The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1870-10-01

the whole garden with their fragance. l
walked leisursiy down the path, unlatch-
ed the gate and went out.
A few steps distance, under the gar
den-wall, lay sheet of paper. Itlooked
like something that should not have
been there, and | went and picked it
up.
1t was single square sheet of unruled
paper, and the handwriting upon it was
my wifos. ASH looked at it, word
here and there caught MY eye. With
arrested attention, commenced care
full examinntionofthe sheet. With some
difficulty Tread as follows
"My dearest Tercy,-
"Your entreaties, and my own heart,
will no longer allow me to remain silent.
My beloved, am SO miserablel These
clandestine letters of yours which 1 re-
ceive are the only comfort in the world;
feed on them--live OH them. They are
the only brightness which illumines my
dark way. My life is almost insup-
portable. You know that do not love
my husband-tha / never loved him.
You, only, know the whole array Of cir
stances under which married him.
Well, he is my husband now, and try.
to be a good wife; but this existence is
like some dreadful nightmare dream,
Percy. It does not seem as if it'd could
be me who lives. and breathes, and an
swers to my name. am so desolate
and depressed---so despairingl I have
the feeling, sometimes, that ! am under
a spell; that my faculties are paraly wing,
and that 1 shall lose my mind in this
dull, void living. Only when your let
ters come, am aliye. feel that you
love me; and 1 live and feel, and am ex-
quistely happy and miserable-both to-
gether.
"My husband --as long as I perform
my daily duties, he is contented. lie
knows nothing of my feclings. He
considers me machine for his comfort.
sometimes, loatbe him, Lam indiffer-
ent to him.
"But tonight, i seems ss if l dared
escape to you. Freedom, love, happi-
ness-oh, may it.still bc ninel Before
long, I will gruni you an inLoryiew. !
-wIIf pruriIse yoiu1tionmg gm0reT Than That
now. Percy, my only love, heaven
bless and keep you until we meetl
zone word more. Pray be cautious.
II my busbnnd should discover this COR
respondence, cannot answer for the
consequences. Though ho has never ILL
treated me, know him to be hard
man. But let me hear from you soon.
"Yours."
The name was il.egiole, for the sheet
was much discolored and blotted by the
rain. But it was Lucy's fine, delicate
chirography; and felt as ifa thunder
bolt had broken around me.
After momcnt'sblank bowilderment,
and strange, bowildering pain, put the
sheet in my pocket, and quietly contln-
ued my way. Such flood of emotion
was stirred within me, that 1 summon
cd superficial calmness from an in
slant of preservation.
1 was conscious Of one predominant
feeling as / went to the City--hatred
against my wife for her duplicity. l
must have looked wretchedly when I
reached the Office, but NV partner was
too much excited TO notice it.
"Knowles," ne exclaimed, "there was
a terrible fire in Birmingham, last night,
and our branch house is burned to the
ground. Here is dispatch from White.
He waits you to run down Immediate
ly."
In two hours 1 was on my way to Bir-
j minghsm.
There was much TO do to restore our
interest, and lent myself to the work
with all my energies. 1t was the best
thing that could have happened to me-
II gave me no time to think of Lucy.
i [ wrote her once, telling her, very
briefly, that should not be home for
month. 1t was six weeks before Iagain
arrived in London.
elbow is Mrs. Knowlesf'' said to the
servant.
"Very comfortable. think she is
sleeping now"
Somewhat bewildered by the reply, 1
went into the sitting room. No Sign of
Lucy or of her work, ] mounted her
chamber, and quietly opened the door,
The room was darkened. Lucy was
sitting up in the white bed, nursing an
infant. Sweetly and calmly she extern
ded her hand to me. ] went to her-I
put my arm about her. could not help
it, for felt that the child upon her bos-
ON was my own. The nurse came in,
took the infant from her, and bade her
lie down to rest.
She was very weak. + can not express
my contending feelings as watched her
fragile face upon the pillow.
Slowly she gained strength. Tt was
midsummer before she was about the
house again. The little one had been
prematurely born, butit throve, and the
mothers health was finally restored. 1
was rejoiced at this. I Ishould have been
perfectly happy but for the letter. The
memory of it was like an ugly devil who
Knocked me.
One day, as Lucy sat tending her child
in low chair, by the window, laid
the sheet before her. l had fixed NV
eyes upon her face, and saw a slow sur
prise drawn upon it.
"Where did you fine this, Win? 1 lost
it months ago."
"Under the gardenwall. What does
Il mean Lucy?"