Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-10-18
sight of me. ''are you up yet? I am sor.

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other end Of the porch.
Tie stood for. a moment in silent astonlsh
ment, then followed and took my hand
though I kept my face constantly averted
"Violet.' be said, ''what is it? Are
you ill-tired? I was sorry to keep you
waiting, but circumstance"
"Ncver mind the circumstances now p
I exclaimed pettishly. II am very tired
and now that I know you are safe, | will go
to bed"
He loosened his hold on my hand, but
looked after me as left him, with a glance
that shall never forget. I can see him
now, as be stood in the moonlight, so hand
some and noble; and loved him so we'll
wonder why turned FROM him that night,
God knows how it panied me-. But the
spoiled, wlful temper. that has been my
ruin, urged me on. Era
Did you ever speak harsh word to one
you loved, and feel something within you
prompting you to speak another. Then you
understand how it was. thatI left my hus-
band standing there weary and supperless.
'.Violet, dear" he said, softly at the head
Of the stairs, 'come back and let me explain !;
you know I have not kept you waiting will
ingly."
But I went on without word, not to our
chamber, but to little dressing-room ex-
clusvely my own, and closed and locked the
door I am sure the evil one must have
had control of that night. 10 little while
he came up stairs and tried the lock Of my
door; then he.called my name softly; but l
did not answer--and be went away.
A dozen times that night l lifted my
throbbing head from my tear.wet pillow to
go out and implore bis forgiveness, but
pride kept me back Thus lay sleepless
till morning It was a wild morning. too,
with drifting rain and sobbing winds, and
the sea laundering on the strand
My husband was already in the breakfast
room when [ went down. He turned and
said kindly:
GOOD morning, dear. Are you quite
we'll? Quite we'll, thank you,' | respond
ed, crossing to window Oh the opposite side
of the room He arose, and hoped be was
coming to my side, but he only looked at
his watch, and said
'.Be kind enough to let me have my
breakfast at once, Violet. if you can. am
in hurry, for I have important matters to
look after"
1 rang the bell at once, and placed my
self at the head of the table When the
cherries repast was over, and mp husband
rose to 90, felt the hot tears binding me,
l could not let him leave me in anger. |
had made step toward him when he spoke,
and bis words reused all my old anger and
discomfort.
".Violet." he said, II may not be here to
dinner Don't wait for me; it is impossi-
ble-''
Make no excuses, sir, replied, haugbt.
! lily; ''none arc needed"
Oh those sad, reproachful eyes! But
his lips uttered no retort. He only said
'Good- bye, DEAR" and went out.
| watched him from the window, hidden
behind curtain, as hs rode away through
the driving rain.
The memory of that day comes back to
me like terrible dream! Toward evening
my agony became uncomfortable; and as the
rain poured in torrents, I determined to
drive over to my husbands Office ia the
neighboring village About half way We
met covered carriage, containing a lady
and gentleman.
"Why, that's Mr.. Read !" exclaimed my
driver, as the vehicle dashed pass US,
Ooe glance confirmed his words. 1t was
my husband, and by his side was the same
woman that I had seen with him once before.
Ny resolution was taken on the instant. |
ordered my servant to drive back to Swans
Nest. | would not wait my husbands re.
turn, I said to myself: I could not even
charge him with his infdelity: l would 60
away at once, and never let him see my face
again. @
In short time I was ready for my de-
parture. I wrote note for Horace, telling
him that believed our marriage had been
an unwise one, and that [ should be happi-
or with my own friends. begged him not
to hunt me down as fugitive but to leave
me to follow the bent Of my inclination. I.
put the note upon his table, and went out
from the home where my life had been so
happy. In less than week my father and
I were on our way to Europe.
At the expiration of two wretched years
we returned; and l learned from our lawyer
that my husband had sailed for China, first
making over to me, in fee simple, all bis
real estate. He never, so the lawyer said
expected to return. | went back to Swans
Nest. Everything was unchanged. The
rooms we're just as l left them My hus-
band would not let them be touched, the
Lousekeeper said. Had she ever heard
from him p I asked. "Only once" she
replied, sand then the letter contained an
other; it was on my dressing table, And
went for it myself, and read it, sitting
there in our old room.
''Violet." it began, ''you must pardon
this intrusion. 1t will be the last, for in all
human probability, the disease that now
consumes me will soon give me grave in a
foreign land. But there are few things I
wish to say bafore I de- I was wrong not
to explain all to you from the first But I
desired to spare you what you might consid
er disgrace think you could and would
trust me-. 1t was my sister you saw. She
was vain and frivolous, and eloped with
proAigate. The marriage was illegal, and
Ethel was disgraced. She came to me for
help. could not refuse her. I was tax
ing her to safe asylum when / was absent
that night. You understand it all now
Don't be troubled. dear, fear I have not
long to live. God bless you, dear! In
heaven all these wrongs will be righted.''
For two years I lived about Swans Nest
two years of inexpressib1e agony; then
the news came A steamer bomeward bound
from Calcutta, was lost, and Horace Read
was one ofthe passengers That was the
death of hope Another year rolled by
One sweet May evening strolled down to