The new era., 1860-06-14

q Il
months, cherishing love for another,
when you at the same time professed for
me y our solcand sincere devotion, then
a deception by letter, would be but a
trihe. Your letter seems very sincere.
But whether you really are unsuspect-
ing of the cause, or pretend to be so.
though Il think you should have a Sc
cret consciousness Of it, yet l will give
the explanation, thereby satisfying the
promp;,ngs of my own heart. Know
then, you left me, on New Years morn
ing, to 60 to your Office, on some emer-
getn business, leaving your usual part
ting kiss upon my brow. Never had l
loved you more fondly. Having expec-
ted you to spend the day with me, your
absence rendered me unusually lonely.
/ looked around for something to inter-
est me till your return. The drawer,
in which you was accustomed to keep
all your private papers was half open
1t had always before been locked, and
the key kept about your person. | re-
membered that, some little time previous
when you had occasion for some paper
therein contained, | asked you what
was that packet of papers confined with
the ribbon of white satin, on which /
had already LAID my, hand l thought
they looked suspiciously like love letters.
You ans wered, as l thought evasively,
Immediately closing and locking the
drawer.
On this above-named morning, seeing
it so temptingly exposed, l yielded to
my curiosity, and grasped that satin
bound package, The first paper that
dropped therefrom, was letter written
in fair, delicate hand too lady-like to
be mistaken. Judge of my bewider-
ing astonishment. when, after glancing
at the date, which was Augest, and
since our marriage, ! read the address,
=" My own dearest Henry % Then
followed professions of the most ardent
and long continued attachment. mingled
with slight reproaches for some seem
ing neglect on your part, and referring
to last interview in an arbor at the.
twilight hour. The. words seemed to
kindle into flame, as their meaning was
with the swiftness of thought conveyed
to my burning brain. The closing sem
tence still rings in my memory" BY
all our beloved past-its hours Of pure
and unalloyed enjoyment-by all our
fond hopes and cherished dreams of the
futurc---by all your VOWS of undying
constancy and unchanged devotion-by
all your knowledge of my absorbing and
all depending love for you, ] entrcat. l
charge you, suffor not your love to fail !!
1t is my life-withont it die
betUfW a5ffour1reeJeA ALICE"
The paper dropped from my hand.
But after few moments, raised it,
and returned it to its place. turned to
the table and penned the brief note,
which resolved should be my last word
to you. cast no "last fond look"
about our sitting room ere | departed.
| hurried on my cloak and rushed from
the house. Soon | was at my unclc's,
where, beneath the roof. and under the
protection Of the guardian Of my child
hood and youth, was sure of finding
welcome and home. . .-4g.
l locked myself in the quiet chamber,
formerly and still mine, where I yielded
to my indign alton, which was soon sue
ceeded by passionate despair. Amid
all my contending emotions, the most
intense was, 1 think, the knowledge Of
the wickedness and deceitfulness Of your
heart, which had fancied so firm and
steadfast in manliness and truth. Soon
er would have believed all the world
base, ungratelul. and traitorous, than
the cherished idol Of my heart--my no
BILE Henry. Whence again should !
look for happiness Bitterly did / % feel
conscious that there was for me no peace
on earth. How much more intense was
my present misery. contras.ed with my
past perfect enjoyment was lost
in confusion and sconjectureI owhen en-
-deayoring to solve your conduct \ Why
if you, already, loved another. did you
unite yourself with mel Was it for my
fortuness Ifso. and if unprompted by
love. why did you still pretend to an un-
varying display ofthe most fsrvent, az