Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-07-03

to nysesf, ana dhdd rather hedped san upon san
than Gsineif my fault. You av,N neves. see or
hear of me again. Hate me, despise me
anvtaing. but do NOT let nsy fnnocent child
MIR. --s first impulse was to track his
wife, kill her. aud then kill himself; but
there was still the poor child crying. amid
her tears: Where Is dear Mama /? and he re-
solved to make one effort to save her upon
whom he shuwered all the rich treasures of
his love.
Folly and crime naturally travel north, and
on Tuesday morning Mr. - left for Wash
ington by the Fredericksburg railroad in pur,
suit Of his wife and her '.friend" His mind
was torn by duubt and uncertainty, and it was
relief to suspense when he disembarked at
the Federal capital. On the wharf he heard
some m IN talking, and intuitively stopped.
They were speakingof a lady and gentleman
who had come up on the night boat. They
said that the lady and gentleman appeared
to be very friendly at first, and walked up and
down the forward deck very quietly. After
awhile. however, they seemed to quarrel and
high and bitter words passed between them.
Mr. - listened with intense interest for
the end of the story, and asked in a careless
tone what became of the quarrelling pair
Why SIR. said the man, just as soon as they
got TO the 'oharf the lazy jumpea into The
g 'lHefr0poLI0n" omnibus, and the man-plaque
on has rm1emesS !-took Il hack for the BaLi-
more depot.
Mr.. - thought the plan was deeply
laid, but drove to the Metropolitan Hotel and
registered his name. lie then went to his
room but had not been there five minutes
when a servant knocked at the door, and,
with very significant look, said that a qen-
Hen1Gn in the parlor wanted to see him. Mr..
- went down, opened the door. and in
few moments his wife. sobbing passionately,
was lying at his feet. His first impulse was
to cast her from him, but she clung to him in
desperation, and implored him to stay. Her
words were broken and strange
''Husband-for God knows may call you
sol was mad, mad, mad! lie told me
that must stay he said he would be broth
er to me. and I, fool like, believed him. I
did love him. HusLord, for GOGTs saAto. do
not I"0Ce M" 8O oto7rire me to ruin When
left our house I dared not kiss our child
i dared mott knew not what was doing
and on the cars, before we had been an hour
gone, thought [ heard our child's voice cry
ing, Where's mama! I 42o 1cant my mama
1t nearly killed me lie was respectful ten
der at first, but on the boat he insulted me
insulted me grossly; still he is but man.
| left hm-!eft him at once-and came here
Husband do what you will with me Kill
me it you will curse me l deserve it all I;
but God knows that am not altogether lost
Speak to me-do speak to ME. Oh do not
look so strangely sostrangely" SIZE tainted.
During the whole of Wednesday and Thurs
day she vas delirious, and then unveiled all
the secrets her heart. Mr-- was con-
stantly with land saw how ingeniously and
Systematically her pure thoughts had been
perverted and changed. He listened to every
word she uttered, and when at last she regain
ed her senses. he could kneeland return thanks
that he could take back the wife of his heart
the mother of his child-to his home, with
out lncurring the shame or reproach of mer-
ciless world.
Mr.. and Mrs. - returned to Rich
mond on Friday evening last, and from the
lips, OF an intimate friend we heard this too
true tale precisely as we have narrated it.
Names OF course are suppressed, and the prin-
cipal purpose OF its publication is that it may
serve as moral and warning to others. The
conduct of Air. -- may possibly be con-
demned, but only those who are without fault
have the right to condemn him and surely
in the eyes of Providence 1t ,ous better to be
"'erci/ut and .forgivimg than to drive ,ceok
'c"n'd", 6Y horShmrSs and cruelty, to a lifetime
of crime and shame, and an eternity Of suffer-
um9 and rem0rSe.