Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-08-28
THE EVENING STAR.
WITHIN An INCH OF MARRIAGE.

fOONCLtDkD.l
Ityas summer time when ne reached Lon
con The season was ~ its height, and, to a
man l.ng used 10 rougbIng " with hall clothed
savaF"% -" world of London had N almost
magical effect.
rae went down 10 Elton and saw his boy;
then came back TO town, and tosk lodgings for
month, not to look up any of ms old friends.
hnt TO look on at the whirl and paseantry OF
life.
Ieny years make a wonderful chInge in Inc
face Of society, and thin the ranks OF OLD
fr-uds. fac~s we have Low a are missing;
faces we know so well are changed age has
eTamped some care others, and SIN ana sorrow
has beaten out the fair bright hopes and beauty
from maEy aD one we saw last standing upon
the threshold of life
Some lew faces Hervey recognized as he
took his favorite stand by tn" rails along "the
Row and IL was while leaning over these on
aay that his fare came TO him. A lady rode
vast and as she passed, she tur1 ned. Her full
lace was toward him for n moment, then a
mist came before his eyes, cold tremor par
aIysed his limbs
il was his lost wife. He knew her at once
Death made no obstacle, years no difference.
mystery monet His very being recognized her,
and nature Itself stood amazed
For time all power of thought seemed lost.
He held on to the rall with blind sort Of IT.
StInCt and kept his face turned the way she
had gone with vague thought that she
would return. And thus he stood until q
hand touched his shoulder, and . man, who
had been standing by him, said
lyon are ilI, sir Let me get you cab"
Hsrvey started, and made faint effort to
bring his mind back 10 its usual power.
thank you," he stammered, 81 am not
yes, believe 1 am ILL., If you will be so Kind"
he fumbled in his pocket for card. Il have
had a strange adventure. The dead has come
TO life. but i am wandering. Don't mind
me"
Without any remark the man who had Of
ersd his assistance took Hervey's arm, and
reading him 10 the nearest gate, hailed a cab.
My card" said Reryey. getting hold OF his
pocket book, but unable to open 1t, with nm
gers trembling as his were. The stranger (or
for ha VT Z
and taking a caro-, gave il TO the cabman-
'Iu go with You" he said jumping in after
Heryey, IL owe you "a much;'' and then was
s,lsnL-Hervey, sitting bolt upright, with
awhile set face, and with every nerve trem-
bling
IL will come tomorrow and see how you
are said his companion, as they stopped at
the door of the lodging Here is my card"
On the card Hervey read, with vague no.
ton Of having seen the name somewhere be-
..ColoneI Richard Carter
Next day Colonel Carter kept his promise
and called. Hervey was better. He had rea-
eoped. and almost induced himself 10 believe
that The supposed recognition of the preceding
day was the effect of one OF those mar vellous
hktnesses one sometimes sees, combined with
nervous and diseased imagination.
IL have long wished TO see you. MAJOR Her.
yey." were the first words Colonel Carter said,
land for purpose; you will hardly thank me;
Tor have a story to tell you-my own story
You must not think me mad before you hear
what have 10 say. Providence threw me in
Il
can avoid such power. My story is this
Years ago, when i was quartered in York,
managed to make the acquaintance of a girl
who vas at a boardin g-school there. We were
very much in love with each other aid kept
up correspondence. At Christmas she went
10 spend the holidays with some friends L
followed her down, and met her in the hunt
ing field. We arranged everything. and as
soon as she got back 10 school she elOped with
ne" Hervey had started forw ward as he spoke
ofthe hunting field and Yorkshire; and then
cropping no
leaned upon the table, making no further sign
while the strange story was being told.
I'VE were married at village church. and
went TO London; the mistress OF the boarding.
school traced us, and insisted upon Bea,rise
gong back with her, Offering anything If we
would consent TO the separation only for q
time, in order that she might not be blamed by
my wife's father, or bring such scandal and
rum upon her school. 1 was selfish conceit-
ed fool; had spent all the money 1 could ge.
on the trip 10 London, and began 10 think |
had made mess of II. The woman had great
powers of persuasion, and her own interest
was n work; she told me privately the mar
riage was not legal; believed her, and .uf-
tered her 10 take Beatrice away. knowing thar
sLs meant to tell Beatrice the same story
IL relOIned nv regiment, and told myself
that was lucky fellow 10 escape from such
mess so easily, and thar Beatrice would for.
get all about me. or only think me too great a
blackguard 10 care for. i went TO India and
was at NJ when MOynolls daughter came
OUT strange rs you may think II. the coinc,
dence OF name had never struck me- and N w,s
only on seeing her ride past the mess-room
ODe morning, that knew who she was
Il WAS still coward, and while debating
what To Go, lucky attack offeyer decided nv
course l started for England, without seeing
her again, OF being seen by her, and as she did
hot know me by my real name, there was no
danger of her recognizing men in any way bur
by sight i got down TO Calcutta but All the
way down my conscience was at work what
with that and the louraey. was down in
Yer again directly / arrived. So the steamer
had TO SAIL without me, and lay there tossing
and raving for a fortnight, all The DO wers of
evil fighting against the wild longing that had
come over me, to 60 back 10 Beatrice, and he
have nke an honest man, for knew nv tbi.
time that our marriage was legal enough in
the sight of the Almighty. The first tniug i
were to marry her, i wrote. claiming her as
my wife, bidding her come down To me- and
Tisk anything rather than marry you. That
letter reached her the day Of her N arriaRe: she
read IL in the palanquin, and taking the head
bearer into her confidence, threw herself ON
his mercy TO save her. They have lively i'm
brides, he planned the story Of the robbers the
ma hi, and The carrying away the bodies and
bile the country round was being searched
brought heI down 10 Calcutta, disguised as a
native woman
And 1 saw her yesterday in the Park.
grosned Hervey. without lifting his head
"Ies, i was standing by at the timep I
nave wished year after year to meet Won
many a time I've determined To write To Won
but then 1 did not know whether the thought
that she was really dead might OF be a hammer
one than the reality. Beatrice thought 40 4
will not press you now. Major Heryey but. IL
you wish II, cannot tell you how glad shall
be 10 zee You again. or give You any explana
ton you wish; but when you think of ali this
misery we've brought upon YOU, you will try
ard remember one thing that-blackguard as
was when married her-as / was when i
He'd from her and denied heT.-as / was when
left her 10 bear ner secret alone.-I was not
bad enough 20 let her become your wife: and
tell you before God. that since the dav she
came down 10 Calcutta, have been an altered
man that, saving the one great sorrow of the
mfery she had worked for you her father
di,d long ago. we have been happy"
Heryey lifted up bis face.
.-Will she see me, do you Think
In an instant Colonel Carriers hand was ON
the others shoulder.
See you, Hervey, God bless YOU for a
eood fellow. See ysul Yes, any day, IL you'll
see her
Hrrvey nodded and held ont his hand. and
fixing the hint. Colonel Carter yra-n,d n
hard in Lis, and left him
tELEkY.-A much esteemed escuIen, whom
produced in perfection. Sow very eSriy 10