The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-04-04

'''t- ''ihS "eg w NpNoGNs tAi'NhSi "Nhs
to him and took bis hand.
" Your secret, you know, will be
safe with me. Will you trust me"
The sick man hesitated again,
smiled fecbly, and said BITTERLY
" Be 1t so. will tell you all. Indeed
1t cannot be for long,"
Mitchell conducted us out of the
room, ard made me u sign to take
Madame Fauvel home. She made me
could weep no longer. left her only
when | believed her to be asleep. |
reflected sorrowfully upon all that !
had just seen and heard, and awaited
the return of my husband. He only
came at very late hour in the night.
| had only to raise my eyes to his to
feel my curiosity vanish. His counte-
nance had that expression which |
had so frequently remarked upon il
when he had returned from the bed
side Of II sick or rather of Il dying
person, upon whom all the efforts OF
science had been unavailing. | tried
one question, then another; he,repIied
nothing, and remained immObile,
sober, absorbed in his reflections. Az
least" said almost in tears, "Iou
might advise me what ! had better do
with poor Jtniette."
He appeared to awake from dream
"Let her remain with us. That is the
best thing to be done.n
"That is your opinion and you APP.
prove Of what the doctor has done ~
Entirely.n
you are in accord with him You
ally yourself with that wicked man in
his ingiatitude, in his extravaganza !"
"God forgive you, Valentine! You
don't know what you are saying"
The tone in which he spoke was
harsh. Never since we We're married
had he spoken SO to me. A little
angry | nevertheless asked, " Did the
doctor cOnlide his secret to you ~
Yes; and" continued he, seeing
that ! was questioning him by my
looks, /" | will keep it faithfully as
long rs his poOrliGe shall ,ast.n
Ten days past, during which JGliette
did not once speak of her hus band.
What could tell her about him? She
knew indeed that Mitchell was with
him as friend and physician in all his
leisure moments. The eleventh day
we were preparing to pass thealternoon
quietly. | was working and Juliette
appeared to be absorbed in herreading
A slight noise behind me attracted my
attentions. | turned and saw my
husband, who, making me sign with
his hand, let the door close again. |
arose unatlectedly and followed him.
"WeIl?n
"liush speak loww
! then noticed his excitement
"Fauvel is tylng," said he.
| was scarcely expecting such
lidings, and remained dumb with AS
tonishment. IL have been foreseeins
it q long time,n continued Mitchell
"He was almost in despair befor,
that last accident. His mind is at res
now, but his vital resources are eX
hausted."
"And lis wife. his dear wile!n
" Yes, that is why | have come
She must 90 TO him now. He desire
it very much do you believe she vii
cOnseut?'
smiled sadly. "Ah Mitchell she
loves hin ~
"Yes; and Il woman who loves i,
always ready to forgive. You arr
right, my dear And now she will
very soon know the whole truth"
ID, you think lac las no chance oI
recovery ?'
None whatever, an sure. I Will
say more, am glad he has not. -
He stopped abruptly. They were
strange words. In terror | returned
10 Jdiette. 1t would b. impossible
for NE to relate how | told her Of hel
husbands state. remember no more
until the moment We entered lii
room.
Dr. Fauvel was lying in the same
place where he had for six weeks born,
patiently, gayly even, tie most crue
suffering. Ills features had recovered
something Of the calmncss aud serenity
which were upon them then. | felt ii
looking at him that he was about tC
die. Wnen Juliette approached him he
stretched out his arms she fell into
them without word. He had neithel
asked nor Obtained pardOo; he had NJ
need of it.
Paul, you will not send me away
again %
" 1t is no longer necessary. Very
soon, yes, very soon, all viii be eX
planned. You have always know
my dearly beloYed-have you not
and y0u will never forget how mucl
| loved youm Drawing her once more
to him, he covered her young face
with tender and passionate kisses.
DR.. Fauvel died the next morning
at sunrise. lie died peacefully in the
arms OF his wife.
Two days afterwards my husband
iand stood near the coffin, looking fOl
the last time on the features of him
who had been to us for the past two
years very dear friend, when Mitchell,
laying his hand respectfully upon
that brow, row as smooth and white
as chid's, said solemply: "GOd be
thanked for this peaceful death, which
alone could terminate his suiierings
lie was mac, an he knew it !" Say
ing no more, he replaced the cloth
upon the head of our poor friend,
closed the coffin, and led me back
home.
The evening Of the same day, the
funeral over, we were alone together.
My husband, with an evident effort,
began: "IIe was mad, as | have
already told you, in a very rare way
insane upon one point only, while on
all Others his intelligence was un-
diminished and hi, mind perfectly
sound, as you have often been able to
see for yourself"
"And that one point was'-
"1'he desire to kill his ~ifc."
/ shivered with horror.
"He told me-" continued Mitchell,
"that the idea first came to him
during the honeymoon. beginning
with the desire, of which have heard
several times, and which many people
have experienced, of dying while they
were at the height OF happiness, lac
became little by little haunted by that
frightful temptation which returned
to him every time he was alone with
his wife. "A physician himself, he
comprehended his own insanity; but
he knew also that ii he confessed i,
he would be, though sound upon all
other points, treated as u mailman,