Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-06-12
MY FIRST MYSTERY.

l ana going to relate an occurrence
which some people will think very insig
nlficant. In the even tenor of my homely
life, however, it was what is termed ali
ssevent." 1t turned out for the best, a:
many bitter things do in this life struggle
Many, am told, are scourged by the az
| Fiction under which I unconsciously sui
fered. [ relate my experiences, therefore
by the ear est advice of my friend the
vicar, for the benefit of all whom they
may concern.
I lived on the borders of Epping forrest
in small house, which, looked like a tail
square tower Of brick it was old, and
covered over at one side, and part of an
| other, with ivy. There was a pretty little
flower garden, with the finest stock-gilli-
flowers in that part of the world in front,
and hollylocks of various colors, and roses
nodded over the wooden paling. A very
good fruit garden, though the trees were
a little old, containing apples and pears, to-
gether with gooseberries and raspberries,
and other small fruit was in the rear.
| was always staid, quiet fellow, who
liked home and a punctual, com Portable
life, but being a bachelor, began, at the
age of nine-and- thirty, to feel little lone
ly, and my income being nearly five hun
dred year, and nay house and appurten-
ances being quite enough for a. modest
family, I very secretly, and with mueh
,,ti TO <,/,l- 20.
| don't think any one suspected me.of
matrimonial tendencies, with so much cir
cumspection did | conduct matters. gas
tail es and Ma[ii adM Martha Nth yBbfna!ss She
eyes, and was full Of prudence. knew I
had only to speak. I did. She looked sur
prised. Her magnificent black eyes were
fixed steadily upon me for nearly half a
minute. while she meditated, and then she
accepted me.
! She was, may say, much admired. She
was majesticaily handsome. | felt saat !
was fortunate. / had secured the most
devoted and economical of women.
She came home. I assured her of my
undying affection, and talked of culinary
and household affairs. Iasked her, among
other things, how much wine-it was a
subject [ was sensitive upon-she thought
would quite suffice her every week. She
told me she never drank wine, beer, OF any
other exciting fluid and at dinner lun
cheon and supper, her glass always stood
empty, except when there was wine in it
l loved her more and more every day.
[ must now relate painful occurrence
mysterious state of things; a discovery
and an affection which occurred during
the first. years of our married life, ant
which T remember still with consterna
ton.
My wife was attacked with an extraor-
binary sort Of fit How long she had beer
suffering from that kind of seizure, coulG
not tell I will relate how | first discov
cred her alarming infrmity.
Dear Martha had retired to rest, per.
fectly well, at ten O'Clock. [ had some
letters to write. which detained me fol
some hours later in the drawing -room.-
While writing them had occasion twice te
consult accounts, which were filed in it'll
press in QUIZ bedroom.
My first visit was at about a quarter II
eleven. | found her in bed, but wild
awake, and apparently perfectly we'll, ex
cept that her face was unusually flushed
and her eyes unnaturally brilliant. Sh
said she felt very nervous, and complaine'
of my stealing about the house disturbing
her.
[ entreated her to compose herself t
sleep. She answered that if / were goo
enough either to stay in the roam, or sta
out Of it, it would compose her more tina
ANYTHING else she could do
She had such pointed way Of putin
things
was obliged to go up second time O
similar errand. about an hour later
put off my shoes lest should disturb he
and listened at the door. She was breatl
ing stentoriously or, in less technics
language, snoring.
Dear Martha never admitted that sf
snored. 1t made her very angry that
should insinuate OIL believe any such thins
And vet undoubtedly she did, and so lou
and long as not unfrequently to keep m
awake for hours.
On this occasion the sounds were we
come to me, because I could enter til
room without fear of disturbing her, an
on doing SO, found her still very niue
e flushed, but in profound sleep.
e When I finally returned, she was ST.
snoring; but, to my horror, L found he
living on the floor. My terror increased
!. for, on endeavoring to get her up, coul
IS not waken her. With the assistance
n the housemaidI got her into bed. But'sf
continued insensible till five o'clock in tt
morning, when found that on ralsll