Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-04-17
The Baronet,s Story.


by an old friend, an Irish baronet, and, as
far as ing memory serves, | will give il 10
you in his own words -
A oat four months after my marriage,
it was my wont,eaCh morning after break
fast, to stroll about my gardens and fields
unIil, perhaps, one clock, at which hour
| returned home to ENJOY any wlfe's soci-
ETY., and, when the weather permitted,
we occasionally took walk or ride.
One morning, feeling myself not quite
well, returned much earlier than usual,
about eleven O'Clock, and went into tie
house by back entrance as neither
knocking nor ringing announced NY arri-
val, my wife was no! aware Of my return.
sought her first in The drawiDg-room,
but not finding her there, proceeded to
her bedroom, and, whilst passing through
my dressing-room TO I'LL vas surprised by
sudden rush to the bedroom door, which
was instantly bolted from within. dis
tinclly heard low whispering, and, as |
thought, hurried receedIng step; yet, al
together was not kept waiting more than
few seconds; my wife's maid opened
rhe doOT, when to my greatest perpIeXlly,
| beheld my wile's usually pale face sut-
fused with crimson bushes; also detect
ed her maneuvering a comb through h-her
hair. to hide, as instantly suspected, her
bushes from me, or her disordered Curls.
"Wha is the meaning of all this ?'
thought |; "itis strange Il e maid too,
looks confused and frightened"
Ny vile did not hasten to meet me
with her usual sunny welcome; there was
no, even one smile to greet me. AtIenglh
recovering herself hue, she, with a
hesitaling manner, said {: "Weil, love,
how goes on the farm ?'
ButI was grleved; for the fist time in
my life, | fell,har | was not welcome. |
fell something was going on that was
not to know; so, merely saying. II will
tell you when we meet in the drawing
room," | abruptly Quilted her.
No, knowing hithrr was going, or
Why | suffered so sudden, so frghiul q
revolution of feelings, hurried down
stairs, rushed through the hall, across the
lawn, and plunged into The fr-palh that
leads to sequeslered part of The grounds;
nor did | slacken my pace unli was ful-
ly mile from the house, when | threw
myself upon the green bank by the side OF
Ihe river, the most miserable of men. |,
who, one halI-hour before, vas the hap
plest OF men. now, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ably wretched.
Pride had, the moment, prevc nted my
asking Tor an explanation; that ! thought
ought TO have been unsoughl; and de-
'ermIned not 10 ask Lacy y--Vhy my
visit was evidently unwelcome.
But henceiorth, resolved TO keep a
walchIuI eve upon her. a thousand cruel
thoughts crowded upon me, now that |
discovered there was something which
my wife concealed from me; she whoa J
thought so artless, so free from all duPIlc-
ity.
AT this pe'Iod had attained my thlr-
tlelh year. i,ady--was only two
years younger than myself; but from her
sweet and glrlish style OF beauty anu
gay, happy manner no one would sup
pose her more than twenty she hau
been educated on The Continent. l knew
that, soon alter leaving schooI' sne mao re,
celveG matrimonial proposals, she had
not been actually engaged to gentleman
before quitting Paris. Hitherto, this
circumstance had never gwen me the
slightest uneasiness; but now my thoughts
lnvountariIy reverted TO II; /! haunted me
day and night.
Between my wife and her maid there
was an unusual intimacy, owing ds un-
dersrood, TO the latter being what Is called
an old follower OF the family. Ihls wo-
man was one of the tallest | ever saw and
lorra in DrnDoriion. her are was hand