The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-06-30

have called for it on the way to the sta
ton. But Dominic was queer, and won
dered how the mcthodical little woman up
| stairs would put up with his harum scaru
/ ways. "A, las
Three o'clock came, and there was now
no chance for catching the train they had
intended to start by. Four o'clock, and
still Dominic Moore did, not return. Mrs.
Moore became uneasy, and was frightened
| at knew not what; but not that any acci
| dent had happened to Mr.. Moore, as my
poor friend seemed to imagine.
| had been up aud down stairs, too rest
less to remain still. Mrs. Moore went down
to take leave of her guests, who took the
hint and departed. She then returned to
her own room, laying aside her bonnet and
mantle. She had become seriously alarmed,
and even Mr. Dundas saw that something
| must he amiss He was Swapping and
snarling and abusing the servants, abusing
Dominic Moore--tha could bear-and
abusing his sister-tllat / could not bear.
| despatched the man servant to Mr.. Moore's
lodgings to make inquiries, and then sat
down on the stairs and had good cry.
We had been sitting by the fire light, but
when heard the servant return, lighted
the lamp. with some idea, believe, that L
could read in his face if he had brought
news of any disaster. He came to the room
with as stolid countenance as IT he had
been sent on the commonest message. MI
Moore had returned home about half past
one. and had discharged his bill at his
lodgings, saying that he was going abroad,
and had Immediately after left in a cab Ia
! king his luggage with him. The landlady
thought she heard him tell the driver to
take him to the London Bridge Terminus,
! but was not sure.
I shut the door upon the man, and re-
turned to the fireside, feeling like guilty
creature from the thought was at my heart
Mrs. Moore was very white and STILL her
lips were compressed. and the clasp of her
hands was SO tight that it must have
giyen her pain. The same conviction had
| forced itself upon her. He had left her,
forsaken her, on this their wedding, day !
| Though, even then, we neither OF US knew
the full extent OF his vilainy.
l sat down by the fire again, shivering
not so much with the cold of the winter
evening as with the sickening chill at my
heart. l did not dare to speak to Mrs
| Moore. saw she was fighting hard with
her grief and humiliation, for she had trust
ed and loved this man--this wretch! And
most of lifes fercest battles must be strug
gled through alone, single-handed.
By and by the housemaid came up stairs,
bringing tea. She drew down the blind to
shut out the frosty night, and turned up the
lamp, then urged her mistress to take some
refreshmcnt. Mrs. Moore only shook her
head, hut tears began dripping heavily and
slowly upon her clasped hands; and then |
drew near, and ventured to speak, laying
my hand on hers. .
&c ought to have known at my age that
he could not have been sincere in his pro-
testations," she said at last. Il was weak
and that tempted him to do wrong"
6 But why did he go through the cere-
mnny of marriage?" she exclaimed, after
awhile "Could he not have been sure
that would have set him free at any
moment?"
Alas the answer to that why" was yet
| to come.
Mrs. Moore was i'll for some weeks, and 1
remained with her, thankful to be able to
| give comfort.
| When the new year came in, she was still
! too unwell to leave the house. / am con-
| WINGED that the modification of the position
in which she was placed was telling upon
her, as well as the regret she felt. Miss Dun
das, gentle and little given to self assertion
as she was, had large share of sensitive
| pride; the blow she had received struck
home.
She had in due course received the inter
| est of the five thousand pounds invested for
| her benefit by her trustees, but the remain
| der Of her property was in the funds. Civ
ing me the necessary authority, she asked
me to 90 the Bank of England for her, to
receive the dividend. l was then to pay
it into her account at her private bankers
l had never before been on such an GRAND,
and was at first rather confused. When l
ascertained where l was to make my appli-
ton, presented my authority, and was met
| by the astounding intelligence that there
was no dividend to receive the stock was
sold At first / thought l must suddenly
have lost my senses, and not comprehended
| the answer
"When2 How :" I managed to gasp
out.
The clerk again referred to his books I
! almost hated him for his cool, deliberate
manner.
'.The stock was sold by the lady's hus-
band, Dominic Moore" he replied, reading
the name from the entry. and mentioning
the day of the month-the wedding clay.
stood for moment petrtied, while the
clerk turned to attend to another applicant
How reached Hampstead, h,w told Mrs.
Moore, scarcely know, nor can l describe
her suffering, caused far more by the base.
ness of the man to whom she had given a
right over her and hers, than by the loss
of her property.
Mr. Dundas nearly went into fit with
rage. If he had exerted himself to see that
his sisters fortune was properly settled upon
her. the real intentions of the man would
have been brought to light, and his calam
ity averted. He knew the unjust law as re-
CARDS women's property, and was almost a:
much to blame as Mr. Moore. So told him
to his face. We were not very warm friends
Mr.. Dumas and l.
The pretty house at Hampstead, the man
servant and brougham, all had to be giver
up. Mrs. Moore took cottage farther away
from London. She had been fond of sncie
ty in a quiet way, but now she shrank from
company, and only visited with "a few init
mate friends. The first note, received from
her after had seen her settled in her new
abode was signed re. Dundas Moore" AT
ter while we fell into the habit of calling
her Mrs. Dundas," dropping the 6 Moore,
and think SHE preferred it.
Two years passed away, and not wore
had been heard of Dominic Moore. During
this time Mr.. Dundas died. His siste
mourned his loss did not. She said tina
Christopher had a good heart" I coul,
have answered that it was pity he did no
sometimes show it; but the man was dead
and could trouble those about him no more