The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-04-07

The Bar0net'S Story.
"Trihes, light as air
Are to the jealous confirmation strong
As proofs OF holy writ"


About four months after my marriage, i
was my wont. each morning after breakfast
TO stroll about my gardens and fields, unit
perhaps one o'clock, at which hour l return
ed home to enjoy my wife's society; and
when the weather permitted, we occasional
ly took walk or ride.
| One morning, feeling myself not quite
well, l returned much earlier than usual
about II o'clock, and went into the house
by a back entrance. As neither knocking 9
nor ringing announced my arrival, my wife
was not aware of my return.
! | sought her first in the irawinc-room
but not finding her there, proceeded to her
bedroom, and, whilst passing through my
4lressing room to it, | was surprised by a sud
den rush to the bed room door, which was
instantly bolted within. distinctly heard a
low whispering, and, as thought hurried
recclins step; yet, altogether, | was not
KEEP. waiting more than few seconds. My
wiie's maid opened the door, when, 10 my
greater perp!cx;ty, beheld my wifes usual
| " pale face sutiused with crimson bushes
| | also detected her mancuvesins comb
through her hair, to hide, as instantly sus-
pec.ed, her bushes from me, OR her disor-
derad curs.
"What is The meaning Of all this 2 thought
/; sit is strange the maid too, looks con-
fused and flighsencd'
Ny wife did not hasten to meet lao with
her usual sunny welcome there was nos
even one smile to greet ne. At length, re-
covering herself little, she, with hesita-
ting manner, said
We'll, love, how goes on the farm =
| But was grieveJ for the first time in my
something was going on that | was not to
know, SO merely saying, IL will tell you when
We meet in the drawing-room." l abruptly
quilted her.
Not knowing whittier I was going, or why
| | suffered SO sudden, so frightful revolution
of feeling, hurried down stairs rushed
| through the hall, across the lawn, and pluns-
ed into the first path that leads to seques-
tered part Of the grounds; nor did slacken
my pace until | was fully mile from the
house, when | threw myself upon the green
bank by the side Of the river, the most mis-
cradle of men. I,whc, one half hour before,
was the happiest of men, row .unaccounta-
lbly. unutteraby wretched.
Pride, hid at the moment, prevented my
asking for an explanation that, | thought,
Ought to have been given unsought; and
determined not to ask Lady--why my
visit was evidently so unwelcome.
But, hcnceforth, Iresolyed to keep watch
faleye upon her. A thousand cruel thoughts
crowded upon me, now that | discovered
then was something which my wife conceal
ed rom me she, whom thought SO artless,
so rec from dupicity.
At this period had attained my thirtieth
yeT. Lady--was only two years Younger
| THAI myself; but, from her sweet and girlish
stye of beauty, and gay and happy man
ner no one would suppose her more than
twaty. | knew that, soon after leaving
scbool, she had received matrimonial pro-
posis-if she had not been actually engay-
ed t. a gentleman--before quitting Paris
Hitlerto, this circumstance had never given
me he slightest uneasiness but now my
thou;hts invo!untarily reverted to it-haunt-
ed ne by day and night.
Beween my wife and her maid there was
an unusual intimacy, owing, as | understood,
to the latter being what is called and old fol-
lower of the family. This woman was one
of thetallest l ever saw, and large in pro-
portin her face was handsome, the features
strongly definsed, her eyes large, intensely
dark and penetrating; her long ringlets
lookedfase; aud in appearance, you would
have said Mat she was nearer fifty than for
ty. This person, with her erect figure, was,
; taken ALTOGETHER, what many would pro-
nounce very fine woman, but somewhat
masculine.
,, Having described my wife's maid, how shall
tell you the horrible suspicion which
: seized upo my imagination.
thoumt, perchance, this maid-was-
: her fore a lover in disguise!
And vt did not, conld not, believe it.,
though le fruitful idea never absented itself
from nd brain. To hint such a thought to
my beautiful Agnes, my beloved wife, could
never bng myself l strove, rather, to BAN
y ish the lea from my mind as a suggestion
of Sata.
e. From,hat day became much changed.
both in the outward and inward man. My
happiness was gone-my naturally light and
cheerful manner gave place to irritabiity and
gloom. Time flew on; days and weeks pass
ed without any particular occurrence, Until
one morning, having arranged to acccmpa-
ny gentleman in the neigllborhood on ?
fishing excursion, informed Agnes th-s
should not return until eye-:ng, wha- would
bring nv friend 4~ ulnner. Immediately af-
ter. h,-S.aS;;, we started in dogcar We
h"S1 not PROCEEDED more than four miles,
when, in turning corner of road, boy,
who was shooting sparrows. fred SO near the
horses head, that it took fright and dashed
off at furious gal!op, nor did he stop until
we wore upset in ditch. We we're CON-