Macon beacon., 1871-08-19
MISSISSIPPI, AUGUST 10, 1871.
Try bushes, She read, through happy
tears, these beautiful words -

; "MRs. CYNTHIA SrLLlvAy-Doar Madam,
, Your MS, 'StGlla's Summer by the Sea- il
- accepted for the - Magazine, and VIC here.
with inclOgo for it our check for forty.seyeu
dollars and ifty-cents. Yours, etc."
There was a crisp, orangc-lcttcrcd
check, the more than realization OF
her widest hopes! She felt that these
editors were her dearest friends, and
longcd to do something TO express
her gratitude to them. 1t was almost
too good to be true! and, as she walk
cd happily home, one hand in her
pocket clasping the wonderful letter,
she feared she should wake and find
ii all a dream. Going in, she found
Oh the table her husbands hat and an
unopened letter, with a Liverpool
postmark, addressed to her in Tom
LawrencC's well-known hand-writ-
ing. OF fcoursc it was from Carrie /;
she never 1OUld direct her own let
tCrs. But where was Robert? She
went through parlor and sitting
room seeking him, tearing open the
letter meanwhile. Not finding him,
she was about going up stairs; but
remembering the precious check in
| her pocket, turned back smiling
happily as she recalled its contents,
and locked it safely in her desk, quite
unaware that robert was watching
her from behind the bay window
curtains. Yes, he had seen her come
in, more joyously than for weeks
past, with Toms letter open in her
hand seen her look carefully about
the rooms, hastily sccretc a billet in
her desk, and pocket the key. She
never used to lock that desk, or have
any secrets. To be sure, she showed
him her letter aftcrward, but that was
from Carry; the inclosure, 50 care
fully hidden, was doubtless from
Tom. And yet, while all his worst
fears were thus revived, Annie's eyes
were so pure and true, her manner SO
loving and happy, he could not doubt
her long. After a night ofrcncction
he resolved that if she had a secret il
could not be an unworthy one he
would trust her and respect it. lfl
her heart ever did regret its choice,
he would win her back by patient
tenderness for he well knew that i'll
ever man had a guardian angel, his |
little wife was his.
Now followed many happy weeks, |
during which Annie showed no alb |
sencc Of mind, made no mysterious
journeys, received no private letters |
Roberts resolutions were easily kept
and he almost forgot the pcrturba-
llons of the summer. Coming home by |
an earlier train than usual ono fros-
ty cveningin November, as he turned |
up the hill from the station he saw |
his wife, a few rods before him, COM
ing from thcpOst office with a letter
i'll her hand. She went slowly home
ward, reading as she walked, too
much absorbed to hear him behind
her. " "What can interest her so y he
wondered. just then the envelope.
a common yellow one, fell from her
hand, tluttcrcd down the icy path to-
ward him. lie picked it up, intend
ing to laugh at her carclcssncss, but
the one glance at the address drove
all color from his face, all icstinc
from his mind, "Mra. Cynthia Sui
livan,' i'll strange, masculine hand.
Fora moment Robert stood still: the
November night seemed to close dark
and cold around him with chill that
penetrated to his heart. Looking up
at last, he saw his wifc's light figure
ioran instance on top of the hill clear
ly traced against the lowering sky:
then it turned into their own avenue
and disappeared. Sintram-likC the
husband stood listening to the demon
within him. Every half FORGOTTEN
mystery rose as an accusation against
poor Annie, carrying all good rcso-
lutions away like Il flood. &" A secret
correspondence a tcigncd name.
What could it all mean p Crushing
the hateful envelope in his hand, he I
strcdc tierccly ON, determined TO
show it to her and demand to be told
all. lie reached his gate Just as Am
ME entered the house. The light from
within cleaned down the path mo-
ment, then the door closed, and all
was dark and cold.
She docs WELL" muttcrcd Robert.
bitterly: "shC shut me out Other con-
fidGncc long ago"
Suddenly the door rc-opcncd.-
Annie came quickly out and down
the avenue toward him. Does she
see him? Oh no! She is searching
for the lost envelope. Her husband
drew back into the shadow of the
hedge, watching unseen her Hurried
"What shall | do p she exclaimed,
ina low, troubled tone, close beside
him.
His jealous mood swept over him
like a wave; he stepped suddenly
out before her, saying, in cold, hard
voice, as he thrust forward the cn.
Volopc:
"PerhapS this 10 what you have
lostw
His unexpected appearance, pas
sionatc gesture and rude tone gave ;
Annie a terrible shock. Starting
backward, catching her breath with
q gasp Of fright and pain, she lost
her footing on the icy slope, and fell
down an cmbankment of several fec
to the carriage drive below. Terri
fled and rcmorScrul, Robert was be-
side her instantly, only to find her
lying, white and silent, on her side,
bcr left arm broken under her, ,
Neither of them ever knew very /
clearly what happened during the
next half hour Robert took his ,
wife into the house. The doctor
came, set her arm, prescribed for {
to lCvCr, aud ordered en- |
tire quiet, Annie scarcely spoke.
The doctor was surprised to sec one {
SO usually bright and brayc now ap-
parcntly entirely subducd with pain. '
How could the good man know that s
the husband, whose loving concern
was shown in every look and move ;
mcut, had been the cause of the acci-
dent and OF the mental distress, be- {
side which the physical pain was as {
nothing? Annie had been perfectly |
aware Of her husbands state of mind ,
when he sprang out upon her, She I
knew that he suspected her of some 5
thing wrong; that he was angry;
had prcjudgcd her cruelty. With
lll her SWppturSS nF toinnCr and {