The Hickman courier., 1878-07-12
LOST LILY.

We will have it ont, now, if you
please, madam said Mark Arkwright
to his wife, Augusta.
And they did have it out with a ven.
geance. Both were high tempered
neither had learned self-control and, be
fore the scene between them was ended
both had spoken words such as no two
people who love each other should ever
speak Ii two Indifferent persons quarrel,
it does not amount to much generally ;
but when two who love each other in
dulge IN the dangerous pastime it is fire.
| qusntly fatal to happiness.
They had been married but year,
and the sweet glamour of romance had
hardly worn off. This was their first dis
agreement, and it began in secret
Perhaps Mr.. Arkwright had ample cause
to be angry with his WIFE I am sure
that every mau will think so, though a
wOman's judgment might be different,
On the afternoon of the quarrel he
hsd asked his wife to drive with him,
and she had declined on that old plea
the headache. lie had pitied and petted
her and kissed her hot forehead, and
smOOthed her soft blende hair, and es-
tsblished her on the lounge in her room,
with pillow under her head ana a shawl
over her feet, before he went out for his
afternoon drive.
Two hours later he had occasion to
cross Is--i~ D~-l-. and there, walking
AowIy down one of the most secludea
paths, he saw a purple-velvet skirt, be-
side black coat. Augusta had a pur-
ple-velvet skirt, and looked like an angel,
her husband had frequently told her, all
unmindful OF the historical fact that
angels universally wear white, and are
supposed to be above the weakness of
purple-velvet skirts.
The airs and manners of the man were
foreign: he was handsome and had an
uneasy appearance generally-indeed, he
seemed to be constantly looking over his
shoulder.
Arkwright paused in the shadow of
clump of trees and watched the pair.
suppose watched" is the proper word,
though Arkwright prided himself on be-
ing an extremely honorable man, and
would doubtless have knocked anybody
down who had insinuated anything to
the contrary.
There was no mistaking the grace of
the lady, the wave Of her golden hair,
the turn of her snowy neck-yes, the
very wreath of purple pansies on her
hat--all were Augusta's and in a mo-
ment more her husband heard her voice
"Dear Arthur" she was saying, "every
moment for you here is fraught with
peril Lose no time in getting out of
London"
"But, darling" returned the man,
nothing save my love for you has
brought me here; and it is hard if can
not have Just this little comfort"
They moved away down the walk, and
Arkwrjght heard no more But he had
heard quite enough. He was in a white
heat of passion. He dared not follow
them and trust himselk to speak. There
was murder in his heart. He must wait
a little till his temper cooled. He went
to akstable, hired fast horse, and rode
him till the animal was ready to drop.
Then he went home and accused his wife.
No matter in what words-they were
hsrsb snd bitter enough, heaven knows
and the vile epithets he applied to her at
the outset reused all her naughty pride
and resistance to arms.
She heard him through. She attempt
ed no defense; she made no denial
but, when he paused from sheer want of
breath, she cursed the hour in which
she lad married him. Then she left the
roam.
He had all night to subdue himself,
and if she had come to him in the morn
ing with any rea' onsble explanation he
would have listened to her. But she
did not come.
After a while he sought her in her
room but she was gone. She had taken |
With her only a bare change of Taiment
md had left no message to tell whittier
lie was going.
Fled with her paramount " Ark
wright said, bitterly; and then and !
here be vowed to give himself no rest |
1ptil he had found and killed them both.
BE tried hard TO put his VOW into execu>
ion. For three years he was a wan
Ierer, seeking always his wife and her
educer, and finding them never.
At last he quit wandering and |
rent home. He was q very wealthy |
nan now. Lands that he had owned |
lad increased prodigieusly in value, and |
here was no need of his applying him
elf IN business. He built a man.
ion and lived alone in it, with |
ia books and thoughts for COM
,anv He had a retinue of serv-
nts to anticipate bis every wish; he sat !
i costly table, and drank wine as old
9 the hills; he drove horses worth a |
ortuue; he had everything that wealth
ould purchase, and yet he was never at J