Middletown transcript., 1870-07-09

| w tdhe uoWu tle OURS, DuJ cleared Jncm
with leap. When he reached the porch,
he sprung down, flushed and eager.
" Violet" he cried, the moment he
caught sight of me, are you up yet ~
1 am sorry"
He approached, both hands extended
But [ turned from him, and walked to the
other end of the porch.
He stood for a moment in silent aston
ishment, then followed, and took my
hand, though 1 kept my face persistently
avcrted
"Violet," he said, "what is it Are
you ill, tired ? 1 was so sorry to keep
you waiting, but circumstances
" Never mind the circumstances now '
exclaimed, pettishly. 81 am very
tired, and now that 1 know you are safe,
[ will go to bed"
He loosencd his hold on my hand, but
looked after me as | left him, with a
glance l shall never forget. 1 can see
him now, as he stood, so handsome and
noble; and 1 loved him so we'll / wonder
why [ turned from him that night. God
knows how it panied me. But the spoil
ed, wilful temper, that has been my ruin,
urged me on.
Did you ever speak harsh word to
one you love, and feel something within
you prompting you to speak another
Then you understand how it was that |
left my husband standing there, weary
and supperless.
Violet, DEAR" he said, softly, as I
paused involuntarily at the head of the
stairs, "come back and let me explain
you know L have not kept you waiting
willingly"
But [ went on without a word, not to
our chamber, but to little dressing room
exclusively my own, and closed and locked
the door. | am sure the Evil one must
have had control of me that night. In
little while he came up stairs, and tried
the lock of my door; then he called my
name softly; but 1 did not answer-and
he went away.
A dozen times that night I lifted my
throbbing head from my tear-wept pillow
to go out to him and implore his forgive
ness, but pride kept me back. Thus |
lay, sleepless, till morning. 1t was
wild morning, too, with a drifting rain
and sobbing winds, and the sea thunder
ing on the strand.
My husband was already in the break
fast-room when | went down. He turned
and said kindly,
"Good-morning, dear. Arc you quite
we'll? ~
"Quito we'll, thank you," I responded,
crossing to the window on the opposite
side of the room. He arose, and | hoped
he was coming to my side but he only
looked at his watch, and said,
" Be kind enough to let me have break
fast at once, Violet, if you can. 1 am in
hurry, for l have important matters to
look after"
L rang the bell at once, and placed my
self at the head of the table When the
cheerless repast was over, and my hus-
band rose to go, felt the hot tears blind
ing me. | could not let him leave me in
anger. l had made a.step toward him
when he spoke, and his words reused all
my old anger and discomfort.
"Violet," he said, ''I may not be here
to dinner. Don't wait for me; it is i'm
possible"
"Make no excuses, sir" I replied,
haughtily; "none are needed"
Oh those sad, reproachful eyes! But
his lips uttered no retort. He only said,
Goodbye, DEAR" and went out
| watched him from the window, hid
den behind a curtain, as he rode away
through the driving rain.
The memory of that day comes back to
me like terrible dream! Toward even
ing my agony became uncomfortable; and |
as the rain poured in torrents determined |
to drive over to my husbands Office in the |
neighboring village. About halfway, we
met covered carriage, containing lady
and gentleman.
"Why, that's Mr.. Reade" exclaimed |
my driver, as the vehicle dashed past US.
One glance confirmed his words. 1t
was my husband, and by his side was the
Same woman that l had seen with him
once before. My resolution was taken on
the instant. 1 ordered my servant to
drive back to Swans Nest. l would not
wait my husbands return, I said to my
self could not even charge him with
infdelity. I would go away at once, and
never let him see my face again.
In short time was ready for my de-
ling him that believed our marriage had
been an unwise one, and that should be
happier with my own friends. 1 begged
him not to hunt me down as a fugitive
but to leave me to follow the bent of my
inclination. 1 put the note upon his ta-
BILE, and then went out from home, where
my life had been so happy. In less than
a week, my father and | were on our way
to Europe.
AT the expiration of two wretched years
we returned and learned from our law
yer that my husband had sailed for China,
FIRST making over to me, in fee simple, all
his real estate. He never, so the lawyer
said, expected to return. | went back to
Swans Nest. Everything was unchanged
The rooms were just as had left them
My husband would not let them be touch