Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-05-23
A Deceived Wife.

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oae night recently, and taking off his.coat,
requested bis wife to mend rent in the sleeve,
then sank upon the sofa aud behind the even
ins paper. Wife.lke she took up the coat;
woman like she diyei into the pockets. From
the Inside poke, she drew forth letter, di-
rec,ed in delicate ohirosraphy. to her husband.
With darkeping brow she quickly took the
suspicous-looking missive from the envelope,
and. without noticing the date, and began to
read:
DEAR GEoRcE;-I am lonely. oh, so lonely.
since you leTt me last Thursday night
'Ah ha, that was lodge night. he.told me.
said the now thoroughly interested woman, as
she glanced viciously over at her husband. who
appeared to be just falling asleep. oh, bow
can you sleep with the weight Of this deep sin
upon you 4! But I'll see what more the brazen
huzzy has to say, il it kills me- With one
hand pressed to her throbbins heart. she
read on
Il know am foolish, darling. but when you
are away there seems to bo barrier between
me and all that is lovely. The sun does not
slime half so bright: the moon is but white
spot 10 the sky, and the stars stare coldIy
down, when you are not with me, lord Of my
life aud heart
WAS it for this p Was it for this 2 mOansd
the unhappy wife.
Fortune speed the day when we may DO
united in these indissoluble bonds that are
sacred in the eyes of heaven and eartb--'
What mockery Does he or she consider
that his vows to me are not sacred What
are they going to do with me. any way. | Won
der Poisonous man Oh, wicked. hellish.
designing wan,on = Still the suffering woman
read the letter, though each word burned TO
ashes thousand hopes aud joys.
when we neel no more meet clandestinely.
and tremble in each others embrace
I'd make You uemble il had you in my
embrace minute.
when my head may be pillowcd 10 safety
upon your breast
The GendessI'
And your arms twinc in loving pressure
about me-
'furiesr
And your lips smother The tender words
that would escape them
oh, the sirenic she-deviP Kissed the woman.
as she tried to keep down the boiling rage
within her. She crushed the letter in her
hands, then threw It upon the floor and sprans
upon It with heel as though it were a snake
and grouud it into the carpet. Then with
clenched hands and compressed lips, she strobe
rapidly back and forth across the room, ever
aud anon making move as il to spring like
fury upon her husband, who, with paper
over bis face, was apparently sound asleep.
dreaming, perhaps, Of the wicked temptress
that had come between him and his fond wife.
Presently reaction took place and the wretch
ed woman sank into a chair aud found relief
in that blessed panacea for female ills-a
/ food Of tears.
Grown calmer after a while, she picked up
the rumpled letter, smoothed out the crease'.
and with an air Of mingled despair aud resis-
nation looked Cor the signature.
Your ever loving aud devoted, but poor,
apprehensiye-'
What's this? Fiut--6ut-tering birdie.
A--d-a-Ada. Why, bless me this Is ono
Of my old letters TO George. What fool l.
A sound from the sofa, first like escaping
steam, aud then like a car ratiling DER the
stony street, assured her that her ridiculous
actions had been witnessed by her husband
/ Burning with shatne the foolish woman few
To her room and locked herself in, and she Is
almost as miserable now as when she felt that
she was wronged and deceived wife.