The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-06-10

whom l thought so- artlcss, SO free
from all duplicity
At this period l had attained my
thirticth year Lady --was only
two years younger than myself, but,
from her sweet and girlish style Of
beauty, and gay, happy manner, no
one could suppose her more than TWEEN
ty. She had been educated on the
continent. / knew that soon after
leaving school she had received matri-
monial proposals-if she had not actu-
ally been engaged to gentlman be-
fore quitting Paris Hitherto this
circumstance had never given me the
slightest uneasiness; but now my
thought involuntaiily reverted TO it.,
and haunted me day and right
Between my wife and her maid
there was an unusual intimacy, owing,
as l understood, to the latter being
what is called an old follower of the
family. This woman was one of the
tallest I ever saw, and large in proper
ton, her face was handsome, the fea-
lures strongly defined; her eyes large,
intensely dark and penetrating; her
long iinglGts looked false; in appear
ance you would have said that she was
nearer fifty than forty. This person,
with her erect figure, was, taken alto
gether, what many would pronounce
very fine looking woman, but some
what masculine.
Having described my wife's maid,
how shall | tell you Of the horrible
suspicion which seized upon my mag
nation Z?
| thought, perhaps. the maid-was
her foreign lover in disguise
And yet did not, could not, be-
lieve it, though the frightful idea new
er absented itself from my brain To
hint such thought to my beautiful
Agnes, my beloved wife, l could never
bring myself / strove rather to ban
ish the idea from my mind as sug-
gestion Of Satan
From that day I became much
changed, both in the outward and iu-
ward man Ny happiness was gone
my naturally light ana cheerful man
ner gave place toiiritability and gloom
Time few on, days and weeks passed
without any particular occurrence, UNI
til one morning having arranged tC
accompany a gentlemen III the neigh
borhood on a fishing excursion, ! in
formed Agnes that should not return
until evening, when l would bring my
friend to dinner.
( Immediately after breakfast we start
ed IN dog cart We had not pro
ceeded more than four miles, when, in
turning corner of the road, n boy
who was shooting sparrows fred SO
near the horses heels that il took fright
and dashed off at furious gallon, nol
stopped until we were upset into O
ditch. We wre compelled to give III
our days excursion, and leaving the
groom to take care of the bruised
horse, my friend and l walked smartll
home by short cut and entered the
house; after conducting my friend IN
to the drawing-room ! FASTENED NJ
} stairs 10 relate our disaster to Agnes
, As | passed through my dressing
room, / found the door was again bolt
ed, and distinctly heard my wife say
with faltering voice, "He isrctWned
: we are discovered The scales fel
+ from my eyes; l had no longer am,
doubt; my worst fears were realized.
Oh the agony of the moment
| staggered back few PAGES, my heaC
reeled, my heart felt bursting; and
had well nigh fallen to the ground
when frenzy of rage and despair
: seized me, | made one rush at tn,
door, androared instant admittance
; Agnes opened the door and stood
: trembling before me; her attendan
flew to the faltherest end Of the apart
mont, l dashed my wife aside, shout
: ing, "this moment quit my house;
: and darting across the room, seized m.
! rival by the throat laundering fortl
} confess all, or this instant you die,
| There was a moments pause; oh
: the agony of that moment
Pale as corpse, Agnes stood trans
fixed with horror, gazing breathlessl.
, upon the tabloau before her, while il
: sutfocating accents, my victim sobbe,
! out, "Oh sir, sir, MS sure rs life is il
7 my'poor body, l have nothing to con
$ fess but--that I'cas plucAiag ont mis-
J hessS gray hans.