The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-09-23

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III y st~tATCH.
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THE WIFE s SECRET;
on, NJ rIRsr AND LAST NOVEL.
fcosclupEpl
I he'd heard people sAy that some tnes ny nh'
hand Appeared 20 hide "a iron hand oeses,h :
velvet glove rscaisd the sayins as. ~ 9.s, ,ss
sasooth innsxibility Of his character. va shS'y
o.rsd no word APOLOGY but remained ~, ,sp :,
choks mo- This made me seem all the more suiseu
IA ~,an.ler that my nobic. hieh.minded h9se.ac
looked grtsved the heart at such s'gns OF en'u'
W.. AMER breakfast, sought the bare room,
ana locked myself in,I trembied taking hone the
n,,ral that vas evolving, without conscious ensft
q nins, from the story which haa called "A
fsIs tSs possibility of my little troubles deepen
,,c ana Widening terrible. I cried passionatcly
81 viii psrssvere; bat must finish soon--Icaunoi
had taken Il f,r z, anted thai Kenslm had work
to do; but when had slipped down stairs, just be
fore dinner time, say him lyiag onour little lawn
book beside him.
iday, on which he has done without me-"
When Ne met, could not be gay or natal; was
oonssrainsd In manner, and teis weighed upon aud
TIE lev days that followed wsss spooufort.b,..
Ksnslm tried TO rssams his usual d&meanor, bat
somsthtne Vas between %, and wa afraid Of him.
I wrote = much - could without risk Of detec-
tioa, and forgot my own eriefs during those hours
told myself that would not, that could not.
give up, now that had gone 20 far Wherever
sslt wavertng and desp ,udent pictured to myself
my triumph. Kcnelm's surprise, delight, gratitude
this would pay for all my pain.
Ioers wss surely 90 tedious lingering by the way
10 my book. wrote in desperate haste to have
finished II.
With Kenelm's many letters one morning came
letter to me. received il from him and bushed as
friend In answer TO . note had sent her about my
book.
BY THE time had become morhidly nervous. I
w.s haunted BY vague sense of wrong doing. and
dresd OF being driven to tell direct falsehood,-
he'd had more thsn one terrible alarm of detec.
tion.
After pockstiag my letter carefully avoided
looking tovsrdsm my husband.
"Read this, Minnie" he said presently, putting
one Of the letters he had received before me.
obeyed.
"whst shall you do, Keuelms Shall You eo."
asked, when had flushed. 1t was from one of nv
the stern old father who had beeu bitterly offend
ed-how, does not concern my story.
.s6haii zoe 20, you surely mean, Miunie."
dropped my head; my work was nearly compie.
ted, t would be dreadful to me to leave il now We
had been 80 estranged lately, my longing TO have
done with this and every secret was very great if
were lef: alone day or two, it could be safely
completed. Is#
sPerhaps you right, aud on ght to 70 alone.
Ksnelm said, after painful silence.
II think you should. Its an expensive journey;
your father does not like me, apd--,sA3T
~ bad rather my wife had been thus eager that
ws shculd not separate. You have prudence on
your side, out-you are changed, Macy" He rose
- he spoke. teEA
cannot bear It," spoke passionately. He came
TO my side, sat down by me, and took my hand
"If am 70 be of Any use, 1 should 60 todsy-at
once" he began. "Ths last few weeks, Minnie
something has divided us Shall not be one again
before We psrti"
was silent;l did not raise my eyes. Perhaps IN
the struggle to appear unmaved, looked obstinote
and cross, for Kenelm's tone changed.
THAT letter--remember. Mary. that do not
stoop to suspect you OF wrong; it is simply your
want Of confidence that deplore."
''Suspect me Of wrong. indeed" cried, again ia
king refuge In that petulant unreasonableness
have no confidence In mel You treat your wife az
ffshe were . mere child"
@If the time 10 gone by whentbe loved to be so
srsetsd-when she made me her Conscience aud hid
nothing from mel must painfully 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 my way up-etairs to pack his clothes, saw him
seated ct his study with his head bowed BON
his hsndsI could not have resisted the temptation
TO 10 70 him and confess everything.
It was only by looking back afterwards that
could understand how much change he found in
mellow many sgna he SAW that my thoughts
were not ell, or even chiefly his,-besides readiog
thatin my often abstracted face. Many ofmy little
duties were neglected, or performed BY Ann; many
minute cares for Kenelm omitted during those fe-
vsrish weeks.
AZ packed my husbands clothes shed some
tears over them. When he was actually gone after
most painfully calm leave.taking, felt utterly
miserable; I spent the day between crying and
sleeping. and only thought ofmy book with disgust
and ioathing.
Next morning brought me cordial-afs kind
lines from keneln, written the night before, from
the resting place, which was half way towards his
d. Journeys end. -.A
Having further stimulated my courage BY re-
perusing my friends note which told me Of the ia.
vOrnble arrangements she hoped TO make for the
publication of my book l set to work.
Tho misery Of my heroine was approaching it's
climax; was one with her, shaken by her fears.
torn BY her passions transported by her hope
Highly wrought excitement kept msup While
keneim was away, did not 90 beY ond the garden:
could not eat, and hardly slept.
One night had heard Ann go to bed long before.
and there was no sound or stir in the silent house
my selEpossession, my sense of my own identi-
ty. altogether failed me.
Icronched upon the bare a Dor in the bare room
0tTuRxlo0
which had plunged 'sthe wife, Of my in,
could not-intense emotion overpowered me -
Sick with anguish cried out "Husb .nd hus band,
Good God! that Is moro than can bare"
Icovered my face; that cry had startled me back
to myself, and great terror came over me; had
always been tmid Of night ami darkness.
A continued to crouch there, covering my
face, IL seemed to me, that something stirred 10
the room, that chill breath famed my neck aud
arms. 1 raised M head seeking light.
Ny candle had burnt out; l was alone in stir
: ring darkpess-the thick dark uess Of close shut.
tered room. ! strained my eyes into it; seemed
Suddenly my excited fancy made my husband
present to me, standing In the middle of the ROOM
regarding me. He was pale; his expression was
. rsproachf0l, his form spectral.
spread DOT MY arms towards him; my senses
failed me, and my last consciousness being of a
blow and dash Of pain.
Daylight vas streaming through all cracks and
ersyices when recovered. found M ysef living
With my face upon the floor sat up with din
Guilty, aud turned sick aud dizzy when saw pool
Of blood close to where my face had lain. By-and
BY l managed to get to my bedroom aud, after
washing my stained brow, discovered a small but
. deep wound on my temple I had fallen sgains.
sharp ironbound corner of the box which had
used - desk.
] did not distinctly recall what had frightened
me- felt terribly weak, aud lay on my bed quite
0till Tor several hours. Then I rang and ordered
Ann to bring me some coffee into ray room Ny
window Vas dArkened. aud she seemed to notice
nothing particular In my APPEARANCE. I told her
vas not very we'll, and did not wish to 30 dis.
The hot strong coffee revived mo wonderfully
and my thoughts returned to my al but flashed
work.
Ny book was not 70 be Tragedy; it was to end
quietly aud peacefully perfectly and as beautiful
summer day. laughed softly over the happiness
Of this summary ending, and the tears raiued from
my eyes. eat close to the open window on that
lovely day, In cslcieusly subdued aud sympa.
Al IN eIpdi