White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-05-31
WHOLE NUMBER, Isl.

cape. The momentary abstraction Of the
attention of Gastone did, not escape him.
Seeing The other doors ajar. he exclaimed
"she is here" and like lightning few
down the stairs into the narrow lane.
i Both followed Immediately, but so
quickly had he slipped out. that in the
twilight they could not perceivSthe means
of his departure.
BLOOD and thunder p exclaimed Gas
tone. "he must be leagued with the devil
to have escaped Us thus" aa-.
"a light-a light" cried Dumont.
but nowhere could one be found.
AT this instant. as they passed through
the bed room light and stifled groan ar.
rested their attention. Stepping back in
to the entry from which it seemed to pro-
cecil, a little search showed them a fe-
male lying senseless upon the floor. Du-
mont. who first reached her, raised her
in his arms and quickly bore her to the
large room.
1T is she," said the wretched husband,
bending over her in agony, "but alb !
how changed"
1t was indeed true. Sorrow, a sick.
ness of the soul, remorse and despair had
reduced her, even in those few dag, to .
pitiabls object. Her dress was 'disorder-
ed, her hair matted and tangled, and her
person every way neglected, and as he
gazed at her, SO truly helpless in her deg
radiation and desertion, large tears-the
first he had shed since his new trial-fell
frourhiS eyes upon her sunken and IN
natural countenance. Dumont seized 9
cup Of water from the table and dashed it
in her face. She STATED, half opened her
hes and murmuring:
My children Oh, take them not
away - sgain relapsed into death
like swoop.
The stern and unbending rage with
which her husband had sought her, and
which he would have poured in over
whelming torrents upon her head, had
he found her by any means comfortable,
was wholly subdued during the quarter
of an hour in which they labored to re-
store her to consciousness, and he wept
and moaned piteously over the miserable
being whom, in former years, he had so
tenderly loved.
At last she revived. and though nearly
dark, recognized him. A deep and burn
ing crimson instantly glowed upon her
face and neck, and sinking to her knees
she exclaimed
Il seek not forgivenGs-I deserve it
not-but take me once moe to my chill
dren and let me become their servant.
Heap upon me every species of degrada-
ton, can endure it, | shall shrink from
nothing if you will permit me sometimes
to behold them-to know that they are
happy" and burying her face in her
hands she wept bitterly.
Mr.. Gastone raised and seated her in q
chair. With voice in which powerful
though wounded love, and pity for her
wretchedness. were strangely blended with
forced sternuess, severity aud GOODNESS, he
replied
Il forgive you though you ask it not.
AMI will take You to my home but new
er again can you restore my peace Of mind
or my confidence in you-they are gone
forever. You shall be comfortable, and
you will doubtless find some consolation
in cultvating the affection of your children;
my love. you have rejected and lost it
can never again be rekindled."
will not my extreme sufferings atone
in some measure for my guilt 2" she asked
in a subdued tone. II have endured very,
very much"
Il know" replied the husband. brush
ing away a tear which started at the men,
ton of this, for with all his conjugal af-
fections, there had ever been mingled
much patsrnal love and care for the frail
being before him, "and !, too have been
wrung with such intense agony as it SEEM
ell impossible to bear. Oh how could
you desert me thus o. and he stretched
forth his arms as if to embrace her-then
suddenly recollscting himself, drew back
muttering, "No-no-she loves another
she has rested on his bosom-she is
nothing to me now"
Nothing in the whole intercourse had
touched the heart of the soToW-stricken
and penitent woman like this. Again
sinking on her knees she exclaimed in an
implOring voice:
"Oh, my God !! permit me once more
to behold my children and then let me
die"
At this moment Dumont, who upon
her FIRST arrival to couciousness had gone
for carriage. returned and urged their
immediate departure. Hastily gathering
up the beautiful dress. they entered it and
drove rapidly home. During their drive,
the lady again tainted, and upon their ar
rival. Dumont saying to bis companions:
"Excuse me. see you are unable to do
what you would" bore her quickly to
her room and laid her on ths sofa. Gas
tone entered immediately AFTER and with
tears thanked him sincerely. Then leav.
ing the apartment, Dumont communica-
ted all to Catherine and desired that NO
one should intrude upon them.
II was whispered in the family that
Mrs. Gastone had returned, but none saw
or spoke openly Of her. She was i'll and
her husband alone waited upon her with
q firm hand and cool. stern brow; but
when alone, the contraction Of his features
ceased, his hand trembled and he often
wept, wholly overcome BY 9 deep and
eorroding anguish.
When she had recovered somewhat of
her ordinary appearances. her children were
brought 10 her. Silently, with burning