The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-09-07
WIFE vs.. wANTON.
A Virginia Matron's Distressing
.... Mission.


middle-aged citizen OF Virginia COM
municates some account o! an adven-
ture which befell him while he was
travelling last week on a certain railroad
Of that State. The train was on its
way from Richmond to another city,
when he noticed among the passengers
party consisting Of a lady, three chill
dren and a nurse maid. The faultless
taste in which the family were dressed,
their air of high breeding and the re-
fined manners even of the children
might have caught the attention OF any
discriminating person, but whatespecial-
" excited the interest Of the observer in
the present case were the alternately sad
and apparently indignant changes Of
expression with which the lady perused
and reperused an open letter she. had
brought with her into the car, and
which she clutched as though it had
rebellious wings to fly away from her
While the gentleman covertly watch
ed the scene and secretly wondered
what story OF bereavement or wrong it
concerned, one Of her children timidly
approached him with childish invita-
ton to acquaintance. Ready to meet
the advance more than half way, he
took the little one upon his lap, and
this attracting the heed of the lady, she
as last looked up from her mysterious
epislle with forced smile, and asked
him to lay down the child beside her on
the seat. From this episode ensued a
conversation which, by degrees, led to
one of those travelling acquaintances
which the most discreet are liable TO
contract before they know it.
The gentleman, presuming upon his
superior age and the seeming distress Of
the lady, finally informed her that he
had noticed her display of emotion, and
felt it incumbent upon his courtesy to
ask if he conld render any friendly SER
vice. She whom he had thus ad-
dressed received his remark shrinkingly
and with. painful confusion at first, but,
after a moments hesitation inquired
whether he knew any one in a Certain
town which they were approaching
His affirmative answer elected the
further inquiry Of whether be knew the
ladies keeping such a boarding house
.L ka l. tn no la or
OF eminent worth and responsibility,
and, as he himself proposed remaining
ing the town named until evening, he
should be happy to introduce her if she
desired.
Apparently inclined now to be more
communicative about herself, the lady
confessed that she was engaged in a
mission so distressful, that, but for her
children, she scarcely wished to survive
it, aud urgently felt the need OF some
older and wiser friend to sustain her in
the approaching crisis. Her father
had been a Mason before his death /;
she had observed that the gentleman
now before her wore Masonic pin, and
as a Mason's daugher she presumed TO
confide her trouble thus freely. 1t was
her object, after having taken rooms
for the day at hotel, to visit the board
ing house of the ladies they had men
toned, and if her new friend-who had
given her his name and address-could
spare time to 90 thither with her in q
carriage, she should feel stronger for the
excitement, and probably the peril OF
the unhappy task before her.
While il would have been agreeable
to him to know little more about the
matter in which he was solicited to
take such part, the gentleman hestated
not to repeat the tender Of his utmost
services; and this brought them to the
town of their destination. Here the
family were escorted TO hotel, the
children and their nurse accommodated
with suitable rooms, and then the Vlr-
ginian handed the now silent lady into
a carriage for conveyance to the board
ing house. Arriving at the latter, the
lady, her letter ia hand, left the vehicle
alone, and rang the door bell. She was
admitted by a servant, an interval OF
waiting followed, and then, deadly pale,
and in company with the apparently
much agitated ladies Of the house, she
silently beckoned from a ground floor
window for her escort to enter.
When he appeared she told him hur-
riedly that she desired him to witness
an interview at hand, and immediately
opened the door leading to another
apartment Close upon the threshold,
as though prepared for what was COM
ing, stood a woman OF singular beauty,
who, upon meeting the flashing eyes OF
the first unceremonious intruder. sank
to the floor like one stricken by spec
ter. DO you recognize this letter,
sraceless girl?' exclaimed the lady Of
the CATS, thrusting toward her the fatal
epis,le. THAT is my return for taking
YOU into my home and my heart, when
you had not a relation or friend in the
world. You thought that you had
stolen my husbands affections from me
You came here giving my name as your
own, and wrote this letter to my bus
band, asking him to meet you here.
Why, you are as much a fool as memo
for he gave me the letter, and told me
to come. l have brought our children,
and he is to come tonight; but there Is
enough of the old kindness for you yet
in nv heart, and enough respect for
our sex left in my soul, 10 cause me to
warn you against remaining here until
he comes to spurn you in my presence
The effect OF these burning words, re-
yealing as they did the whole mystery
of the letter, was to make the denoun-
cod shrink closer into herself in dismay-
cd bumi liation and refrain from one
- Of remonstrapce. Having accom-