The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1872-03-28
the singular suspicious that had enter

the singular suspicious that had enter
ed my mind.
"He is excellent" she replied with
an effort after moment Of silence.
at is always a pleasure to Him to be
useful and To 0blige his friends"
She arose. | was insisting upon q
promise that she would come very
soon to pass the evening with us,
when my husband returned and add
cd his own plea to mine.
II hope" said he, THAT the doctor
will do US the favor to accompany
you. have learned lately, madame,
to know your husband, and | can
assure you that there are few men for
whom | have SO much esteem and
friendship"
She blushed, and replied some
thing, in low voice, which | did not
hear. Just rs Michel, showing Mad
anne out, opened the street door, some
one passed the house, and perceiving
us, made Il low bow. 1t was DR..
Fauvcl.
doctor! Doctor" cried my hus-
band.
DR.. Fauvel crossed the street and
proceeded on his way without an
swering.
~ beg PARDON" said Michel, "but
/ have something important to say to
him." He went out quickly and
soon overlook his friend.
| turned to the young wife, who
stood leaning against the door-post,
and was terrified by her appearance;
pale and trembling, she seemed hard
ly able to support herself | led her
into the parlor and caused her to be
seated, in nomentary dread Of seeing
her faint. At last she spoke:-
"Thanks; | am better now. | have
been weak but" she added with a
dazed look, "if you were his wife, and
saw him for the first time in two
years !h-
"Him? of course you cannot mean
your husband?"
"Yes, my husband, my dear hus-
band, who loved me SO much when
he married me. Great God what
have done that he no longer loves
me, and that he treats NE so. Oh,
mercy what have | said !" Then
covering her face she sobbcd aloud.
BE sure" said l greatly moved,
"lhat your secret is safe. Have con-
tidcnce in me, l beg YOU"
With profound pity for this young
and charming creature | wept with
her. How sad and strange was all
this! To live under the same roof
with her husband and not to have
seen him in two years! 1t was SCARCELY
credible. This then was the cause Of
the malevolent rumors which had
reached even me, and which l had
strcnuously combated. | was excited,
and without taking time to reflect,
ranged myself, as was natural, on the
side Of the wife.
"And | thought you 50 happy /"
cried, "and was so captivated by the
fine character Of DR.. Fauvcl! Oh,
how detestabe are men!"
"You are mistaken, madame, in
regard to at least one Of them," re-
piled the young wife with dignity.
IN. Cologne was perfectly right
when he said just now that he knew
no man more worthy of respect and
affection than my husband"
He hasn't then lost your esteem
"NOt the least in the world"
"And you love him still?"
"Yes, with all my soul, Heaven
have pity on me!n She began to weep
again as if her heart would break.
What motive could induce such n
man to separate himself from his
wife? some grave fault committed by
her? Again | examined that lovely
face, so coniiding and so pure, and
further suspicion was impossible.
"Do you suppose" she asked, when
she was little more calm, that the
world has discovered our real relation?
Not that fear for myself, but it might
do an injury to DIR. Fauvel."
"Alas!" | replied, "in such Il vii
lage As this nothing can long remain
Il secret.'
"That is precisely what l feared.
We came here to live because the
physicians advised the country for
me. would die, thy said, if | did
not change my residence and habits.
All! if | only could die"
ss'rhc expression in her eyes terrified
Inc. | have never seen any grief so
poignant. | went to her, took her
by the arm, and tried to comfort her.
Have you neither relatives nor
friends whose advice you could take!"
81 am an orphan. / have not n
friend in whom | would coniide.
Besides" she added, with Il look Of
alarm, "would not even you be un-
fjust to my husband, now that you
know all ?"
II do not yet permit myself to
Judge him." | replied coldly.
She took my hand, and said as il
in prayer, 81 beseech you, do not
Judge either Ofus too severely. | have
done wrong in allowing myself to
accuse him in my agony, but the
shock was too sudden. 0 Paul my
poor Paul! o my dear husband!
TO see her thus in despair, but
without showing either bitterness or
anger, was more than my woman's
susceptibility could endure. l re-
solved to try and clear up this mys-
teri0us situation, which | ut least
was persuaded was capable OF being
remedicd.
"Will you permit me-" | asked
gently, "to put one or two questions
to you? How long has the state OF
things of which you speak lasted" >"
give years" /
give yearsw My ast0nishment
made me silent. Madame Fauvel,
without appearing to notice my sur
prise, looked ut me with an expression
of sOrrowful resignation to her lot.
After moment Of silence, l resnm-
ed, actuated by sincere compassion:--
pardon me if ! arouse painful
memories, but may not know when
and how your separation begun ~
"Six months after our marriage.
We made, you will scarcely believe
il. a real love-match. Both alone III
the world, we were everything to
each other and perfectly happy. Lit
tie by little Paul became morosc, ab-
stracted. | sought i'll vain ior the
cause. at is nothing 1t wiii pass
away :" he said when | asked hlm.
BY and by he fell sick. ana han
violent fever. | watched over MN:
| \Vban bn had rppnyprpu he separated