Maryland free press., 1867-02-14
THE BARON ETs STORY.

The following story was related to me by ar
old friend, an Irish baronet, and, as far as my
memory serves; will give it to you in his ewn
words:
About four months sser my marriage, it was
my wont each morning to stroll about my gar
den and fields, until perhaps, o'clock. at which
hour returned home TO enjoy my wife s..socie.y'
and when the weather permitted, we occasion
ally took walk or ride.
One morning, feeling myself not quite well
returned much earlier than usual, about IL
O'Clock, and went into the house by back en-
trance; as neither knocking nor ringing announ-
ced my arrival my wife was not aware of my
/ return.
sought her first in the drawing room, but moi
finding her, there proceeded to her bed room
and, whilst passing through my dressing room
% it, was surprised by a sudden rush to u g
bed room door, which was instantly bolted with.
in. distinctly heard q low whispering, and,
as thought, hurried receding step; yet, all:
gether, was not kept waiting more than a few
seconds. Ny wifes maid opened the door, when
% nv greater perplexity, s.beheld my wife's
usually pale face..sutfused with crimson blushes.
I also detected hersmanoeuvring comb through
her hair, to hide, as instantly suspected, her
blashes from me, or her disordered curls.
"What is the meaning of all this?' thought I;
'it is strange! the maid, too, looks confused and
frightened"
| My wife did not hasten TO meet me with bcr
usual sunny welcome, there was not even one
smile to greet me. At length, recovering her
self little, she with hesitating manner, said
"Well, love, how goes on the farm2"
But WAS greved, for the first time in my life.
I felt that was not welcome. felt something
was going on that WAT not to know, so merely
saying, II will tell you wheA we.meet in the
drawing ROOM" abruptly quilted her.
Not knowing whittier was going, or why /
suffered so sudden, so frightul revolution oil
feeling, hurried down stairs, rushed through
the hall, acress the lawn. and plunged INFO the
first path that leadsS sequcstered part of the
grounds; nor did sack my pace until was
fully mile from the house, when I threw myself
upon the green bank by the side of the RIVER, the
most miserable Of men. who, one half hour
before was the happiest of men, now, unacceunt
ably; unuterably wretched. . ..
Pride had, at the moment, prevented my ask
ing for an explanation; that, thought ought to-
haxe been given unsought and determined not
to ask Lady why my visit was evidently
so unwelcome. .
But hcnceforth, resolved to keep wntchful
eye upon her. A thousand cruel thoughts crowd
cd upon me; now that discovered there was
something which my wife concealed from me;
she wnom thought so artess, so FREQ from AID
duplioity. .., t..' .... .
At this period had affirmed my thrtieth
year. Lady was only two years younger
than myselfb but from her sweet and girlish style
ofbeauty, aud gay, happy manner, no one would
suppose her more than twenty. She had been ed
ucated on the continent. knew that, soon after
leaving school she had received matrimonial pro-
posals-if she had not been actually engaged to
gentleman before quitting Paris. Hitherto,
this circumstance had never given me the slight
est uneasiness; but now my thoughts involun-
tary reverted to it; haunted nee day and night.
Betv cen nv Wife and maid there was an I'M
usual intimacy, owing, as understood, to the
latter being, what is called an old follower of the
family This woman was one Of the tallest ever
saw and large in proportion, her face was hand
some, the features strongly Defined her eyes large
intensely dark and penetrating; her long ring
lets looked false; in Appearance yon 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
woman, but somewhat masculine.
Having described my wife's maid, how shall I
tell you of the horrible suspicious which seized
upon my imagination?
thought, perchance, this maid-was-her
foreign lover in disguise2
And yet did not, could not believe II, though
the fruitful idea never absented itself from my
brain. To hint such thought to my beautiful
Agnes, my beloved wife, could never bring my
self strove, rather to btnish the idea from my
mind, as a suggestion of Satan.
From that day became much changed, both
in the outward and inward mln. NV happiness
was gone, my natural light and cheerful manner
gave place to irritability and gloom. Time flew
on; days and weeks passed without any partcu
lar occurrence until Que morning, having ar
ranged to accompany a gentleman in the neigh
borhood on fishing excursion, informed Ag.
mes that would bring my friend to dinuer. I'm
mediatcly after breakfast, we started in a dog
cart. We had not proceeded more than four mile.
when, in turningia corner of the road boy, wh'
was shooting sparrows fred so near the horse
head that it took fright and dashed off at fu
rious gallop, nor stopped unit we were upse
into ditch. We were compel led TO give VI
our days excursion, and leaving the groom tc
take care Of the bruised horse, my friend and
walked into the drawing room, I hastenedi up
stairs to relate our disaster to Agnes. As
started home by short cut, and entered the
house after conducting my friend into the dress
ing room, found the door bolted and l dis
tinctly heard my wife say with faltering voic,
'He is returned; we are discovered!' The scale;
fell from my eyes, had no longer any doubt
my worst fears were realized.