Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-06-13

dlant III rlcf 1aDrlcS anu SIlCOOi
the white face of poor Lucy glided. in be-
tween. and made my heart throb gsiltily.
Oh. how rich | grew Year after year
added to my gold. My miserly disposition
began to manifest itself soon after my mar,
riage. | carried my gold first to banks, and
then to nay own safes. / put constralnt on
my wife-for very generously she had made
over her whole fortune to me-and began TO
grumble at expenses. / made our living SO
frugal that she demonstrated, and finally ran
up large bills where and when she pleased.
Against this / protested, and we had open
quarrels more than once My clothes grew
shabby; / could not afford to buy new ones,
although the interest of my investments was
more than l could possibly spend for ration
al living.
finally grew dissatisfied with everything
but my money 1 neglected my wife, and
grew careless about her society. Several
gentleman came to my house, among them a
would -be-author and celebrity. He came, |
thought, too often for my good name, and
ordered my wife to discontinue his company.
She refused and locked her up in her room.
How she managed to get herself free l never
knew; but in the evening when | returned,
she was gone from the house That caused
me some uneaslness, not much, Tor was
soon absorbed in taking account OF my gains
Ust managed to take up paper fora mo-
ment, to read cut its business details, when
the door opened and in came mywfe, dress
ed bewitchingly, followed by that moustached
celebrity.
Good evening, my dear, she said, in the
coolest way imaginable, and placed a chair
for her friend
"Stop!" l cried, my jealousy aroused =
that man sits not down in my house
THAT gentleman and my friend
shall sit here, sir, if you please, said ywlfe
firmly
My passion was excited then as it never
was before and | collared the scoundrel He
vas my match, and, God of heaven, my wife
cody put dirk-knife into his hand, and he
stabbed me- / tainted and remembered
nothing more, till | found myself on a bed
IN my own chamber, watched over by my
hOusekeeper.
''Where--are they?" I gasped-
Gone, " Wa all she said.
1t occurred to me thenlike fash of light
ming that nobody was near me at the time |
was wounded, that my keys were about my
person, and that Ihad been robbed perhaps,
Of all my available property. The thought
threw me into an agony of fear. ! ordered
my clothes to br0ugt to me- The keys were
there Taking them out | told Mrs. Hale,
me the papers that were there. She return
ed, her face white with terror, to say there
was nothing there, and all the little doors
were open.
Robbed robbedl' ! yelled with curses
and imprecations, and again my senses de-
4 serted me.
Brain fever ensued For weeks / lay de-
prived Of reason, literally treadmgthe verge
of the grave. One morning | was conscious
only OF sinking, deathly feeling as / open
| ed my eyes. Was it an angel saw stand
ing before me, her soft eyes veiled with pity,
looking down upon me with the most COM
miserating ncuteness? Again | opened my
dim eyes. The vision seemed waverng now,
bat oh. did 1t not wear the sainted beauty of
81. eet Lucy Manning? A quiet unutterable
peace took possession of my entire being. [
forgot wealth, health, everything. My past
life seemed blotted out, and Twas once again
innocent, untouched by the gripping hand of
avarice, true, loving and loved-and Lucy
Manning was my idol.
But / recovered slowly, and at last, as my
strength surely returned | missed her. As
soon as she saw | could be left with safety
she had left me, and oh, the blank-the
dreadful blank.
| wandered around my room, now so desc
late and saw the many evidences of my mi
serly habits. | know not why, but towards
my wife my feelings seemed to have under
gone revulsion / fear | hated her. She
had nearly beggared me, and deceived me,
shattered my health, destroyed all my hopes.
Months passed before | was able to estimate
the damage that had been done to me. Ev-
cry means that could be put forth were used
for the discovery of my money, but all in
vain.
One night / sat by the fire cheerless,
disappointed and lonely man. ] had been
thinking thoughts that only burned my
brain. but did not purify my heart.
IF | had only married sweet Lucy, ]
said again and again, all this had not been
so.
My housekeeper came in with letter
an unusually large package 1t was-and as 1t
bore foreign postmark | opened 1t with a
trembling hand. What was that? \ rust
ling, .crumpled bank note Another and
another came forth, until there laid upon
NV knees twenty bills of the largest denom-
ination. 4 few trembling lines accompanied
them:
"My husband-I am dying: my disease
there is no need to tell you. Forgive me
and accept this enclosed as a faint effort
toward restitution. 1t is not much over
half that we took from the safe. The rest
| isl know not where. | am deserted
Farewell, forever.
An icy chill thrilled me. 1t seemed as if
her spectral presence was near me. l shud-
dered as | rolled the bills together, and
threw them across the room.
'I.ie there, cursed of my soul, / cried.
'Iie there till have conquered myself-ay,
| if the victory is not won till you are rotten.
shut the door and sealed it, and for six
months | toiled like a penniless man, till
partially redeemed myself By managing
cautiously, | placed my business on a sue
cessful footing, and began life again as a new
man. 1t took many a year to wear off my
old habits Of parsimony, but every effort
gave me new and agreeable pleasure.
Meantime Lucy Manning became dearer