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

don't know where to show you another
Just like her. She was we'll rounded
in figure, with fair face, golden hair
and soft whito hands. She had brown
eyes, regular features, and mobile
red lips. On rainy day certain fine
tresses other shining hair would escape
from the remainder and curl about
her temples in littlo gold tcndril
rings. Her voice was quiet and me :
lodious, and she wore violet dresses.
This is as we'll as can describe
her.
And am afraid this is abont all
knew of her when we were married
We met first in Devonshire. l was
alone in strange place. She was an
orphan, and teacher in boarding
school. She was gentle and sad. [
made her acquaintance--I loved her.
] promised to make her happy, and
we were married.
My south western tour being end
ed, we came aud settled in Kensing-
tor. We had been married just a
year when my story commences.
| was young, just starting in lifo,
and very much eugrossed in my mer-
clntils business. Neither was I q
particularly demonstrative man and
as Lucy was quiet and composed ia
her mein, | think we hardly appeared
likes newly married people.
| had all confidence in my wife.
1t was her neutness, frugality and
good Judgment that won mo, as we'll
as her beauty. All home affairs =
tho hiring of servants, the domestic
arrangements, househ old bills-I left
entirely to her manag gement. 1t was
great rest to leave my counting
house and turn homeward for I was
sure of finding everything right. If
Lucy had any annoyance she never
confessed them to me and I never
took home my business troubles.
AS said, we have becu married q
year, when one evening I came home
as usual. 1t had been fine day, but
as | left the train great drop of rain
fell on my nose. had ten minutes
walk before me, and commenced the
task rather briskly.
The rain came down smartly as
reached my garden gate. AS l enter
ed the sitting~room. found Lucy
hurriedly putting away some papers
"The rain is blowing up from the
west. You had better shut the par
lor windows, Lucy,' I eaid.
eyes, WILL" she replied abscntly
rumaging in drawer.
The storm struck sharply agains
the pane. She went and shut the
parlor windows, and then came back
to the drawer.
When she had looked the drawe,
through, she overlooked the table, and
finally went to the escritoiro.
"What are you hunting for, Lucy n
said /. "Never mind" she said care
lcssly dinner is ready, WILL"
We went to the dining-room. Sht
cbatted of her garden and the in
cidents of tho day. She had planted
mignonettc under tho windows, siia4
its fragrance might come into her a.
she was working, she said. The
Misses Granger had called, and the
man had been to graft the pear trees
Pleasant, ordinary talk, that suggest,
ed nothing Of the mystery to come.
The rain continued all night, but
morning was clear. felt myself @
very happy man as I Istepped from my
door into the balmy spring air. Tho
tulips we're III blossom, and the GRO.
cuses filed tho whole garden with
their fragrance. I walked leisurel,
down the path, unlatched the gate sne
went out.
At fow steps distance, under, tn
garden wall, lay a sheet of paper. l
looked like something that should no
have beeu there, and | went and pick
ed it up.
1t was single square sheet of un
ruled paper, and the handwriting
upon it was my wife's. As lookct
at it word here and there caught m.
eye. With arrested attention, I com
menoed ,areful examination of tho
sheet. With some difficulty l reat
us follows
"My dearest Percy
"Your entreaties, and my ow,
heart will no longer allow mo to re
main ilent. My beloved, am 8
miserable These clandestine letter
Of yours which | receive are my 0hl
comfort in the world. I feed on thcr
live on them. They are the onl
brightness which illumines my dar
way. My life is almost ihsupportable
You know that l do not love my hus
bandl-that never loved. him. 70,
only know the whoio array OF oirouu'
stances under which I married him
Well, he is my husband now, and
try to bo good wife /; but this exis
tence is like scme dreadful nightmare
dream, Percy. It does not seem o
if it could be me who lives, an
brsathes, and answers to my name.
am SO desolate and deprossed--so de
-