Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-11-27
Independent in all things.


was not gradual growth from infancy,
but came 10 fitful snatches. The great
est change came first, when her face
frightened from its sweet, blank vacancy
Of expression at Astley's approach. and
then she began to wait upon him like n
loving child, and he with infinite pa
ticnce taught her TO read and to write
She also learn to sew, and was not un-
skilliul in such woman's craft but what
he taught was learned quicker, best.
Two years passed, and Mary had de-
veloped so rapidly that she was much
like other women in knowledge and ac.
qulrements, but she had no memory of
anything before her trance. Ashley told
her the whole story, and urged her to
try to recall something Of the time be-
fore but it was in vain, her memory was
gone. And the present time was so
happy that they cared little for the past.
She was something belonging SO entirely
to him, even her life she owed to his care,
and loved him so intensely, there beibg
no one in the world whom she knew or
loved beside, that he could not fail to be
very happy; and the mystery of the
bond between them enhanced its charm
They were married, and sill she lived
in the same privacy as before; her lus-
band and his lite sufficed for every thing,
and she shrank from entiring a world of
which she knew nothing.
Astley's acquantances had long ago
decided that if he was not mad, lac was
at least eccentric enough to make his So
cicty undesirable, and had fallen off one
by one, leaving him none but profession.
Ile had the reputation of being skilful
and his practice was large one; his
spare hours were devoted 10 his home,
which was his heaven.
Two more years passed, years of per-
feet happiness. Mary differed from other
women, in nothing save Tor that blank
existence of twenty years. Her memory
of that time never returned. She lived
entirely in doors Ashley had once taken
her out for walk one evening, and the
unaccustomed sights and sounds Of the
streets had so terrified her that he never
repeated the experiment
At times the longing TO introduce his
lovely wife to his old friends in England
was very strong, hut the difficulty of ex-
planation, or Of deceit, which it would
involve, combined with her extreme aver.
sion to the project, always prevailed, and
the idea was dismissed as If the thing
were impossible.
Six years had passed stree the event.
ful night when Mary was brought as
dead TO Astley's door, when walking one
day he met an old friend whom he had
not seen since he left England. The re-
cognition was mutual, and Ashley insist
ed upon his friends returning with him
to dinner. The invitation was cordially
given and willingly accepted, and think
ing to surprise Mr.. Holt by the sight of
is wite'S loveliness, lie said nothing
about his being married.
Though he had anticipated some evil
dence of surprise, lie was quite unpre-
pared tor the excess Of emotion displayed
by Mr.. Holt upon his introduction to
Mrs. Ashley. The color lett his face for
II moment and then returned violently,
died crimson, and the words of acknowl-
cdgment were stammered out almost
unintelligibly. Recovering himself, he
offered his arm to lead Mrs. Ashley to
dinner, but she quietly refused, laying
her hand upon her husbands. During
the whole of dinner Mr.. Holt scarcely
took his eyes from Mary's, who did not
seem at all disturbed by his intense gaze,
and took no notice of Ter guuest except
what hospitality demanded.
Astlcy's suspicious were excited long
before the meal was ended, aud his heart
took a ieaIons leap as he thought it pos
sible that his friend was falling in love
with his beautiful wife. He cursed the
impulse that had induced him to bring
Holt home with him, and busiIy invented
excuses for Kidding himself of his guest
as soon as possible.
Hollis agitation increased to positive
illness before long, and rising, he asked
Ashley to accompany him to another
room. lie was scarcely able to to walk,
and Ashley took him by the arm and
asked him if he were i'll.
"lll! !" he groaned. 81 wish l were
dead"
He sat down and covered his face with
his hands.
"You will think me fool, Ashley, but
the likeness of your wife to mine has
overcome me-"
81 was married eight years ago. ]
married an English girl with your wite's
hair and eyes; her hight, too, and with
her sweet voice. i brought her over
here directly after our marriage, and Wa
lived the happiest life in the world tor
two vears-and then she died"
Ashley was silent. He could think OF
no words of consolation that would not
be mockery to a man who had lost
such wife as Mary.
"Died," Holt continued, after pause,
"while was away from her. l had gone
a three DAYS journey, leaving her in per
feet health, and returned to find that
she had died suddenly and Immediately
after my departure, and was already
buried"
"Ilow long ago? ?" asked Ashley, hoarse,
ly. A horrible light was breaking in
upon him.
"Six years. left Lima the following
day. never even visited her grave, but
returned to England at once; and now
after these years find your wife so like
her in every feature that my old wound
is torn open airesh, and intolerable an
guish has made me cry out in this way"