The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-09

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with grasp Of iron on her arm he dragged her
roughly towards the open door, and she felt THAT
Der fate was decided, and hope in this world,
for her.
Husband God bless you for OIL the love you
have showeredppon mel I have been uogrsteful,
John often impatient, discontented and careless,
but have loved you faithfully through it all. Oh,
don't forget me now that am going ~ I'd o
Such were her farewell sentences. frantcally
uttered. as, half drssged and half supported. she
was borne through the dark passage towards the
outer door. 49,. ~. AZ fr-..-- vi
81 sbsll never forget you, darling; and-we
shall meet sssin-look up. Meg, and think Of
One backward glance athim whom she had con.
sideTed as her husband, as he uttered these last
fond words-snd Margaret, that cruel grip still
fixed upon her arm, was hurried out Of the house
into the driving, piiiless rain.
Bareheaded and otherwise unprotected from
the incement weather il still never struck her as
strange, remembering Robert Nelson's brutality
towards her in years gone By, that he should
choose to expose her to the fury of the elements
The rain, If anything, was coming down harder
than il had done before in few minutes her
dress was cfnging miserably about her vet ankles,
and her shoes were soaked through; aud yet the
soreness of her heart and the great dread creep
ing over her of the man into whose power she had
again been thrown, prevented her thoughts dwell
ing upon anything but the two dear ones she had
left in the old house behind her, and the hard
grasp upon her arm which seemed to press into
her flesh like heated iron.
EDWARDS be hurried her never relaxing that
unnecessary torture of restraint never address,
ing word TO her Of comfort or affection; whilst
she, walking at her utmost speed to keep up with
his stride, did not much as lift her eyes to the
dark, dreaded face which she felt ever aud again
TO be regarding her.
She never inquired where be was taking her.
but Robert Nelson did not offer to put her into
one of them, and she did not venture to suggest
that be should. They might have been waking
10 the " oTld's end together for aught she knew
or cared. She could think but Of two things
her regret for the past and her fear of the future.
BY and by, after they had traversed what had
seemed TO Margaret miles OF dark and sloppy
psvements, Robert Nelson, without relaxing his
hold upon her arm. turned suddenly In another
direction, and she found herself inside railway
station. A busy, busting station, where bells
were ringing, and passengers pushing, and p0rters
calling, and everything gave token that a train
was inst about 20 start and from which in another
minute she found herself rushing into the dark.
unknown country, the sole companion of Robert
Nelson in a first-class carriage. She shrunk into
8 corner and resigned herself TO thought.
Then il was in the cold and silent night, tire
only light being the dim oil lamp which burned 10
the center OF the carriage, that all the petty dis
content of which she had been that day guilty
came back upon Margaret's mind to sting 1t with
sef.reprsach. What would she have given at
that moment TO be installed once more mistress
CT the dull home, where visitors came seldom,
and pleasures (such as the world terms pleas
ures ~ were few and far between How sweet
appeared in prospect the peaceful hours when
she had known no fear, which she had passed
in nursing her baby, or sitting at her oncede-
spised sewing machine! How calm aud happy,
how free from jar and disshection, had been
those quiet evenings, when John, wearied by the
long day 3 toll would bid her be idle with himself ;
and in summer take her for q stroll until heaven
was dotted with its stars, or in winter draw her
chair beside his own, and hold her hand in his,
whilst he told her how be loved her, and pictured
the future which might one day be theirs.
As she thought Of all this, and compared her
pre- sent feelings with those which she had
aged but a few hours before, Margaret shuddered
at her ing ratitude for the benefits which Heaven
bad sent her, and hated herself for having enter
tanned it.
"Wby don't you speak, Meg?" interrupted the
coarse voice of Robert Nelson. T" Here's your
lawful husband come back 70 you after an absence
Of more thsn three years, and you don't seem to
have a word to say to him. Are you sulky, or are
you aslsep?"
"Oh, don't ask me !" said the unhappy woman.
"DOn't speak TO me. Ihave nothing to say"
I" But you shall say something, if | choose ii. 7"
he replied, with decision, as he changed his seat
TO the one opposite her own. Nov, look you
here missus; you were always a stiff lot to deal
with even in the old times and dare say the par
sons discipline hasn't made you any better. But
| what did Tor him, you know, won't do for me.
| You know me-none better, and | tell you, on ,e
I for all this won't do. You can rattle away fast
enough when you like, and choose that you shall
tYs dIkbt g s ms now so tell ne Of all you've been
"oh mono, not that!" she exclaimed, in Q
voice of pain.
| But choose that"
| O. cannot"
Robert Nelson's face grew angry, and he took
/ a coil of rope from one of his pockets, at the
| sight of which Margaret shuddered, and he saw IL
| '"Ah! you remember this. do youl" ne said
| with a ohuckle, "WeD, you'll taste It again, my
dear, if you begin any of your old tricks. Come
| sit on my knee"
He had been her husband, but his touch seemed
now remembering the later purer touch Of Johi
| Hartleys handy TO have become dehlement to her
| and she shrunk from ii visby.
"Come, Meg, do as tell you"
| "Don't ask me pray, don't ask me-"
| els it to be war or peace between US, then"
"War" she said, despairingly, " II you requir
the appearance Of love from me-" -.
And then she shrieked for he had raised BIZ
hand to strike her, and his dark, fierce eyes glare
Indignantly, as though he could have killed he
where she sat.
But her shrek was mingled with other shrieks
and died amongst them; whilst his uplifted arr
suddenly descended, not of his own will, but froI
the force of a tremendous shock by which To
carriage that they occupied was thrown on tn
line and with several others, hurled down an EN-
bankment, at the bottom OF which 1t rested
broken into pieces.
Their train had come into collision with anothe
| and the loss of life and property was feariu
| But Margaret knew nothing but that she Ia
II
Of some of the fallen carriages, and that her III
was slowly ebbing out of her.
She had no pity or fear for herself she onl
felt Thankful that heaven had permitted her TO d
instead of live.
Don't touch me-" she murmured, when som
one laid hand as she thought, on her shoulder
don't touch me. Thank God am dying"
she feared that touch might recall her to life
she dreaded lest some good Samaritan shou
strive to retain in her that which the loss OF job
Hartley had converted from blessing to ours
"Dont touch me-" she again whispered, as u
handling became more patent to her senses
only leave me alone" -,
"Only leave you alone. little wife When u
fire has completely gone out. aud the room
| | as colo as q cellar and / am waiting for my to
, Why, it's not like ny busy bee to be sleeping
the hearth-rug when her husband wants he
What's the matter. Megl Are you tired; my da
ling, or only lazy ?"
Margaret Hartley started TO her feet az II 81
, ! had been shot. The room in utter darkness; y
araA Nhn haf IN