, 1874-11-08

From 0nes Heek.
Ono February morning. about ton yeare ago, q
man Of between so and 40 sat in his lodgings on
tho drawing-room floor In Museum street. Lon
don, writing. His table was thickly strewn With
old books and euRrAvings, some OF the former
lying open, othetn NTH numerous slips Of paper
sticking out from batweon the leaves to mark
certain places; for he was writing history OF
the drama backwards. taking the nineteenth
century first, and then going to the eighteenth !;
and. "a be had accumulated enough manuscript
for two octayo volumes without reaching George
the Thirds reign, and proposed to get cloae to
tho Flood as he could, it thrsateood to be I VOLT
minous, exhaustive, and costly work. Fortunate
II, however, he never dreamed Of its payiog. He
MAS bachelor wish fair income, riding bis
lobbY-horse. and II MAS acheapor than thorough
bred, or eren hack Cheaper, but not con-
ducive to health, pefhaps. for be looked pale and
nervous. Indeed, his general appeal 1ance was
delicate, his figure small and slight, his hair and
sparse whiskers the color OF tor, his eyes weak
aud prominent, and 1T any sudden noise no
started. Even so small b matter Is tho maad-
aerrans opening the door startled him, aud it
did uot seem to compose his nerves that ahe an
nounced \ lady.
"a lady! What lady r. he Ahked.
''Shs rouldn't give her name," replied the
girl.
"Ask her, tell her" he began; but the
entrance OF the visitor in question. eloaely seed,
cut bis directions ahork
He 1oso. aud hurried forward to offer chair,
80 disclosing limp.
Directly they wero alone she raised her veil !;
the man literally staggered back, aud caugot
hold Ut the table for support.
"lluBhl " said the lady, placing her finger on
her lip as abe went pack to the DOOR, which she
opened. Satisfied that the girl had conc down
stairs. rhe returned, and exclaimed:
''oh, Mz. Peters,. Do you know anything Of
my husbands"
The poor man sank down in chair and COL
Iapsed-
His visitor searched about in rapid, yet SELF
possessed mauner, aud found glasses and = de-
canter in \ cupboard
"Not that, not tnat." he rnurmured, ae she
onored him the peculiar sherry which Was left
out for the benefit Of = thievish laudlady; aud.
fumbllng for LIS keys, he managed. though with
shaking hand, to UNLOCK ! compartment OF his
wlit1ng.tAble, in which bottle OF the wine re-.
served for his own drinking was always kept.
Wonderful is the instinct Of seIf-presaryatiou; q
mau going TO be hung 1t Q has bean known to
refuse polt at s because he was subject to the
gout.
When he had swallowed couple OF glasses OF
wine, M1. Peters revived little. T4en the lady
Continued
''You do know something, or vou would not
Be so agitated- Oh, pray, relieve me from this
horrible suspense. l cauuosd draw money or any
tLsns until there is some proof. Tell me, is lie
deadf"
Mr. Petors nhuddered.
Ill don't know. How should know? I
Was NOT aware, when l eaw you last, that you
had husband. What makes you lhiuk-"
~ will tell you interrutted the lady; II
AN now Is. Seven years ago was married to
aid ~fSH fNlFtk Fft%f kAt&tN
patents wore very strict, aud thought NIL pleas
n1e wicked. 10 that WAS glad OF aay excuse to
leave home. and when they offered him to me-
took him without hesitation. He WAS ric1, he
made good Bettlenleuts; but, oh, his Jealousy Was
fearful. He dia not shut me up-indeed. he
r4thtr courted than Stunned society, for lie had
horror OF Ills dom'nant passion be'ug suspect
ed; ret ANYBODY coaid see it who had eyes, for
ho could not CONCEAL it bit. It WAS not oaly Of
mo he was jealuu,. lie had quar1eled with all
his brothers and sis:ers. because be thought his
parentr loved t..eu. Lest; he had \ fzTorite dog
polsoaed because !, g,r~ too fond OF u servant.
There YOU'D be no END 70 enEtnerh.'ng Instances
OF hls mania fot IL amounted to that; some OF
his extlavaGancoa were Quit inconsistent with
sanity. We never had house OF our OWL, but
wandered about from place to plsce. living Pr1n-
cipally on the Continent: and. bring utterly in-
experienced in the ways OF the world, l att1ib-
used this to love OF travel and change Of sceue.
and did not discover that bis restlessuess was IL
reality caused by tue civity Of some casual male
.cq uslntance towards myself, TIL after his first
duel"
'.Duel!"
"DueL He was born and bred in Germany,
and Ills ideas about u,auy things we're not at all
English. believe he conslde1ed killing one
not only pleasant, but something to be proud
o."
Mr. Peters groaned.
'4Was it not shock1ng?" continued the lady.
Well. though bis hair was gray, lie Was very
strong aud active, sud dangerous antogouist.
too, believe, with either sntau sword. sabre. or
pistol.
1T was at Dieppe, and about six months
after our marriage, that was first made al ex-
cuse for bloodshcd. polite young Freuchman,
WHO hod sat ne1t me fow times 1t the table
dnoto, aud danced With me ~ the assembly
rooms WAS 80 civil ~ to offer me bouquet, and
my monster wounded him in the arm for it.
After that, lived IN perfect state OF terror.
lest by roma careless word, or oven look. should
bring about 3 calamity, aod for soma time sue
ceeded in avoiding any excuse Tor quarrel but
year afterwards, At Heidelberg, German Pro-
fessor wrote SAllBc:1t ole upon ME my hus-
band cut his nose oil. With weauon they call =
schlsger He never ill-used me, or oven mp
braided me--ipdeed, gave bin no cause but
he watched me rs cat does mouse, so that
life WAS perfect nightmare. I ASKED him one
day whcu ho was in so!t humof, there "ae
ANYTHING 10 my manners. or dress. or way OF
speaking, which excited his unworthy mistrust-
- No. said he, with grim ca!mness which
made me shudder; il there had been, should
have shot MS
"'Us?' exclaimed.
a. Yes, be said you first and myself after
wards"
He hated England, because be could not
fight duels there, but ho Was obliged to pay
pe1,odica! visits to this country Oh baslness /;
and as this conversation took place during one
of them. ! went straight to my family lawyer,
and he took mo before 3 magistrate, and a*ore
the peace against my husband. under ~hoso roof
/ pover again stepped, ind IN duo time cot i
legal separation from him. my success being
principally duo to his own violence in the Wit
neBs-bo1, where he gavo vent to the most htro-
c.ous sentiments. But though we wers separated,
he old not give up uatchlng me. At the most ul-
expected times aud places be would turn up gener-
ally disguised; aud it any mAn happaue to Be In
company with me on seve1A1 occasions, running,
and to speak to ma rather more often than to
the Others l was eure 10 receive laconic noto
warning ME to nhun that new acquaintance; :;
and, siucs burst not disobey no7 disclose the
tyrann1cal order, / fear that acquired Tepu!a-
ton for hckleness and prudery. Little did my
oepso.s know tho nervous distrers occasioned BY
the idea that an eye is always upon you. feel
II il 1t we're on me now"
"Good grzcionsV
sCoupose yourself. It was but \ fancy. ]
have peither seen nor heard Of him since August