The enquirer southerner., 1874-07-03
TIE
TIE
gnqrirer- SSontbetner.
THE MAGIC Oh A TEAR.
BY NARY W. STANLEY GIBSON.

ten long years of happiness within
their beautiful and luxurious home.
And now, for the first time since
the words had been pronounced that
made them two, instead of one, they
met once more, by mutual consent
and appointment, in one of the prlo
vate drawing-rooms Of the great ST..
Nicholas hotel. For no interchange
of forgiveness, with no purpose of
reconciliation, had they made this
singular tryst. 1t was to be their
last meeting on earth. Each fully
understood this. Each was willing
that it should be so. And the
meeting was one Of the strictest
business character moreover, recog-
nized and approved by both as only
this, and nothing more Certain
legal papers were to be presented
by the former husband, and signed
and acknowledged by her who had
once been his wife. This accom-
! plishcd, they were free to 60 their
several ways, knowing well that, on
earth, they would probably never
look upon each others faces more.
The gentleman was first to arrive
at the place of meeting, and the wal
ter, who Of course knew nothing of
his business, escorted him ciyilly to
to the blae drawing-room,' and
left him there.
L will take your card to Mrs.
Jernyngham's room at once, sir, ).
he said, as he closed the door.
The gentleman started, and bit
his lip. He was tall, large, hand
some man, apparently nearly fifty
years Of age, with a magnificent
head and brow, cloSe>curling, sunny
brown hair, far complexion, and
serious, resolute blue eyes.
This man could love as few have
ever loved. Years before, he had
flung his pride and his heart togeth-
cr at the feet of the beautiful and
graceful woman whom he called his
wife. For Il long time their home
was a paradise on earth. But the
serpent entered there at last, as he
always contrives to enter an Eden,
wherever it may be. 4 woman fair
and Young, who was a distant rela>
tive of the husband, dwelt near the
happy pair. His stately form and
handsome face won her from her all
legiance to her own husband. But
when she would have transferred
that allegiance to him, he repulsed
it and her with words cf scorn,
which she never forgot or forgave.
Finding it utterly impossible to
make any impression on the heart
so truly devoted to his wife, this
guilty woman took advantage of his
absence from home, and while he
was doing the work Of his country
faithfully and well in the halls of
Congress, the sighted beauty, by
false representations and forged
letters, succeeded in convincing the
proud and jealous wife that she had
been secretly wronged by the hus>
band whom she idolized for years.
When the Senator returned at
last from Washington, it was to
silent and deserted home. So Guns
ningly had his enemy laid her plot,
that he was powerless in her bands,
since his wife resolutely refused to
see, to listen to, or to forgive him.
Both were intolerably proud and
naughty when their worst passions
were aroused. Their enemy knew
this well. Following up their adj
vantage with a skillful patience
worthy Of a far better cause, she
never ceased her efforts till the de-
cree of divorce was pronounced, and
the faithful husband who had scorn-
ed her love was O homeless and al>
most heart~broken man.
And now, aft@r the lapse of two
long years, that had been to him a
century of passionate remorse and
longing, the husband and wife were
to meet, for a few brief moments
only, on matters Of business, leave
each other as strangers, and see
each other on earth on more
The waiter had gone to summon
her. The woman who had been his
wife for ten long happy years, but
who now, in resuming her maiden
name, and taking position in the
world independent of and apart
from his own, was, to him, Mrs.
Jernyngham, and nothing more!
This man had loved his wife, dear
reader, as few women are happy
enough to be loved by the husbands
of their choice. He loved her still,
and his very soul hungered and
thirsted after her affection in re-
turn n yet, as he STOOD there,
with his heart torn by a thousand
conflicting emotions Of passion and
of pain he seemed a stern, reserved
and silent man only, On whose pale,
calm face nc trace of this terrible
inward struggle could be seen.
There was rustic of sweeping
silk in the hall-a few words spoken
outside in low sweet voice, whose
well>remcmbered tones made the
blood leap wildly through his veins,
though he was pale and silent still.
The obsequious waiter opened the
door, ond closed it again upon the
lady who entered.