The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-06-01

L
the style in which she appeared befor,
her lover. Taking down her hair, sh,
applied comb and brush rapidly for some
moments, and then arranged the glossy
masses with taste and skill. Next The
soiled and tumbled wrapper was removed
and her person attired in neatly fitting
dress, around the neck of which was laic
a snowy linen collar fastened by a small
coral pin, her husbands gift of other DAYS
Already her cheeks were filed with a glow
and her eyes filled with light. One Ions
glance at herself in the mirror revealed 8
wonderful transformation. How the old
memories were crowding in upon her
How soft her heart was growing How
full of tenderness was every thought OF
her husband Her lips wsFc athirst for
kisses
And now Mrs. Howia1sd left her cham
Der again. Her slippered feet gave no
sound as they moved over the carpet, and
she came to the open door of the sitting
room without betraying sign of her ap-
proach. There she stood still. Mr..
Rowland was not at the table reading,
as she had left him, but at his secretary
which was open. He was reclining his
head on one hand and gazing down upon
wholly absorbed. For more than min.
ute he remained in this fixed attitude,
his wife was as still as himself. Then a
long sigh trembled on the air, and then
lifting the object toward which his gaze
was directed Mr.. Howland pressed it to
his lips, kissing it almost passiOnately,
three or four times. A wild throb leap
ed along Mrs. Howland's veins. Then
her heart grew still as if in the presence
of some unknown but stupendous evil.
Something impelled her to spring for
ward and read this mystery, and some
thing as strongly held her back As she
stood, pale now, and in tremor, the OBJ
ject was kissed again, and then returned
to the drawer in the secretary from
which it had been taken. In this act
for an instant, the miniture of a lady
met the gaze of Mrs. Rowland. Locking
the drawer her husband put the key in
his pocket, and then resting both arms
on the leaf OF the secretary, buried his
face in them and sat motionless.
Turning away as nOiselesslv as she had
approached, Mrs. Rowland fled back to
her chamber in wild fight, and sat down
painting in bewilderment. AS soon as
thought began to move in a determined
way, the first result was flood of iDdig-
nation, burning sense of wrong, and it
was only by an effort that the outraged
wife could hold herself back from con-
fronting her husband and demanding to
see the miniature. 4 calmer, but not
less painful state succeeded, in which
conscience whispered of indifference and
neglect. Had she turned habitually her
most or her least attractive side to her
husband? Had she kept herself lovely
in his eyes-lovely in temper and lovely
in person? Her heart sank: it grew
darker and darker around her; life
seemed crushed out.
" Who is it ?" This question marked
change in the current of Mrs. How
lands thoughts. Rapidly she passed in
review one lady friend after another, but
without an incident to fix suspicion.
The times and seasons in which her hus-
band had been absent from home were
dwelt upon. Once a week regularly he
went out in the evening, occasionally
twice. The regular absence was for the
purpose of attending literary society
at least so he had informed his wife.
Now, for the first time. doubt of his
truth crept in, and this doubt was the
sweeping away of all the sure founda-
tion on which her soul had rested.
For a time Mr.. Rowland remained sit
ting at his secretary with his face buried
in his hands. At length, rising with slow
weary motion. as if of one exhausted by
bodily or mental exertion, he drew out
his watch.
"Halfpast nine"' was calculated in
And then he looked through
the door over towards the chamber
whittier his wife had gone with the
children, and stood listening for some
sound. All was silent. For short time
be moved in an uneasy, irresolute way
about the room, and sitting down, tried
to find interest in the pages of book.
But in little while the volume closed
in his hand. Thought was too busy in
another direction 70 dwell even with a
favorite author.
"Ten o'clock" The bell was ringing
its clear notes from a neighbering steeple.
Mr.. Rowland started up,and turning out
the light. went over to the sleeping-room.
His wife was in bel. He spoke to her,
but she did not answer.
" Are you aslecpp No motion nor re-
sponse of any kind. She lay with her face
nearly hidden under the bed clothes. He
looked at her in strange earnest manner
FOR some moments, and then, moving
about noiselessly prepared for rest. The
lay had been one of much activity, and
Mr.. Howland was weary enough for
sleep. Soon after his head touched the |
pillow he was in the land of dreams.
His deep breathing had scarcely given |
evidence of the fact ere light movement |
IN the part of Mrs. Rowland showed her |
% be awake. Presently she drew the |
clothes from her face, and raised herself |
The heavy breathing of her |
was not disturbed. She sat up |
n bed he still slept on; she glided from |
beneath the covering, and cropping in the |
darkness, found her husbands vest, from |
which she took key.
"Motherp The slight noise made |
opening the chamber door had disturbed |
me of the children. Mrs. Rowland |
Itood still holding her breath. The call |
vas not repeated, and she went out, |
yroping her way along the passage with |
hand on the wall. Entering the room
he sought, she closed the door behind |
Ter and drew the belt, fastening herself |
n. After lighting the gas she went to
Ter husbands secretary, and with the |
lev in her possession unlocked one of the |
private drawers Her hand shook as the |
ley ratified on the scutcheon before a
way was found into the wards. The |
irst object that met her view as the |
irawer came open was a morocco minia-
ure case, which she seized upon with
,lutch as eager as that of bird of prey |
md bearing it to the gas-light, unloosed |
Ter clasp and exposed the fPce Of her
ival.
1t was young and lovely face, and
he eyes looked up into hers with ten
Ter and sweet expression. Away from
he pure forehead the hair of golden au-
,urn fell smooth back, and lay in curls
bout her neck, that was whittier and
,urer than alabaster. The lips were
ull, soft, and arched as if for a fight of
.rrows. Loves witchery was in the
picture cOuntenance.
Still, very still, did the wife sit and
,aze down upon her rivals face-that
ace on which, scarcely an hour before,
he had seen her husbands kisses laid.
Still, very still, she sat, the tears creep
ng out of her eyes, falling slowly over
Ter cheeks and dropping upon the mini
lture. Was she jealous of that rival
IOI Her heart was too glad for jeal-
,usy, too fail of joy, too wild with new
,orn Happiness. The bride of ten years
lgo was the rival of to day, and the
leart Of her husband was true to his |