The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1870-10-27


life is almost insupportable. You kno,
that do not love my husband-that
never loved him. You, only, know tn
whole array Of circumstances unde
which | married him. Well, he Is m.
husband now, and try to be goo.
wife; but this existence Is like some
dreadful nightmare dream, Percy. L
does not seem as II Il could he me wht
lives, and breathes, and answers to my
name. I am so desolate and depressed
20 despairing! I have the feeling, a,
times that am under spell; that my
faculties are paraiyzing and that shall
lose my mind in this dull, void living.
Only when your letters come, an,
alive. feel that you love me, aud l
live aud feel, and am exquisitly happy
and miserable together.
"My husband-as long as l perform
nv duties, he Is contented. He knows
nothing Of my feelings. He considers
me machine for his comfort. Some
times, ! loathe him. Usually arm ill.,
different to him.
"But tonight II seems almost a. II
dared escape to you. Freedom, love.
happiness may 1t still be mine!
Before long. will grant you All inter.
view. l will promise you nothing
more than that now. Percy, my only
love, heaven bless you and keep you un.
til we meet!
"One word more. Pray be cautious.
If my husband should discover this cor
respondence, I cannot answer for the
consequences. Though he has never
ili-treated me, know him to be n hard
man. But let me hear from You soon:
"Yours.'
The name was illegible, for the sheet
was much discolored and blotted by the
rain. But it was Lucy's fine, delicate
chirography; and felt as If u thunder
bolt had broken around me.
After moments blank bcwilder.
ment, and strange, bewildering pain, I
put the sheet in my pocket, aud quietly
continued my way. Such food Of
emotion was stirred within me, that ]
summoned a superficial caln,ness from
All instinct of self. preservation.
was conscious of one predominant
feeling as went to the city-h hatred
against my wife for her duplicity.
must have looked wretchedly when |
reached the Office, but my partner was
too much excited to notice it.
"Knowles," he exclaimed, "therc
was terrible fire in Birmingham last
night, and our branch house IL burned
to the ground. Here is q dispatch from
White. He wants you 70 Apn down i'm.
mediately."
In two hours was on my way to Biz
mingham.
There was mucl, to do to restore our
| interests. and lent myself to tho work
with all my energies. 1t was the best
thing that could have happened to me.
1t gave me no time to think of Lucy.
wrote her once, very briefly, that
should not be home fora month. 1t
was six weeks before l again arrived in
London.
"How is Mrs. Knowles ?" l said to the
servant
Every comfortable. think she is
sleeping now"
Somewhat bewildered by the reply, l
went into the sitting room. No sign Of
Lucy or of her work, mounted to her
chamber, and opened the door.
The room was darkened. Lucy was
sitting up in the white bed, nursing an
infant. SweetIy and calmly she ex-
tended her hand to me. | went to her
Il put my arm about her-I kissed
her. could not help it, for felt that
the child upon her bosom was my own.
The nurs came in, took the infant from
| her, and bade her to lie down to rest.
She was very weak. l can not ex-
press my contending feelings as !
watched her fragile face upon the pill
low.
Slowly she gained strength. 1t was
midsummer before she was about the
house again. The little one had been
prematurely born, but it throve, and the
mothers health was finally restored.
was rejoiced at this. / should have
been perfectly happy but for that letter
The memory of it was like All ugly dev.
il who Knocked me.
One day, as Lucy sat tending hel
child, in u low chair by the window,
laid the sheet before her. had fixed
my eyes upon her face, and saw slow
surprise drawn over it,
"Where did you find this, Will? lost
it months ago"
"Well," with slight blush, "you
have found me out. It's leaf from 8
story l was writing"
"And Percy - l said, bewil
dered.
"Was the hero The sheet must have
, blown out of the window, that rainy
night, last spring. You see, dear,
didn't like to tell you, because / though
you wouldn't fancy having literar.
wife; but have been accustomed t.
writing little stories sometimes, and
: when I knew baby was coming.
thought would earn the money my
1 self for the cambric dresses. kne,
j you needed every shilling in your busI
e ness. had to re-wrte this letter fo
t my romance" she continued, "and