The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-02-09

at the mercy OF the waves, proved too
much strain upon her already overbur-
dened frame, and Frank and were
summoned by telegraph to her at Hall
fax, where she lay for days unconscious
with brain fever. And then, to add
to her misery, when recovering she was
thrown into nearly fatal relapse by see-
ing accidentally that the Tecumseh had
gone down in the attack on Mobile har-
Dor, with every soul on board. The
Tecumseh was Langley's ship.
Virginia came to live with us about
two years before the commencement of
my story. She seemed to feel asorrowful
remorse about her husband, whi ch was
not grief, and yet it cast shadow over
her life. "He was treacherous and false, u
she said to me one day, "and he broke
my heart; but what right have l to
Judge him2 Harrie, / told him I would
never forgive him, and he died thinking
himself unforg1ven." Of Langley she
never spoke.
Well, the "perfect treasure " made
her appearance. She was rather
young woman, with q pleasant, low
voice, and very good manner for one of
her station. was charmed. Certainly
this girl seemed determined to please
me she did her work in a faultless,
neat way she amused and played with
the twins and baby had more quiet
nights than had known him to have
for weeks. So, after months trial,
began to sing Alice's praises and allowed
her full control in her department, with
a good many privileges. Virginia alone,
did not seem to like her. Virginia had
a curious way of looking at new faces-a
searching, penetrating glance, that I
always thought had sort of mesmerism
in it, all the stranger because her
eyes were 80 gentle and soft. Alice
never met the look fairly, as / remem-
bered afterward.
1t was in the spring of '65. The clos
ing scenes of the war were crowding
thick and fast upon each other. Virginia
kept her room good deal. The warm
April weather seemed to enervate her,
and she shrank away from the Joy and
enthusiasm we all exhibited. Poor
child 1t was hard for her to hear of
the soldiers and sailors who would be
coming home now, and to feel that for
her sore heart peace would bring no
balm.
One night Frank had taken box at
the italian opera in New York. We
lived in Brooklyn, and, as Kellogg was
to sing, / begged Virginia to 60 with us.
But she steadily declined. She would
stay at home and keep house, she said.
Now, two Of my servants were at fire.
mems ball that night, leaving only Alice
and the cook at home; 30 / must say
felt rather more easy about the children
when 1 found that Virginia would not
go. Going from New York to Brooklyn
at night, however. is long journey, and
it was close upon l o'clock when we
drove up to our door.
In the meantime, Virginia, after our
departure, had sat for some time writing
letters in her own room. The twins
were having a noisy romp in the nur.
sery; and, when she looked in to say
od-night, Fred fastened himself upon
her neck, and begged to come and stay
with Auntie; she yielded, and then Fred
began building card-houses on the sofa
until he got tired, when he curled him.
self in corner, and in two seconds was
fast asleep. Being very much interested
in her book, Virginia left the little fell
low sleep on, thinking that by
and-by she would take him up to her
room and put him to bed there, as she
frequently did. At last she fell asleep
herself.
She never knew how long she slept,
but had painful, nightmare sensation,
as If somebody was trying to smother
her, and, after struggling with the feel
ing for some time, she slowly, and with
great effort, opened her eyes. Why |!
what has happened to the room2 The
gas must have gone Quit was totally
dark, save a Pickering gleam from the
dying fire on the hearth; and what a
sickening, deadly smell there was With
lightning rapidity which is more like
instinct than thought, it suddenly flashed
upon her what the strange smell was
chlcroforml Then, as she caught her
frightened breath, and sank back into
her chair, a low sound of voices from
the diping-room reached her ear. The
door between the rooms WAS ajar, and
she saw thread of light from it; the
voice she heard was mans:
"Ye didn't give the young oman
too much O. that stuff, did ye 2" it asked,
rather anxiously.
CT wish 1 had," returned Alice's low
and stealthy voice; ~ hate her she
suspects me-"
"Hal ha |" gurgled the man, "she
must ha' been mighty oncivil to ye; ye
usually gets on the right side of 'em. Is
that ere pitcher silver or plate 2"
- Plate; the silver is upstairs.
Virginia shook when she heard the
venom of that low voice.
"She was Mr.. Langley's lady-love
until her old grandma stopped il"
"And what was Mr.. Langley to you,
my girli" said the man.
Hush you'll wake the child, and !
do not want to do him any harm. Mr..
Langley the woman's voice softened
:" never said dozen words to me in
his life; but look you, Vincent, fairly
worshiped him."
"That's right; tell me all, as I'm yer
husband that is to be-" said the other,
with coarse laugh.
Mrs. Kent has splendid jewels, too.
I Just picked the lock to look at them.
You can take as many of those as you
like. Gomez !"
As soon as the sound of their footsteps
died away, Virginia snatched the deadly