Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-11-01
next me a few times at the table d'hote,

lived in perfect state of terror, lest by
some careless word, or even look,
should bring about calamity, and for
some time succeeded in avoiding any
excuse for QUARREL; but year after
ward, at Heidelberg, a German pro-
fessor wrote Sanscrit ode upon me;
my husband cut his nose off with a
weapon they call a schlager. He never
ill-used me, or even upbraided me-in-
deed, I gave him no cause; but he
watched me as a cat does a mouse, SO
that life was a perfect nightmare. I
asked him one day, when he was in a
soft humor, if there was anything in
my manner, or dress, or way of speak
ing, which excited his mistrust.
NO." said he, with grim calmness,
that made me shudder; I" if there had
been I should have shot u.s."
"Us?" exclaimed.
EYES," he said; "you first and my
self afterward.'
"He hated England, because he could
not fight duels there, but he was obliged
to pay periodical visits to this country
on business, and as this conversation
took place during one of them, went
straight to my family lawyer, and he
took me before q magistrate, and I
wore the peace against my husband,
under whose roof never again stepped,
and in due time got a legal separation
from him, my success being principally
due to his own violence in the witness
box, where he gave vent to the most
atrocious sentiments. But though we
were separated, he did not give up
watching me. At the most unexpected
times and places he would turn up,
generally disguised, and if any man
happened to be in company with me
on several occasions running and speak
ing to me rather more often than the
others, was sure to receive a lacOnlc
note warning me to shun that new &C
quaintance; and since 7 burst not dis
OBEY nor disclose the tyrannical order,
/ fear that [ have acquired a reputa-
ton for fckleness and prudery. Little
did my censors know the nervous dis
tress occasioned by the idea that an
eye is always upon you. [ feel as if it
were on me now"
Good gracious !"
Compose yourself; it was but a
fancy. have neither seen nor heard
of him since August last. That would
be a relief; but his man of business
bas not heard of him either. 1t is not
only that he has not transmitted me
my money; he has drawn none for his
own use. Every other means having
been employed to trace him without
success, at last thought of you. We
met, you may remember, for the first
time at the Richmond Easter Ball; and
afterward, whether by accident or de-
sign"
Accident. pure accident, madam,
[ assure you"
"Que s'cuse s'accuse," said the lady
smiling.
81 know it, I know it, though can
not pronounce it. But still, madam,
though l own appearance might have
been against nae, there was no design,
whatever"
And the poor man wiped his fore
head.
"You are not a hatterer at any rate, "
continued the lady. "Well, the scci-
dent occurred frequently enough to ex-
asperate my husband; and as [ saw
him, disguised as a waiter, at Lady
| ChesWick's fete, the last time we met,
and as you went away directly after,
my husband appearing simultaneous
! ly and not having been heard of since,
and as you are lame and in q deplor-
able state of nervous prostration, [ can
not help suspecting that you went
abroad, that he followed you and
forced you into duel, that he wounded
you and you killed him.
"I have not been abroad at all"
gasped Mr.. Peters, pouring himself out
another glass of sherry. But come, %
he cried, presently nerved by the stimu-
liant and desperation; you have told
me your story and I will tell you mine.
[ have met your husband although do
not know for a certainty what has be-
come of him. 1t will be relief to speak,
for this life of secret apprehension and
painful anxiety is killing me.
In August last, few days after the
fete you alluded to, went for my an
nual holiday. I have d self-imposed
task here, little book, which takes up
good deal of my time, and causes me
to lead a somewhat sedentary life, and
find a month of air and exercise neces-
sary for my health. My idea was to
walk through North Wales, with a
change of linen and a few neces-
saries in a knapsack. So I went first
to Chester, left my portmanteau at the
hotel there, and took the train on to
Conway, from which place 1 made a
circuit which brought me on the third
day to Capel Craig, where I remained
a couple of days,and then. started in
the early morning, with the intention
of crossing at Showdown, and sleeping
that night at Llanberris, on the other
side.
I had not as yet picked up any &C
quaintance during my walk, as one
generally does in a pedestrian excur-
sion over such favorite ground; though
I knew that another excursionist was
following the same track, for [ had
caught sight sight of him several times
half mile or so behind me. Once
feeling inclined for companionship, I
sat down and smoked pipe to let him
come up with me; but his taste was
evidently for solitude, for he declined
the chances [ gave him, and halted