those fe
versh weeks.
As packed my husbands clothes, shed
some tears over them. When he was actually
gone, after most painfully calm leave
taking, felt utterly miserable; | spent the
day between crying and sleeping and only
thought of my book with disgust and loath-
ing.
Noxt morning brought me a cordial few
kind lines from Kenclm. written the night
before. from the restng-place, which was half
way towards his journeys end.
Having further stimulated my courage by
re-pcrusing my friends note which told me
of the favorable arrangements she hoped to
make for the publication of my book | set
to work
The misery Of my heroine was approaching
! its climax: | was one with her, shaken by her
fears, torn by her passions, transported by
| her hope.
| Hghly-wrought excitement kept me up.
! While kenelm was away, | did rot go beyond
the garden, could not eat, and l hardly
! slept.
! One night had heard Ann go to bed long
| before, and there was no sound or stir in the
| silent house-my self possession. my sense
| of my own identity. altogether failed me.
| crouchcd upon the bare floor in the bare
room. | struggled to separate myself from
the woes into which Ihad plunged ''the WIFE
| of my Imagination. | could not-intense
| emotion overpowered>me. Sick with anguish
! | cried out Husband, husband, good Cod
that is more than | can hear!"
Icovertd my face; that cry had startled
me back to myself. and great terror came
! over me: had always been timid OF night
and darkness
As | continued to crouch there, covering
my face, il seemed to me, that something
stirring in the room, that chill breath famed
my neck and arms. raised my head, seeking
light.
Ny candle had burned OUT was alone in
stirring darkness-the thick darkness of
closc-shuttered room. | strained my eyes
into il: | seemed chained to the spot.
Suddenly my excited fancy made my hus-
band present to me, standing in the middle
of the room, regarding me. He was pale;
! his expression was reproachful, his form
| spectral.
! spread out my arms towards him; my
senses failed me, my last consciousness being
! of II blow and a fash OF pain.
Daylight was streaming through all cracks
| and crevces when | recovered. ! found
myself lying with my face upon the
! floor. | sat up with difficulty. and turned
| sick and dizzy when | saw n pool
of blood close to where my face had lain.
| By-aud-hy | managed to get to my bedroom,
and, after washing may stained brow, dis
covered a small but deep wound on my tenn
! pie | had fallen against sharp iron
hound corner Of the box which had used as
a desk.
did not distinctly recall what had fright
encd me. | felt terribly weak, and lay on my
| bed quite still for several hours. Then l rang
| and ordered Ann TO bring me some coffee into
/ my room. NV window was darkened. and
she seemed TO notice nothing particular in my
| appearance. told her | was not very we'll
and did not wish 30 bee disturbed.
The hot strong coffee revived me wonder
fully, aud my thoughts returned 10 my all
bat finished work.
Nv book was not to be n Tragedy; il was
to end quietly, and peacefully, perfectly, ms a
| beautiful snmmsr-day. laughed softly over
the happiness uf this summary ending. and
the tears raincd from my eyes. | sat close to
the Up n window on that lovely day, in a
drliciously subdued aud sympathetic mood.
aud wrote my hlissfnl concluding chapters.
With one bret interruption only / contin-
ued to write till late in the afternoon. | no
longer wrote with haste and passion but as ]
remembered, with quiet sense of perfecl
power.
had finished. said thank Cod
My heroine WAS happy now, aud my hear
craved like happiness elamorously. MAX.
haste and come home Kenrlm,'' cried
went down stairs Ia hunt for string, wax
aud stamps; my book must be immediatei,
| sent of
On my workable lay letter from m,
husband. How long had il lain there un.
open, d. i pressed it 10 my lips and TO m.
bosom before read Il.
IL said he would be home this evening
What happints- This evening at seven, II
said; what TINS could Il be aow.
Even as l wondered our clock struck
sewn.
There isioed in my loose, iamLied whit,