The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-02-22


l shall ioss tuy mind in this dull,
void living. Only when your love
letters come, am alive and feel that
you love me and 1 live and feol, that
| am exquisitcly happy and misera-
ble-both together. My husband
AS long as l perform my daily du-
ties, he is contented. He knows
nothing ofmy feelings. He considers
me machine for his comfort. Some.
times loathc him. Usually 1 am
Indifferent to him.
"But tonight, it seems as if dared
escape to you, freedom, love, happi
ness-oh may it still be mine 7 BE-.
fore long 1 will grant you an inter-
view. will promise you nothing
moro than that now. Percy, my on.
ly love, Heaven bless and keep you
until We meet!
Gone word more. Pray be eau.
ttous. Ifmy husband should discov.
er this correspondence, I cannot an
swer for the consequences. Altho' he
has never ill.treated me, know him
to be hard man. But let me hear
| hIou JOu eOoNs ours.
The name was illegiblc, for the
sheet was much discolored by the rain;
but it was Lucy's fine, delicate ohiro-
graphy, and / felt as If thunder bolt
had broken around me.
After moments blank bewilder.
ment, and strange, benumbing pain,
put the sheet in my pocket continu.
ing myway. Such food of emo
tion was stirred within me, that I
summoned superficial oalmness,
from an instinct of solfproserva.
tion.
was conscious Of one predom inant
feeling, as l wont to the city-hatred
against my wife for her duplicity. I
must have looked wretohedly when I
reached the Office, but my partner was
too much oxcited to notice it.
"Knowles," he exclaimed, "there
was terrible fire in Birmingham last
night, and our branch house is burned
to the ground. Here is dispatch
from White. He wants you to run
down immediately"
In two hours was on my way to
Birmingham.
There was much to do to restore
our interest and lent myself to the
work with all my energics. 1t was
the best thing that could have hap
pened to me. 1t gave me no time to
think of Lucy,
l wrote her once, telling her very
briefly that | would not be houc tor
a month. II was six weeks before
again arrived in London.
elbow is Mrs. Knowles 7" I said to
the servant.
! "Very comfortable. I think she is
sleeping pow."
| Somewhat bewildered by the reply,
[ went to the sitting room. No sign
Of Lucy or her work. I mounted
to her chamber, and quietly opened
th1 door.
| The room was darkcned. Lucy was
sitting up in the white bed, nursing
an infant. Sweetly and calmly sho ex-
tended her hand to me-. went to
her-l put my arm, about her.
kissed her. could not help it, for
felt that the child upon her bosom
was my own. The nurse came in,
took the infant from her, and bade
her lie down to rest.
She was very week. T cannot ex-
press my contending feelings as
watched her fragile face upon the
pillow.
Slowly she gained strength. 1t was
midsummer before she was about the
house again. The little one had been
prematurely born, but il throve, and
the mothers health was finally restor.
ed. ! was rejoicod at this. should
have been perfectly happy but for
that letter. The memory of it was
like an ugly devil who mocked me.
One day as Lucy sat tending her
child in low chair by the window,
laid the sheet before her T had fixed
my eyes upon her face, and saw a
slow surprise dawn upon it.
"Whero did you find this, Will
I lost it months ago."
"Under the garden wall. What
does it mean, Lucy ~
"Well," with blush, "you have
found me out. It's leaf from story
I was writing"
"And Percy" l said, bewildercd.
"Was the hero. The sheet must
have blown out Of the window that
. rainy day last spring. You see, dear,
I didn't like to tell you, because
thought you wouldn't fancy having
o literary wife but I have been accus
toned to writing little stories some.
, times and when I knew baby was
/. coming, I thought would earn the
, money myself, for the cambria dresses
s I knew you needed every shilling in
' your business. I had to rewrite this
! letter for my romance" she oontin.
. ued ;"and didn't get it quite the
I came, ,"--examining the sheet.