Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-10-30

household goods taTDiSbed and destroyed.
| did not know how frail were the Lares
and Penates in this case, or perhaps Miss
Quincy had inoeulated me with some of
her mercy, for confess to feeling terribly
shocked and grieved when, one wet win
ter evening, as | was on my way home
from Lord Scarsdale's for Tie last time
he having been pronounced cured, and
able to 60 out again into the world on the
morrow encountered shiyering, half
sobbing female in the street, who asked
me which was the turning to the South
kensington railway station, and whom /
recognized as Lady Scarsdale When
she recognized me she tainted.
| took her into a chemists shop, and
there il came out that she was in the act
of leaving her home and husband forever.
He was cruel; he did not love her he
hated her ways; and she had written TO
tell him she had gone, and would never
go back-never! 1t all came out in
floods of hysterical tears; and this much
more, that Captain Swinburn was waiting
for her at the South KensingtOn station,
and had promised to take her to an aunt
Of his-some lady living in Jersey, l
think.
In plain words, half in innocence, half
IN wilfulneSs, she was rushing into ire
trievable ruin
/ don't know all | said to her, nor yet
half. 1t was Of very little avail | know
| found myself insisting on Lord Scars
dale's trust and love with an eloquence
that astonished myself, and finally threat
enlng TO take her straight back 10 him I'M
less she would give up her project, at
least for the night.
1t was an awfully hard task. She
sObbed and wept, and would gladly, |
know, have returned home but for fear OF
her husband. He was so harsh; and for
her own people, they were worse, and
would simply hand her over to his jus
tice" (she eshivered at the mere idcal; "and
Captain SWinburn said his aunt was so
kind"
Then | spoke my mind to her and 81
fenced any further mention Of Captain
Swinburn's aunt, though when she saw
how far she had gone on her downward
path, it only increased her terrified refusal
TO trust herself to her husbands mercy.
| was at my wits ends.
1t was getting late We were near the
station, and Captain Swinburn might ap-
pear at any moment looking for the run
away, in which case my influence would
be nil, or Lord Scarsdale might have got
the letter left for him, and have acted on
it in a way to prevent his Wiie'S return.
In despair what to do, my thoughts fled
to my only woman helper, Miss Gurney-
yet how to disturb her IL such a cause.
In the end, and more as if acting by
the pressure Of some unseen force than
my own VIII | found myself and my cap
tive en- reute for Caroline Place; and there
left Lady Scarsdale covering over the
diningToom fire-her guilelessness proved
by the doCility with which she had let
me bring her 10 this out-ofthe-way place
while | went up 10 Miss GuTney and
told her my story. | had resolved on
cOnCealing Lady ScaTsdale's name, and
had cautioned that young lady against
betraving it; but in the furry of my
mind I had forgot to provide myself
with another, and, 10 and behold. as soon
as ever | got excited in my tale, out
Slipped the real name.
Miss GUrney turned as white as death,
and put her hand to her side.
For the moment thought ! had killed
her, and could have killed myself for so
doing; but she rallied quickly, and then
there was nothing for me but to tell the
whole truth, and apologize for having
BROUGHT Lady Scarsdale.
She looked al me with a sort of divine
reproaCh ia her eyes, and said simply, 4
think it was God sent you. Now bring
her to me, while you go and tell her hus-
band where she IS.
Without word | Obeyed, and when |
had led Lady Scarsdale To the couch
where lay the pure-spirited woman she
had supplanted, | went away on my er-
rand.
Unfortunately ! was too late Lord
Scarsdale, feeling better, had risen, gone
to his wite's room, found the note there
left for him, read it, and having ordered
out the carriage, had been driven off to
the Great Northern! OF course | could
do nothing but wait his return, and that
did not take place till six o'clock in the
morning, when he came in, guant, fierce
eyed, and ghastly, after his truitless pur-
suit
saw in his face my task would be no
easy one.
He would not listen to word His
wife had left him, and should never re
turn.
l argued, I pleaded, urged her youth,
her innocence, the fact of my having saved
her, the sin of throwing her back on her
self.
He was impenetrable, and declared his
intention OF Immediately taking steps to
procure a divorce, and thus give his wife
the freedom her own letter said she
craved; also he would advertise her
parents Of their daughters misconduct
OF course / knew what alone would be
the result of such treatment on wIltul,
impuIsive girl of nineteen; and failing
all else, | took higher ground, reminded
Lord ScaTsdale of our earlier acquaint-
ance, and asked him, with sufficient con
tempt, if he had ever sinned against faith
and honor that he was so stern IN his
judgments
He started at that, reddened hotly, and
said, Il remember your name now. |
thought your voice familiar, and | excuse
your manner because you are right; but
dom. speak of that now. She was the
only good woman that ever loved me, and
was worse than a villain-a fool when |
left her Let that pass; my life has been
sufficiently cursed since then. and | have
heard she died long ago-God bless her !.
You say I sinned: did, and my sin has
found me out. So may it do with my
wife; and now, doctor, good-by, and leave
NE"
What was | to do with him? l was not
going to bring my gentle friends name
again into the discussion, or let him know
she yet lived and mourned him. | had
simply said his wife was with a lady
friend. and now, irritated by his obstina-
cy and by old recollections, fairly lost
nv temper He lost his also, and so we
parted.