Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-08-16

sorry 2"
"Glad," replied, In low voice and
did not lie. l was glad that he had
come to save me. Now that the least
check had been given to my impulse,
felt how unworthy It had been of me, and
how l had magnlfled Its attractions.
did rot feel any better for this conviction;
on the contrary | knew that 1t withdrew
the only excuse could have claimed for
my intended treachery, and, az II struck
me, my head sank lower and lower, until
! felt abased 10 the very earth. My hus-
band did not appear to notice my sense
OF humiliation he conversed cheerfully
with me during the meal which | caused
to be prepared for him on the reason OF
OF his sudden return to England told
| me that he had often delayed II until the
business should be better able to spare
him, but finding that each year increased
Instead Of diminishing It's demands, had
determined to put 1t of no longer. He
questioned me on my own plans, and
trusted that his advent would make no
difference to them, while | sat before him
like a culprit, each kind word he uttered
sinking like knife into my heart. All I
II he only knew, if be could read my
thoughts, how would be have felt toward
me When / had somewhat accustomed
myself to his presence / took courage to
raise my conscience. stricken head and ex-
anime bis appearance. do not suppose
he was much altered from what he had
been when we parted, but had thought
of him so little that he looked almost like
stranger to me. saw before me very
tall, dark man, rendered still darker from
being exceedingly sunburned, whose blue
eyes contrasted strangely with his black
hair aud beard. / was fair and small
myself. He struck ME as being very
manly and good looking, and ] wondered
that l had never perceived 1t before As
he caught me in the midst of my scrutiny
he smiled, but sadly.
81 suppose you have nearly forgotten
what | am like, Marion Well, you
have had time enough to do so. ! do
not see much alteration in you, my dear;
you seem quite unchanged to me.
trust your heart is as much 50 as your
face"
felt myself blush as he addressed
me, but l gave him no answer.
"Come, is the house locked up again7"
he said In another minute. ''lf so think
we had better 70 to bed, for If yod are not
very tired, am"
dreading ever since bis arrival, when he
must see my corded boxes, and require
some explanation of their being there.
| With my wickedness had not been in the
habit of telling falsehoods, and the idea
was dreadful to mei yet 1 was desperate,
and that knew must lie or be dlscov-
cred.
"IIallol" he exclaimed. as his eyes fell
upon them. "What are these Your
boxes, Marion Were you going any
where ="
eyes" replied, / hardly knew how.
81 was going away for little while, but
4 it is of no consequence"
dover" said my husband, reading
the address. "You wanted breath OF
sea-air, did you Well, I don't wonder
at il this sitting weather. We can 90
together, my dear, can we notl IL will do
rs both good"
"Oh, no Pray do not think so. ]
would rather stay here, now that you are
come-l have no wish for change" fell
rapidly from my mouth, as | dreaded hit
Insisting upon putting his proposal into
execution. could not have gone there
with him. l would have died sooner.
| should have feared the very stones
would have cried out aud revealed my
base intentions to him-those intentions
from the thought Of which had already
commences TO shrink with horror.
''It shall be just us you please, Marion,
was his quiet reply. "My only object in
coming home is to give YOU pleasure"
1t will readily be cOnjectured that dii
not sleep much that night. What my
lover would think of my detection, ant
how ! should communicate my furthe
wishes to hlm--what my husband woulC
say If he ever guessed the truth, and hov
could live 50 US to best conceal ii from
him troubled me too much TO permit mt
to sleep. How / longed that night to dii
before the morning. What a debaset
and guilty creature | seemed to myself
How incapable of making the happiness
of either of the men with whom had t
40 And yet had time 10 wonder a
the fact that my intrigue with Alfre,
Knowles appeared already to have be
come a thing Of the past that whateve
became of me, that would never happel
now that the merciiul hinderance ha'
received had been sufficient to open ny
eyes, and to cause me to see myself an'
my design in true colors.
The next day felt that owed it Il
him to send Immediate intelligence o
what had occurred, and how / lntendei
to act for the future. | scarcely know
what / wrote. / believe | said simpll
that my husband had returned, and tina
| considered il an especial intel position
of Providence to save Ms from crime TO
which we should never have forgiven
, ourselves or each other, and that if HI
. loved me as he said be did, prayed hin
. TO leave me TO myself and that perform
ance Of duty by which alone hoped 4
deaden the stngs of conscience whic
A assailed me.
4 But he would not do as / desired him
= he was selfish and prciligatei aud instea
of considering that we had experienced
+ great escape, he looked upon me as on
= who had cheated him and fOrsworn hef
a self. lie did worse. He sent me letter
! so openly that lived in a state Of con
tlnual dread lest my husband should as
to see their contents or from whom the
4 came and dsregarding the privacy c
u my home, he presented himself there {
L upbraid aud reyile my cowardice, eve
5 threatening me with exposure il did no
q keep my word.
1t But was firm. Thank God | wa
: flrm. Better still, the change in Alire
l knowles behavior to me made the tiIus
a thing which had called my love for hin
2, ana which had had no surer fOuudatio
s than 4 nattered vaHily, melt away int
Il thn air, and leave me nothing but thanh
= iulness for INV release.
Is All this time my husband did not rela
e any of his attentions tome. He was un
y formly kind and tender he almost al
ticipatcd my wishes and what touche
- me more than anything, he appeare
e fully to trust me-, who had proved my
l. self 60 utterly unworthy of his confidence
t. Throughout the period of Alfred knowlt
re bitter reproaches 10 me and entreailt
L that l would change my purpose, m
d husband never seemed suspicious Of eith'
my cousin or myself on the contrary,
d often left us together to fight out ot
ID battles, and was only Cor the CONTRA
/ made me think sO) the more tender ate
x ward than before. | thought that ha
ID never known Laurence as l knew hil
y then / often said TO myself that had
h. only known him l must have loved hil
y too much TO contemplate his dlshono
Il But the idea would make me SHRINK ifol
At his caresses, feeling myself so unworth
e, of them, till he was panied to imagll
al what could have so distressed me.
One evening we were at the theatl
K together-for he was careful to take II
/ TO every place of amusement-when
id observed Alfred Knowles in box opp
ID site to the one we occupied. He WI
accompanied by several other gentlemen
~ and a very beautiful but eare-wol
/ woman, handsomely dressed, was leanit
re over the front Of the box.
s'Do not notice your cousin to-nlgh
re dear Marion" said my husband, in
% whisper. 81 will give you my reas'
lie presently"
is / obeyed him, as indeed had no VII
81 to do Otherwise ! but stole several 10
live glances opposite in the course of q