The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-05-22

SiOW, anu neT eyes UlleO WIFI UynC.
One more glance in the mirror revealed
a wonderful transformation. How the
old memories were crowding in upon
her How soft her heart was grow.
ing! How full of tenderness was every
thought of her husband Her lips
were athirst for kisses! rs
And now Mrs. Rowland left her
chamber again. Her slippered feet
gave no sound as they moved over the
carpet, and she came to the open door
of the sitting-room, without betraying
a sign of her approach. There she
stood still. Mr.. Rowland was not at
the table reading, as she had left him /;
but at his secretary, which was open.
He was reclining ms head on one hand,
and gazing down upon something held
in the other, and seemed wholly alb
sorbed. For more than a minute he
remained in this fixed attitude, his wife
as still as himself Then long sigh
trembled on the air, aud lifting the
object on which his gaze was rivcted,
Rowland pressed il to his lips, kissing
1T almost possionately three or four
times. A wild throb leaped along Mrs.
Howland's veins. Then her heart
grew still, as in the presence of some
unknown, but stupendous evil. Some
thing impelled her to spring forward
and read this mystery, and something
as strongly held her back. AS she
stood, pale now and in a tremor, the
object was kissed again, and then re-
turned to a drawer in the secretary
from which it had been taken. In this
act, for an instance, the miniature of a
lady met the gaze of Mrs. Rowland
fLocking the drawer, her husband
placed the key in his pocket, and then
resting both arms on the writing leaf of
the secretary, buried his face in them
and sat motionless.
Turning away as noiselessly as she
had approached, Mrs. Rowland fed
back to her chamber in wild alright,
and sat down painting and in wild be-
wilderment. AS soon as thought be-
gan to move in determinate way, the
first result was food of Indignation,
a burning scene of wrong; and it was
only by an effort that the outraged wife
could hold herself back from confront
ing her husband and demanding TO see
the miniature. A calmer, but not less
painful state succeeded, in which con-
science whispered of Indifference and
neglect. Had she turned, habtually,
her most attractive, or her at least at
tracing, side to her husband Had
she kept herself lovely in his eyes, love
ly in temper and lovely in person Her
heart sunk it grew darker and darker
around her; life seemed crushing out.
"Who is III" This question marked
a change in the current of Mrs. How
lands thoughts. Rapidly she passed
IN review one lady friend after another,
but without an incident to fix suspicion.
Then times and seasons IN which her
husband was absent from home, were
dwclt upon. Once week regularly he
went out in the evening and occasion.
ally twice. The regular absence was
for the purpose of attending literary
society, at least so he had informed his
wife. Now, for the first time, doubt o
the truth crept in; and this doubt wa,
as the sweeping away of all the sure
foundations on which her soul haC
rested.
For long time Mr.. Rowland re
mained sitting at his secretary, with hi.
face buried in his arms. At length
rising with slow weary motion, as o
one exhausted by bodily or mental ex
ertion, he drew ont his watch.
Half past nine" was calculated
in surprise. And then he looked thro
the door over towards the chambers Il
! which his wife went with the children
and stoodlistening or some sound. AL
was silent. For short time he movee
in an uneasy, irresolute way about til,
room, and sitting down tried to find re
lief in the pages of a book, but, in
!. little while, the volume closed in hi
hands. Thought was too busy in an
other direction to dwell even with ia
vorite author.
"Ten o'clock 7" The bell was ring
ing its clear notes from neighboring
steple. Mr.. Rowland started up, an,
turning out the light went over to tn
sleeping rooms. His wife was in bed
He spoke to her, but she did not an
swer.
care you asleep?" No motion 0
response of any kind. She lay with he
face nearly hidden under the clothes
He looked at her in strange, earnes
manner for some moments, and the
moving about noislessly, prepared fo
rest. The day had been one of muc
activity, and Mr.. Rowland was wear
, enough for sleep. Soon after his hea
touched the pillow he was in the lam
of dreams. His deep breathing ha
> scarcely given evidence of the fact, er
. a light movement on the part of Mrs
+, Rowland showed her to be awake
Presently she drew the clothes froI
e her face, and raised herself cautiously
| The heavy breathing of her husban
e was not interrupted. She sat up in be-
r -he still slept on; she gided tror
beneath the covering, and cropping i
\ the darkness. found her husbands ves1
. from which she took the key.
r another !" The slight noise mad
$ in opening the chamber door had dis
!, turbed one of the children. Mrs. How
a land stood still, holding her breatf
!. The call was not repeated. and sh
g went ont, cropping her way along til
: passage with one hand on the wal
e Entering the room she sought, sh
closed the door behind her, aud dre'