Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-07-12

whether triaing or Important Was he not
now tho samo lover like tcudor husband
that ho was five yoars ago, when he brought
me, bride, to neat little cottage on the
outskirts of the town, saying, as he led me
through the rooms, "'Tis plain and humble,
Mary, but with your presence to brighten it
twill be little paradise to mo-"
was content with it then-content to
reign queen of my husbands heart and Of
our little dominion homo. But in year or
two the serpent orcpt into our Eden, and
became its dupo.
l loved society, and was too costly drawn
life of fashionable gaycty. The conse-
qucnce was, that when came t. compare
my own humble cottage with the handsome
dwellings of some of my friends, it lost all
its olden beauty and chce,(ulness. 1 grew
discontinued, and finally fancicd myself
really unhappy. So | coaxed Neville to
leave our iittlo vine covered cottage aud
rent a hondsome house in the heart of the
city. lie consented with extreme rcluc-
tance, after vainly cndcavoring to show me
tho necessity of remaining where VIC were
for time at lcast,,, until he was better
established in business.
Now the music had bccomean annoyance,
and longcd to return home, throw myself
into his arms, and ask his forgiveness for all
my petulapce and waywnrdncss J could
bear it no longer, and Whispering to Mrs.
Winthrop, | pleaded iudisposition, and
begged that sho would excuse me. Her
husband ordered tho curriagc, assisted me
in, and we were soon driving homcward.
Why we're all those rooms lighted? l
qucricd, as noticed, while yet somo dis
tance away lights cleaning from the win
dows of the several apartments ofmy home.
AS VIC ncared the house, could sec thut
the lights wcro moving, being carried by
persons running hither and thithcr through
the house, seemingly in tho widest coofu-
sion. A great, wild, indescribubie fear
tuggcd ut my heart, and scarcely waiting
for the vehicle to stop its motion, sprang
to the sidewalk and rushed into the hull.
met sour or five persons coming out. |
did not notice them, but passed brcuthlcssy
up the stairway. On the landing met tho
housemad her fucc blanched with terror.
"What is it Martins" l whispered
hosrsely. "Whcro is Ncvillc?"E
ooh, Mrs. Whatlcy! Is it you?" she anx
iousy replied.
"Wherc is Nevllc?" T almost screamed.
"In there" the frightened creature an
swcrcd pointing to tho library door,
l hurried to tho door, but before
could open it, a hand was laid heavily on
my arm, aud n strangers voice said, cx.
citcdly,-.
"Nlrs. Whatley, you must not go in
thcrc?"
81 must and will" 7 said hoarscly; and
jerking myself free from his grasp, threw
back the lock, and stood within tho apart,
mcnt.
Lying there before me, his palld face
upturncd to mine, was my Neville, my
husband, dcad-dcad! I had come to seek
his forgiveness too late. Would to God
that [ could say now that unconsciousncss
followed this terrible shock; then would |
have beon spared, for time at least
the bcllish torment that followed. a soul
in pcrditou could scarcely havo suffered
more.
l knelt by his side, called him by the old
endearing names, pressed kiss after kiss on
widest appeal brought no response to those
colorless lips, now forever and forever scaled.
My burning kisses fell on brow as cold rs
marble. placed my hand above his
heart 'Twas hushcd. smoo,hed tho
clustering locks from his brow, and thus
exposed deep gash, extending far bac:
the skull, and from which had been oozing
q purple stream. The faulty physician,
whose presence had not noticed now came
forward md replaced tho masses Of hoir over
the wound 1 had uncovered, and taking
me by the arm, badc mo follow him from
the room. [ oboyed as passivcly as n child.
"Cap you bear to hear the full particulars
now, Mrs. Whatley?" he asked, when seated
in another apartment
"What can I not boar7" replied. "IIavc
| not already borne that knowledge which
will becloud my whole future, the very worst
that God could possibly send? Yes, let mo
hear it now"
IIo told it briefly.
"About on hour ego, as Mr. Whatlcy was
returning homo, pair Of mettesomo horses
broke away from their driver, and came
dushing down tho street with frightful speed.
Just as he turned the corner they came full
upon him; Quo Of tho animals struck him
with his hoof; she lost his balance and fell,
his head striking tho curb stono violcntly,
and causing his death almost instantly"
Then he died without word for me. The
thought was keen with anguish.
Like one in dream l followed tho
remains of my husband to the cemetery,
and returned again to the walls of my desc
late home. Weeks elapsed Gro become
aware that VIC had lived far beyond our
means, and with this fact oame the kuowl-