The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-02-26
THE MISER'S STORY.
ny MRS. NJ. A. DENIsoN.
ICONCLUDED.l

At last she knew with certainty that
was to marry Miss Bellair. She sent me "A
letter. q touching letter. not one word of
upbraiding, not one regret! o, what
noble soul wounded And she could calmly
wish me joy, though the effect made her
heart bleed-I knew It did.
| tried, however, to forget her, but
could not. Even at the time of my magni-
ficent wedding, when my bride stood before
me radiant in rich fabrics and glittering
diamonds, the white face of poor Lucy
glided in between, and made my heart
throb guiltily.
o, hbw rich grewl Year after year,
added to my gold. My miserly disposition
began TO manifest itself soon after my
marriage. carried my gold first TO banks
and then to my own safes. Iput constraint
on my wifc--fOr very generously she had
made over her whole fortune 10 me-and
began to grumble at expenses. I made our
living sotrugal that she demonstrated and
finally ran up large bills where and when
she pleased. Against this protested, aud
we had open qIfarrels more than once NV
clothes grew shabby; could not afford TO
buy new ones, although the interest OH my
Investment was more than could possibly
spend for rational living.
grew finally dissatisfied with every
thing but my money. | neglected my wife,
and grew careless of her society. Several
gentlemen came to my house, among them
n would-be author and celebrity. lie came,
thought too often for my good name and
ordered my wife TO discontinue his com
pany. She refused, and locked her up in
her room. How she managed to set herself
free, never knew, but in the evening,
when returned. she was gone from the
house. That caused me some uneasness.
not much, for was soon absorbed In taking
ACCOUNTS of my gains. II was perhaps nine
in the evening. had just managed to take
up a paper for moment. to read out its
business details, when the door opened, and
in came my wife; dressed bewitchingly, as
If just from an evening concert followed by
that mustachicd celebrity.
Good evening, my dear" said she, in the
coolest way imaginable, and placed chair
for her friend.
"Stop" I cried, my jealousy reused !;
"that man sits not down In my house."
THAT mana gentleman, and my friend,
shall sit here If ] please" said my wife,
firmly.
My passion was excited then as il never
was before, and collared the scoundrel.
He was my match-but, God of heaven,
my wVe coolly put dirk-knife that she
drew from cane into his hand, and he
stabbed me. tainted, and remembered
nothing more, till found myself on n bed
IN my own chamber, watched over by my
housekeeper.
"Where-are-they ?" gasped.
Gone" was all she said.
1t occurred to me then like flash of
lightning, that nobody was near me at the
time / was wounded. that my KEYS were
about my person, and that / had been
robbed, perhaps, of all my available prop
erty. The thought threw me into an agony
of fear. ordered my clothes TO be brought
To me. The keys were there. Taking one
of them out told Mrs, Hale. my house
keeper to go to my safe and bring me the
papers that were there. She returned, her
face white with terror, 10 say there was
nothing there, and all the little doors were
open.
"RObbedl robbcdr | yelled, with curses
and imprecatlons, and again my senses de
serted me.
Brain fever cnsued. For weeks, I lay de-
privcd of reason, literally treading the
verge of the grave. One morning / was
conscious only of II sinking, dcathly feel
ing, as foebly opened my eyes. Was II
an angel / saw, standing beside me, her
son eyes yelled with pity, looking down
upon me with the most commisserating
gentleness? For moment Thought I
might be In heaven--but mol reasoned
with myself | loved money too well. NV
treasure was all of the earth, earthly.
Again opened my dim eyes, The vision
seemed wavering now, but q, did Il not
wear the sainted beauty of sweet Lucy
Manning? A quiet unutterable peace took
possession of my entire being. | forgot
wealth, health, everything. My past life
seemed blottcd out and was once again
innocent untouched by the gripping hand
Of aVarice, true, loving and iovetl-and
Lucy Manning WAS my idol.
But IreeOyered slowly, and at last, as my
strength surely returned, missed her. As
soon as she saw | could be left with safety,