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

this unknown misfortune had surprised her. ~
And you love me!n he continued 81 know
you love me, and will be brave for my sake. Mar.
garrett, we must part"
She did not scream or faint: she did not echo
his words, or exclsim At the strangeness of their
import; but one thought possessed her-that her
husband had lost his senses and so entirely was
this fear portrayed upon her speaking features.
that John Hartley read it at glance.
ono. Meg. l am not mad /; have all my senses
now, though God only knows how long | may re.
tam them. Turn your eyes sway-look any where
but at me, and will try to tell You all.n
She turned them instnctively towards the half
closed door. But the next moment she tore her.
self from her husbands embrace, and pointed to
the passage in alarm.
"Jobni saw am sure I saw some one
there,n she gasped family" some one moving
N the dusk. Who is it, Who can have business
here with you and me ?"
II have, ;" said a voice, the memory of which
years had not obliterated from my mind and in
another second the door was roughly pushed
open and on the threshold stood the figure Of her
late husband, of the man whom she had sup.
posed TO be at the bottom Of the sea-of Robert
Nelson.
AS be made his appearance, John Hartley
instinctyely moved to the side of his wife, and
placed his arms around her for support, but Mar
gsret neither needed his action nor himself. She
was standing as though she had been turned to
stone, gazing with widely dilated eyes on the
new conner.
W ell you OOu eteI0 ulSpOSeu 10 RlV6 me UuC1
ola welcome, Mrs. Nelson. he exclaimed, greeting
her surprise with horse laugh " but perhaps
should have written first to announce my Coming
the coast of Morocco, during which We were mt
allow ed pen and ink and postage-stamps to COM
mDnicate with our friends make man feel as If
DO lime should be wasted before he lets his wife
know that he's returned to his lawful duty. Very
sorry TO cut up fun, of course, but you seem TO
have been amusing yourself during my absence;
so | think it's my turn now" And with q mali.
cious leer on his face, he approached Margsret's
side, as thought to take her from her present hus-
bands arms: But she only shrank closer into
them, and whispered family: I'D.
"How did you hear Of this, John. Who told 1t
your"
BE stopped to answer her, until his cold lips
touched her forehead.
al was returning to our home, dearest-ah!"
with shudder) what happy home it has been
when this man follow ed and accosted me. At first
/ did not recognize him; when did, thank God
that in my grief and despair did not harm him."
But how has it all happened, John? Tell me
plainly, for ] can hardly think or understand"
part Of the crew OF the wrecked Mary Jane,'
MaIgsret who put of in the long boat, in hopes
Of reaching land in safety, were driven towards
The coast Of Barbary, and there taken prisoners.
For The last three years they have been working
in the galleys there, Robert Nelson amongst the
number. and we're only set free a month or
two ago by the aid Of an English exploring party"
"Now, psTsOn !" exclaimed Robert N elsOn, as be
appfOdcDtQ tne WIetcne0 pair, waste huy
more time here, whilst you are spinning yarns 10
my wife; shall have plenty Of opportunities to
tell her everything she may want to know con.
corning myself; and as wish to get to my destl'
nation tonight the sooner she makes herself
resdy TO 60 with me the better.n
AS he uttered the last words piercing shrek
burst from Margsrets lips.
go with yoa!" she exclaimed. "Leave my
husband to return to you! Meier! will perish
frst!n
But as il happens missus, you won't be
lowed to choose betwixt u.s. said Robert
Nelson. " You belong to me, and with me you
60, there's no question about that, aud I'm
not sure that l can't prosecute the parson for
having bagged you as soon as ever my back was
turned. Ii was dirty trick to play any man,
and if | can make him smart for it, | will
Meanwhile, shall take my own again. ~
John! joint" she said. in q low desparing
voice, which yet entreated him to deny the
others statement.
at is TOO true, my darling, we must part. o
Margaret! I'd give all | possess, except my
hope for the FUTURE" he said with solemn
done but that is impossible. We erred in igno-
rance, and the sin is even now forgiven US.
But pairing Margaret is worse than DEATH"
Keep me with you, John; don't let him take
me away. l cannot go" ,,..,-.-----.,,-,-.
swered, fondly. a. You are my wife. Margaret !;
shall always think of you as such; but have
no legal right over you now, and, were Robert
forth be nothing to each other"
Z" NoLbinq ~ she cried, in burst Of vehement
passion. Nothing-with this TO bind u.s." hold
ing out the sleeping infant at the full length OF her
arms. .- ,
John Hartley gazed upon it for a moment, and
then, with a grOsn, turned away and buried his
face in his hands.
Nov, Meg,n exclaimed Robert Nelson. laying
his hand roughly on her arm, and bringing his
dreaded, bearded visage in dangerous proximity
TO her own, stop all this palavering, and make
ready TO come with me. I've stood it quite long
enough. to my mind. already. It's sufficient for
| me TO find that you've been the wife OF another
man during my absence, without having to stand
by and hear your cursed foolin0 with one another
| Do you hear what say to you? In another half
| half hour must be on my road again"
But without me-" she replied, hercely. %.
cannot 60 without you. ! 'cH not! You despisec
| and l.treated me when was your wife, and theI
| they said that you were dead, and married anO
| ther man, and il am not his wife, am no ones
| will not go with yon. No power on earth shall
| make ne! !"
| still darker beneath the flush of rising passion.
| We'll soon see about that" he ans wered will
| fixed teeth. II was going to give you time TO &c
| your things together but you must come witho1
| them nOw-and at once"
| john John save me! she cried, flying to he
Margaret dearestl am powerless. In tn.
face OF your first husbands claim can say moth
ing. He has legal right to you, my poor CIR
| and / have none. ETdy, Margaret; pray, m
dearest, that Heaven may grant you strength to
your duty. There is nothing left for either OF u
| except prayer" ..
Sui she struggled in Robert Nelson's grasp
afIrming passionately that she did not belong I
| him; that she was not his wife and that sh
| would sooner die than return to his protection.
Margaret interposed the calm voice OF job
| Hartley, my wife-ah, no! meant my dedreS
listen 10 me, and be brave; resistance Is utterl
useless. Ii is we who, though innocently, hav
been in the wrong; it is we whose hands al
now fettered; aud Heaven. who has permitte
yuur husband 10 return alive, intends that yo
Shall do your duty towards him as you hay
done it to me-"
"You don't love me, john" she answers
| mournfuy; you can't love me as love you,
Won would die before you gave me up 80 easily.
Easily?" he repeated, bitterly. - If this tss
be easy Meg, God have mercy on those who Ell
| dure harder ones "
I'm have no more of this, said Robert Nelso
rudely; " I'm sick Of such bOsh. Put down tn
brat and follow me. III not wait another Sc
Ond."
| chi