Indiana American., 1868-04-17
BROOKvILLE. IND, FRIDAY. APRIL II, 1863

was TO write letters to her friends in Lon
don, and the Major (for to keep the reader
no longer in suspense, the arrivals we're
Major Burton aud his wife) intended to
seek out Waterton. To carry out the first
intention, Mrs. Burton rang for her writ
ine-desk. Her maid answered the sum
mons, but in state Of the utmost agiia-
ton. She trembled, and taking up one
corner of her spron,. for fear she should
have occasion TO cry, exclaimed:
"Please, ms'am, | could almost hang
myself with vexation; for, please, ma am,
l thought | put Jour desk in the rumble,
and | didn't"
Then it is left behindl How very pro-
vokingl"
oh. no matter" said The major, "tell
Johnstone to give you mine" ~
Whereupon the girl few out Of the
room like person who bad escaped some
appalling danger.
"There are things OF consequence in my
desk" said Mrs; Burton "some letters,
which | should not wish all the world to
read"
"Some of mine, perhaps" returned the
Major.
The lady assented.
"That is perpexing," he continued;
"but never mind, you can use my desk
for the present; here is the key"
The desk was brought. Mrs. Burton
began her task Of letter-writing, and the
husband sailed forth to discover the abb.
ding places of bis few old friends, Water
ton among the rest.
When the lady had flushed her first
epistle, she could not 6nd the wax, and
while ransacking every part of the desk all
Of u sudden out few little drawer.
Though startled ut first she was more star
tied afterwards something was concealed
in this mysterious little recess. With
trembling hand she opened a small paper
packet. Ii contained q lock Of hair, and,
destruction to her mental pescel auburn
hair-not the jet black lock she had given
her husband during lovehood; but lest
this should fail to make her feel wretched
there was another evidence OF more than
equiyocal import, She bad read the Bride
of Lammeimoor, and knew the full mean
ing and intent of the severed half sovcr
eign. She had a rival in somc iair-huired
Lucy Ashton.
la the midst ofho distress, Major Bur.
ton returned, bringing the news that he
had met with Waterton, who promised TO
come aud try bis negus, and be introduced
TO tho bride. She received the iniorms
ton with greater indifference than pleased
her husband She looked pale and agiia
ted. lie asked her the cause Mrs. Bur
ton said nothing, bu, with z look Of dumb
though effective eloquence, disrlayed--ths
lock of hair and the love token.
II was now the Majors turn to look
pale and become agilaied. For time he
could not reply, and when lie made the
attempt, mui,ered something about
former engagement, youthful folly, and the
other excuses which are always uppermost
on such occasions.
"Of course" said the lady. in tone Of
pique, III eau have no right TO inquire in.
TO circumstances which happened before
We met. But you have deceived me-"
Deceived you, MillicsniY l am inca
pablo Oh"
nay, do not sink deeper into falsehood
You have deceived me. When We formed
our solemn engagement, was made to
believe that no former one existed"
Major Burton stood n little abashed
aud wisely thought that the best aud surest
plan was TO own his fault aud sue for
forgiveness. This ho did; but tho lady
appeared inexorable.
"Comc. Dearest he said btsccehngly,
"be little charitable. At all events.
whatever feeling you may have to expend
on the affair, let me enlist IL 10 favor Of
the unhappy girl 70 whom your irresistible
aiVaclions have mado mo false. own
that the hopeless misery she must have
felt on hearing tha, had become tho hus
band of another, has indeed cost mo many
n pang, aud formed bitter drop In the
cup Of happincss youi dear Millccni, have
filed
The Major said this with 80 much emo
tion and eurnestness that his wife could
scarcely help being affected. She dcmnn-
ed TO know the whole of the circumstances.
lie told her honestly aud without rcscr-
yalion. lie did not conceal tho pledge Of
eternal fidelity he and Maria panson had
exchanged at the ruin IN tho garden--a
pledge the token Of which was now lying
before them.
Nextto love, pity Isl tho strong est
passion which warns the breast Of woman,
aud II aoy resentment lurked m Millicent
Burion's heart against her husband, 1t
was now turned TO pity at the wrotched-
ness into which sho was unwitiingly the
cause of plunging conddiug, auj per-
haps an ammblo young girl.
"For her sake" she said, "I can not
forgive you. AT least you might have
written before proposing TO me-
"But we were strictly prohibited from
corresponding, Poor grill must own
dread to inquire after her. feel very
acu,ley the deep wrong | have done; but
Il Ia incpOrabe.'
IL fear she will prove dangerous rival
to me- replied Mrs. Burton, in tone
meant to be jocular, but in reality not
much pleased with the deep remorsc her
husband professed.
"No. no. Milly; let tho honesty with
which have coniied to you every title
Of that unhappy affair banish so unworthy
d thoughts nothing but full confidence i n
tho strength Of my own aud your affection
would have wrung tho painful disclosure
from me. No, If We should meet; ii, by
the interference Of friends, and by the
exercise of that strength Of mind which
10. l.n