The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-26

the congeniality of feeling between ms,
certainly did feel hurt that Laura should keep
her desk constantly and consistently locked
from me. wanted some ink one day l knew
she had some in her desk, and asked for the
keys. The way she hustled about to omen
that desk herself, and the excuses she made
to prevent me going to it, was masterpiece
of female diplomacy. 1t was not that / wanted
TO go to her desk, so much as that Iddn't like
being locked away from it. 1t proved on my
mind when considered the mutual confidence
that should subsist between man and wife.
To be sure, had not told, her about my glass
eye-that was the only secret had from
Laura-but then she didn't know that, and she
at least believed l had withheld nothing
whatsoever from her, that there was no ex-
euse for her withholding anything from me.
Another thing to do with the destrwas this.
Laura had received at least two letters since
our marriage, not in female handwriting,
which she very artfnlly cajeled and persuaded
me out of wanting to see. l knew they, We're
in the desk. And there was certain neat
little parcel, n present., she said, from %
friend That went into the desk too. But why
this mystery A harmless deception on my
part was excusable, but could not bear
deception in other people, s1
By-aud-by from this very little seed there
grew up sort OF constraint between MS, until
Laura, observing 1T, at last threw me her keys,
and calling me bad Penny, babe nae examine
her desk myself, and not be suspicious about
nothing. Then felt ashamed of myself, and
wouldu'tdo it. Then Laura insisted on turIl-
ing it out before my eyes, and moving me its
contents. would not read the letters, but I
saw little box with a brooch in il, which
much doubted being the same she had rcceived
IN the packet alluded to. 1t was all very well,
her calling me a sherrid Bluebeard, : but knew
the handwriting on the paper ineIOaihg 1t WAS
not the same for distinctly remembered that
Y - ems S:s.S SUI & s.
Inurninssss iissp9rring found my
household in great coinpotion. One OF my fa-
male doniestics was crying, and on my entering
the house she began, Oh, If yon please, sir,
niSsus have FELL
'''Fell fell 2 asked in amazement. What
do you mean, girl p
Fell, sir; fell down stairs and hnrt herself,
Where Is sheP l asked, pushing past her to
seek my wife
81 hope You'll bear up sir but nissus have
gone. Gone, sir-left the house, the servant
added, seeing my look of ineredulity. was
upstairs, cleanin' of myself for dinner, when
l beard somethin' fall on the stairs, and beaEd
missus scream. 1 went and helped her up, for
she had fell and hurt her forehead. She went
to her room cryin' very much, and wouldn't let
us do nothn' for her. She pat her things
aud went ont almost directly afterwards, sayim
she had left u note for you, sir. She-was sob
bin very much when She left.
Seriously agitated about my wife, l ran up
stairs, and tsund on Laura's drcssing-table the
'"'Ilcarest PcR-Forgve my leaving YOU thus
haGe&s:H4ered much from 'deceiviug you so
IL would come this
Do not follow me: my peace depends upon il.
lGU Will soon know all, My father viii know
OF my going. LNURA.'
Cool upon my word. Was this the woman
whom / had loved, and cherished, and adored,
and kept no secret from-that is, nothing
worth mentioning-to go and own to syste-
matte course of deception And her father a
base accomplish too! He knew of her going.
Clasping my hands frautieally to my forehead,
% woniu.i, woman. look upon the wreck
you have made = l exclaimed The emotion
was too powerful ,sfor my glass eye fell out with
the force of the blow, aud shivered itself to
fragments at my feet. On second thoughts,
1ts tsiA4 sAe-ee44la 4+e+ -lee4S-apa-- tLe wreck
She had made.
''Yet, could believe Laura false Then the
demon OF jealousy whispered TO about tho
letters, and the present from a friend hard
X dared 10 think about the agitation she had
invariably betrayed when had referred to the
subject. AT least, / would go to her father,
Mr.. Tredgold--go and wiring the truth from
him, deceitful impostor that lie was-and know
the worst. .
But stay. II was utterly impossible to go
as yas--without my eye. l had been acons-
toned TO keep Il spare eye against emergencies,
in NY deal-at the inspectors office. / had
broken that a month ago, and though L had
written for y new one to lie addressed to the
office, 1t had net yet arrived. Delay. was ago,
Ri2iag bat could certainly do nothing tili l
had been to London and got my vision re-
paired.
Holding my Handkerchief to my face, set
of unmcdiatelS-tn the railway station, telling
all the inqUiring trieuds<Uho stopped me, that
something had blsvH in my eye Osiris no
fiji, Tor gunpowdCr bad years before = Arrived
there, / eagerly TIuiVed If my wife had been
seen to letvc./She had, the station-naster
told me; she bad in fact left by The previous
train, witty n ticket for Lnndou-apparentl
much distressed in mlnd-drcssed in travelling
costuuls, With thick black veil on, Evident
ly fgt the purpose OF avoiding recognition
much possible, decided. j was, therefore;
,8i the very road to overtake her, while, as my
train was express, should be In London within
an hour OF the time at which she could arrive.
con reaching London, after few nnsueeess-
full inquiries at the Waterloo terminus respect
ing lady answering the description gave, 1
told a cabman to drive me to Mr.. Bernotti's,
the opteian, in Regent street.
'"Will you walk into UEjyate room, and