Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-02-24

whlle mentally discussing the proprit
ty of his reading the message. Th
information which the postmistres
had impaired was recalled, and her
was the proofof the assertion whic1
she had made. He therefore decide,
that he would be wholly justified IN
der the circumstances, in examining
the letter.
The seal had of course been broker
by his wife, who had also read the
letter. He drew it from the envelope
and and n"nfG"iGg &c read, his counter,
paIlor as he did so. The letrer'ran as
follows:
DEAR Fro.
Yours of the 9th inst. is at hand.
Providence permitting, | will meet
you at the time and place you have
designated-near the big Elm, one
mile north of the Station, Wednesday
at 8 o'clock, p M.--if | have read
correctly, You arc quite sure the
train will leave me at the Station in
season ? | shall go on the Express.
If the distance be not too great for
your own convenience, / think it
would be advisable for you to walk,
as it would be less likely to excite at
tention. Oh !! with what pleasure do
I anticipate the meeting. BE careful
that this letter may not fall into your
husbands hands, as that would Of
course prove q death blow to our
plans. need hardly have cautioned
you. With much love
Aft, Yours.
JOIN.
We will not attempt to depict the
grief, anguish and dismay which this
letter caused the husband, but now,
as it were, so happy in the conscious
ness of his wifes fidelity, devotion
and love, 50 soon, alas so previously
shocked by such evidence ofher guilt.
The whole plot seemed to flash up
on HIM in Il twinkling. Ellis wife
loved another, and not himself, and an
elopement, it was quite clear was med
itated, She had already gone to meet
her lover, at the place mentioned in
the letter." The we'll nigh distracted
husband-with conflicting thoughts
darting like lightning flashes through
his reeling brain, and his bosom heav-
ing with emotions too painful for
language faithfully to depict, and seiz-
ed with an nilresistibleimpulseto avenge
the great and heinous wrong which
he felt assured was being done him
repaired to his office, entered, took
down from dusty shelf a small rifle
which had evidently lain there unmo
lested for considerable time, and
started tor the Big Elm," which
was only about three quarters ofa mile
distant . .. ...
Proceeding across lots he soon ar.
rived at the designated locality, effect
ually ensconced himself in patch of
dense underbrush, and awaited the
advent of the expected ones. He had
not long however to wait, for soon he
saw approaching from the distance a
parsonage of tall masculine form, ele-
gantly attlred, and carrying in his
hand small travelling bag. He had
no doubt this man was his rictim--for
the wretched, detected and desperate
husband had, controlled by his present
impulses, determined to send the
lleadcn bullet to the heart Of him who,
lie believed, had estrangnd his wife's
affections, usurped his own rightful
place in her heart and destroyed his
peace and Happiness for all time. Yes,
whatever should be the consequences
to himself 'this william should surely
de-" The stranger had no sooner
been observed by the jealous husband
than the familiar footsteps Of the wife
were heard in the opposite direction.
They met, embraced. "
The silvery moon stood forth in all
its wonted splendor in the heavens,
bathing the earth below with a flood
of subdued and mellow light. 1t was
indeed most lovely evening. Every
other object on the tootstool around
him seemed to smile under the magic
touch of nature. How different were
his own feelings !! Florence and her
strange companion stood there, con-
versing in a low tone, when the con-
cealed witness leveled his rifle, took
deliberate aim at the fellows heart
and pulled the trigger. dc heard the
report of the gun, and stopped to
witness no more. An awful feeling