Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-11-28

crimson drapery would haunt one lifetime.
Az she passed The General, she drew her
shawl over her face, as though to conceal it;
and he, calamity, fixed his eyes on the floor,
as though in brown study. He reached his
room too excited to sleep. Something was
agog! what was it? Taking down his we'll
worn Bible, this 'hero of hundred battles"
read, As was his nightly custom. 1t might
have been ten, or perhaps fifteen minutes,
when light step passed his door, accompan-
led by enc slow and hcavy-the two entering
Mrs. Leeds room.
Soon no heard the sweet voice of Mrs.
Leeds saying pleadingly:
"Don't be angry, Harry. Sit down dear;
have nice cup Of strong coffee on the bed
room stove for you. Come drink it, and then
let US 60 to bed, Pm so tired"
"Why don't you 60 to bed them" said the
man Grossly, in thick, drawing tones, that
showed he was in liquor.
20 Harry. couldn't! But now that you
are here safe can sleep quite content. Come
Harry!'
"Go to bed yourself, Mrs. Leeds, sban't
sleep tonight Where is that precious
brother Of yours? Has he come here to act
as a spy on my actions?"
| 20 Harry! you know that Charlie would
not do that Charlie, who has been your friend
from boyhood. He was sorry you were not
here tonight"
"Ay! I'll be bound you had rare dish of
scandal at my expense. Ha! ha! ha!''
Harry Leeds, you know betterl' and for
the first time the tones were indignant I.
"You know that have been faithful, true
wife, and would speak despairingly Of you to
no one-not even to my brother. But come,
now Harry, undress and let us 20 to rest"
"There is no use in fooling, Mrs. Leeds, l
am going back to room 1876; the boys want
me. Mind you don't come after me again. "
And he rose to 60.
ooh my dear husband. please don't 60 of
again }" said she in pleading tones.
"Take your arms from about my neck, wo-
man, or l will strike you"
mo Harrie; you are but jesting. You
would not strike me, your own Carrier
"Wouldn't l? Then, to convince you take
that" And a heavy, brutal blow fell upon
the slender form and with an oath, the man
left the room. slamming the door after him.
Not sound came from the stricken woman
General Lane listened in an agony of suspense
for the faintest sound to relieve the dread he
felt lest that heavy blow had killed the frail
loving wife. Several minutes passed. Then
he could endure it no longer. ...
81 am old enough to be her father" he
soliloquized. 81 will throw aside all etiquette
and see if she is hurt" He forthwith opened
tho door and locked within. All! what q
sight met his eyes! Upon the floor lay the
stricken wife, pale and motionless, the blood
trucking from the wounded arm where it had
come in contact with the stove. Lifting the
inanimate form, be laid it upon the sofa, and
tears-that were no shame to his manhood
fell upon the pale, young face. He bathe1
her face with water, and SOON, to his great
ljoy, the large, dreamy, blue eyes opened and
rested upon him. She looked at him as
though bewidered; then. in moment, rec.
ollecticn returned, and flu-h of shame dyed
her fair face. In answer to the question.
ing look in her eyes, he said:
my room joins yours, Madam. l knew
you were alone; and hearing no sound after
your fall, | feared pou might be very much
hurt, therefore, took the liberty Of con.iug in,
Do not mind me. l am an old man--old
enough to be your father. will ring for the
chambermald to assist you, and then leave
you"
"Oh no! can do very well. would not
have her come and see me in full dinner dress
at this hour, and see this blood too"
Trying to rise, she fell back family, and
tears pressed through the closed lashes
II am deeply indebted to you already, Gen:
Lane; and if you will assist me into my bed.
room, can then manage alone" Tenderly
the noble man supported the slight form into
the adjoining room. As he turned to leave
she said:
General you will keep this dreary scene
secret, will you not should die with
modification to have it kno wn thu oughout the
house."
II will never speak of it madam but l
would advise you to inform your brother, and
have him remove you from Mr.. Leeds control.
Excuse my bluntness, madam it is meant in
kindness. My heart aches for you, and can
not help but speak plainly. Goodnight,
madam"
Next day the sweet face was very pale and
the eyes heavy but that was the only trace
of the last nights conflict. g x
| The wounded arm was covered up from the
brothers sight, ar he never dreamt of his
only siater's sufferings. MIR. Leeds did not
return that day. The brother and sister
spent the evening alone-he reading aloud
while she sewed. It seemed almost like the
pleasant evenings at their own dear home,
and something very nearly approaching
smile fingered about the lips o. that anxious
wife. Ten o'clock came, and no Harry; then
eleven-twelve-on
1T is strange what keeps Harry. Is he in
the habit of staying out SO Late Carrie" -
Before the sister could reply, there was the
tramp of many feet upon the stairs, and in
another moment knock at the door. On
OnQ III 40
litter, on which lay the body of Harry Leeds.
"Drunk!" exclaimed Mr.. Sloan, his suspi-
cions for the first time giving themselves vent.
"No; dead, sir" answered the man, .'he
was killed in drunken brawl." ,..
The wretched wife sank to the floor in a
deadly swoon, while the brother shed manly
tears over the wreck of what was once good
mantle loved friend of his early years.
grief, we need not speak. She had loved him
through all and now that he Yves dead (aud as
it ever Isl his faults were forgotten Again
he was the beloved Harry of other days, the
husband of her choice. Of course every thing
was exposed now and the ladies of the house
found out at last the cause of Mrs. Leeds fit.
full conduct-known at last why she was
so often seen in the halls at night-why she
stood listening, with the door ajar, at night
Those who had been the first to malign her,
now came forward to offer their earnest sym.
pathy. They were all admiration now, of the
heroic wife who had borne her sorrows so
meekly and so quietly. But it was too late.
When kind word would have been grateful
to her aching heart they stood aloof, and gave,
instead, GOLD, suspicious, ooks, that sometimes
cut to the heart with deeper pang than cold
words. Thousands suffer thus day by day,
from the misconstruction of the world. They
must bear it, too for if the sufferer is wo-
man there is no redress unless she unsexes
herself, and goes forth to battle for her rights