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

To begin with-she was pretty.
don't know where to show you another
Just like her. She was we'll rounded in
, figure, with u fair face, golden hair, and
; soft, white hands. She had brown
eyes, regular features, and noble, red
lips. On rainy day, certain fine tress-
es of her shiny hair would escape from
the remainder, and curl about her tenn
pies in little gold tendril rings. Her
voice was quiet aud melodious, and she
wore violet dresses. This is as we'll as
can describe her.
And l am afraid this Is about all !
knew Of her when we were married.
We met first in Devonshire. 1 was
alone in strong place. She was an
orphan, and teacher in a boarding
school. She was gentle and sad. l
made her acquaintance-I loved her. l
promised to make her happy and we
were married.
My southwestern tour being ended,
we came and settled in Kensington.
We had been married just a year
when my story commences.
I was young, just stating in life, and
much engrossed in my mercantile bust
ness. Neither was a particularly de.
monstrative man; aud as Lucy was very
quiet and composed in mien, l think
we hardly appeared like newly married
people.
l had all confidence in my wife. 1t
was her neatness, frugality, and good
judgment that won me, AS we'll as her
beauty. All home aftairs-the hiring
of servants, the domestic arrangements,
household bills-I left entirely to her
management. 1t it was great rest to
leave my counting house, and turn
homeward, for l was sure of finding
everything right. If Lucy had any an
noyances, she never confessed them to
me; and never took home my business
troubles.
AS said, we had been married year,
when one evening, ! came home as
usual. 1t had been fine day, but as
left the train, a great drop of rain
splashed on my nose. l had ten min
utes' walk before me, and commenced
the task rather briskly.
The rain came down smartly as l
resched my garden gate. AZ entered
the sitting-room, found Lucy hurried
ly putting away some papers.
"The rain is blowing up from the
west. You had better shut the par!or
windows, Lucy" l said.
"Yes, Will,' she replied, absently,
rummaging in drawer.
The storm struck sharply against the
pane. She went and shut the parlor
windows, and then came back to the
drawer.
When she had looked the drawer
through, she overlooked the table, and
finally went to the escritoire.
"What are you hunting for, Lucy ?"
said I.
"Never mind" she said, carelessly
dinner is ready, Will"
We went to the dining room. She
chatted of her garden, and the incident.
Of the day. She had planted mignonettt
under the windows, that its fragrance
might come in to her as she was work
ing, she said. The Misses Granger ha,
called, and the man had been to graf
the pear trees. Pleasant, ordinary talk
that suggested nothing of the myster,
TO come.
The rain continued all night, but til,
morning YVES clear. l felt myse!fa yer,
happy man as stepped from my doc
into the balmy spring air. The tulip
were in blossom, and the crocuses file,
the whole air with their fragrance.
walked leisurely down the path, un
latched the gate and went out.
A few steps distant, under the garde
wall, lay sheet of paper. 1t locke
like something that should not hav
been there and went and picked
up.
, 1t was single square sheet ofunrule
r paper, and the hand writing upon it VIZ
2 my wife's. As looked at it, a wcr
d here aud there caught my eye. Wit
= arrested attention, commenced car
full examination Of the sheet. Wit
!, some difficulty read as follows:-
n my dearest Percy:
Your entreatie
= and my own heart, will no longer allo
= me to remain silent. My beloved, a.
/ so.miserable! These clsndestine lette
= I ofyours which receive are my on
> comfort In the world. feed on them
live on them. They are the only brigh