The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-06-02
not one regret. Oh, what noble soul !
wounded! But she could calmly wish me
JOY, though the effort made her heart bleed
I l-oou II I;J

L knew it did
/ tried, however, to forget her, could not
Even at my magnificent wedding, when my
bride stood before me, radiant in rich fabrics
and glittering diamonds, the white face OF
poor Lucy glided in between, and made my
heart throb guiltily. Oh, how rich | grew
Year after wear l added to my gold Nv
miserly disposition began to manifest itself
soon after my marriage | carried my gold
first to banks. and then to my own private
safes.
| put constraint on my wife, for very gen.
erously she made over her whole fortune to
me, and began to grumble at the expenses,
made our living 50 frugal that she remon-
strated, and finally ran up large bills when
and where she pleased Against this 1 pro-
tested, and we had open quarrels more than
once.
NV clothes grew shabby, could not afford
to buy new ones, although the interest of my
investments was more than could possibly
spend for rational living.
1 grew finally dissatisfied with everything
but my money. l neglected my wife and
grew careless of her society Several gentle
men came to my house, among them would
be author and celebrity. He came thought
too often for my good name, and ordered
my wife to discontinue his company, She
refused and l locked her in her room. How
she managed to set herself free I never knew !;
but in the evening when | returned, she was
gone from the house. That caused ME some
uneasiness; not much, for was soon absorb
ed in taking accounts of my gains.
1t was perhaps, nine in the evening, | had
Just managed to take up a paper for mo-
ment to read out its business details, when
the door opened and in came my wife dressed
bewitchingly, Us if Just from an evening con-
cert, followed by that moustached celebrity.
''Good evening, my dear" she said in the
coolest way imaginable, and placed a chair
for her friend "Stop,n cried my jealousy
aroused; ''that man sits not down in my
house" ''That man-a gentleman and my
friend shall sit here if | please!" said my
wife, firmly.
My passion was excited then as it never
was before, and collared the scoundrel. He
was my match; but my wife put a dirk-knife
that she drew from a cane into his hand and
he stabbed me. | tainted, and remembered
nothing more till | found myself on a bed in
my own chamber, watched over by my house
keeper.
"Where are thcy?" gasped,
''Gonc'" was all she said
1t occurred to me then, like flash Of light
ening, that somebody was near me at the
time was wounded, that my keys were about
my person, and that had been robbed, per-
haps, of all my available property
The thought threw me into an agony OF
fear. | ordered my clothes to be brought to
me. The keys were there. Taking one OF
them out, | told Mrs. Hale, my housekeeper,
to go to my safe, and bring me the papers
that were there. She returned, her face
white with terror, to say there was nothing
there, all the little doors were open.
''Robbed! robbed!" l yelled with imprec;l-
tiOns, and again my senses deserted me.
Brain fever ensued For weeks lay de-
prived OF reason, literally treaCling the verge
of the grave. One morning | was conscious
only of Il sinking deadly feeling, rs | feebly
opened my eyes. Was it an angel | saw
standing beside me, her soft eyes full of pity,
looking down upon me with the most com
miscrating gentleness. For a moment
Thought I might hn IN hnavon. but no, I reas-
oned with myself loved money too we'll.
My treasure was all of the earth, earthly
Again | opened my dim eyes The vision
seemed wavering now, but oh, did it not
wear the beauty of sweet Lucy Manning? A
quiet, unutterable peace took possession OF
my entire being. l forgot wealth, health,
everything. My past life seemed blottedout,
and | was again innocent, untouched by the
gripping hand of avarice, true, loving and
lovcd-and Lucy Manning was my idol
But recovered slowly, and at last as my
strength surely returned | missed her. As
soon rs she saw / could be left with safety,
she left me; and oh. the blank-the dreadful
blank | wandered around my rooms, now
so desolate, and saw the many evidences OF
my mlserly habits.
| know not why but towards my wife my
tnnJin a.,
sion. | fear hated her She had nearly
bcggared me, had deceived and shattered my
health, destroyed all my hopes.
Months passed before | was able to esti-
mate the damage that had been done me.
Every means that could be put forth were
used for the recovery Of my money, but all
in vain.
One night sat by the fire, a cheerless dis
appointed and lonely man. ! had been
thinking thoughts that only burned my brain,
but did not purify my heart. 'lf had only
married sweet Lucy" said, again and again,
''all this had not been so''
My housekeeper came in with a letter-an
unusually large package it was, and as it
bore y foreign postmark, | opened it with a
trembling hand. What is that ? A rustlng,
crumplod bank-note! Another and another
came forth, until there laid upon my knees
twenty bills OF the largest denomination. \
few trembling lines accompanied them:
only HUSBAND: am dying! My disease
there is no need in telling you. Forgive
me, and accept this enclosed rs = faint effort
toward restitution. 1t is not much over half
of what we took from the safe. The rest is |
know not where. | am deserted Farewell,
forcver.'
An icy chill thrilled me. 1t seemed rs If
her spectral presence was near me, shudder-
ed as rolled the bills together, and threw
them across the room.
''Lie there, curse of my soul" | cried
''Lie there till | have conquered myself! ay,
if the victory is not won till you are rotten p
l shut the door up and sealed it, and fol
six months L toiled like 4 penniless man, till
l partially redeemed myself. BY managing
cautiously, placed my business on sue
cessful footing, and began life again, new
man.
1t took many q year to wear off my oil,
habits Of parsimony, but every effort gave
me a new and agreeable pleasure Mean
time Lucy Manning became dearer to me
than she had ever been in the flush of youth
| entreated her forgivness humbled myself
to confession, tested myselfm all ways, anG
convinced her at last that | was as worthy
now as once was only in seeming
On the day of my wedding, l opened the
sealed door The Bank-notes lay where
had flung them. | took them up with the
,,..lo of - oo,.,,o.or an6 p1oo;n,. +l,o,,, :,