The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-05-31

skill, NSXV >tuo bo1iou hHu tuuaoicu
wrapper was removed, and hersperson
attired in neatly fitting dress, around
the neck of wlich was laid a snowy
linen collar fastened by small coral
min. her husband gift Of other days.
Already her cheeks were flied with u
glow and h.reyes fiilod with light. Oae
long glance at herself in the mirror re-
yaaIed a wonderfuI transformation. How
the old memories we're crowding Ia up
on herl How soft her heart was grow
ing! How full of tenderness was every
thought of her husband! Her lips were
athlrst for kissesl
Aud now Mrs. Rowland left her cham
ber again. Her siippered feet gave no
sound as they moved over the carpet,
and she caIne to the open door OF the
sittipg room without betraying sign
of her approach. There she stood still.
Mr. Howiaad was not ut the table reads
ing, az she had left him, but at his Sec
retary, whicI, was open. lie Was reciin-
ing his head on one hand and gazing
down npon something held in the other,
aud seemed wholly absorbed. For more
thats minute he rsuaalnsd IN this hxed
attitude, lis wife was as still as himself
Then \ long sigh trembled oa the air,
and then lifting the object toward which
his gaze was directed Mr.. Rowland
pressed it to his lips, kissing it almost
passionately, three or four times. A
wild throb leaped slong Mrs Rowland 8
veins. Then her heart grow still as il
in the presence OF some unknown but
stupendous evil. Something impelled
her to spring forward aad resd this
mystery, and something as strong J
held her back. As she stood. pale now,
Gnd in a tremor, the object WAS kissed
again, and then returned to the drawer
in the secretary from which it had been
taken. la this act for an instant, the
miniature of lady met the gaze of Mrs.
Howland. Locking the drawer her hus-
band put the key in his pocket, and
then resting both arms on the leaf OF
the secretary, buried his facs in theGa
and sat motlonlesa.
Turning avay as noiselessiy as she
had approached, Mrs. Rowland fled
back to her chamber in wild flight, and
sat down painting in bewilderment. As
soon ds thought began to move III de-
termined way, the first result was q
Il nod of Indignation, burning sense OF
wrong, and it was only by an effort that
the outraged wife could hold herself
back from confronting her husband and
dem ,nding to SEQ the miniature. a
calmer. but not less painful state sue
ceeded, 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 ia hia eyes
lovely in temper and lovely in person?
Her heart sank; II grew darker and darkN
er around her; life seemed crushed out.
"Who is it?" This lestion marked
q change in the curreut of Mrs How
lands thoughts. Rapidly sho passed
in review one lady frieod after another,
but without an incident to fix suspicion.
The times and SEASONS i'll which her has-
band had been absont from home we're
dNelt upon. Once week regularly ne
went out III the evening, occasionally
twice. The regular absence was for the
purpose Of attending literary society
at least 80 he hal informed his wife.
L
trait, orept in. aud this doubt was the
syecpiug away of all the sure founda-
ton on which her 3pll hal rested.
Fo, time Mr. Howl<ni remained
sitting at his secretary with his face
buried in his hands. At length, rising
with slow. weary motion. as II OF one
exhausted by bodily Or mental ezertlon,
he drew out his watch.
"Half-past nine!' w;as calculated IN
snrprise. All then ho looked through
the door over towards the chamber
whittier his wife had gone vita the chit
dren, ana stood listening for some sound.
All WI. silent. For snort time he
moved in an uneasy, irreso'use way
about the room. and sitting down, tried
to fiud intares, III the paS's OF oook,
But in a little while the book closed In
his hand. Thought was too bHsy IN an
other direction to dwell even with IA
vorite author.
"ran o'clockr' The bell was ringing
it's clear notes from neighboring stee-.
pie. Mr. Rowland started up, and
turning ont the light, went over to the
sleep;ug room. His wife was in bed. He
smoke to her. but she did not answer.
Are yon asleep?' No motion nor
response of any kind. She lay with
her face nearly hidden uuder tho bed
clothes. He looked at her in a strange,
earnest manner for some moments, anu
then. moving about noiseless'y, pre-
pared for rest. The day had been one
of much activity, and Mr.. Rowland was
weary enough for sleep. Soon alter
his head touched the pillow he was IN
the land Of dreams. His deep breath =
lug had scarcely given evidence of the
fact ere light movement on the part
of Mrs. Rowland showed her to DO
awake. Presently she drew the clothes
froa her face, and raised herself eau
tiouslv. The heavy breathing OF her
husband was not disturbed. She sat
ND in be l; he still slept on; she glided
from beneath the covering, and groping
in the darkness, found her husbands 9
vest from which she took key.
"Motherl' The slight NOISE made
opening the chamber door had disturbed
one of the children Mrs. Rowland
stood still holding her breath. The
call was not repeated, and she went ont.
cropping along the passage with hand
on the wall. Entering the room she
, sought, she closed the door behind her
aud drew the bolt, fastening herself in.
After lighting the gas she went to her
husbands secretary. and with the key
in her possession unlocked one Of the
private drawers. Her hand shook as
the key ratified on the scutcheon before
way was found into the wards. The
first object that met her view as the
drawer came open WAS morocco miDia-
ture case, which she seized upon with a
clutch as eager as that of bird of prey.
and bearing it T., the gaslight, unloosed
its clasp and exposed the face of her
rival.
II was young and lovely face. and
the eyes looked up into hers with ten
der and sweet expression. Away from
the pnre forehead the hair OF golden
auburn fell smooth back. and lay in
curls about her neck. that waa whittier
and pnrer than alabaster. The lips
were full, soft, and arched "a II for a
flight Of arrows Loves witchery was
| in the picture coantenance.
| Still. very still. did the wife Sit and
gazs down upon her rivals face--thas
face on which. scarcely an hour before,
she had seen her husbands kisses laid