The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-03-07
on a life Of sorrow and degradation.

Ii was ClaUueSJln6 marriage. con-
tracted three years before, between
Abel Fennimore and Margaret
" haise. She was attending school
in one Of our Southern cities, where
she first met him, and he seemed to
exert an influence over her that she
could not resist.
He was of Spanish descent, ex-
tremely handsome, refined in manners
and cultivated in speech; but withal
gam bier and william of the yilest
description. She knew nothing of
his true character till after her mar
riage. And hers was cruel awaken
ing.
He became involved in difficulty
at a gaming house, and in a fit of
anger stabbed his adversary to the
heart; Immediately after which he
secretly left the city.
She read in the morning paper a
full account OF the transaction,
together with the history of his past
life. She had made her ''idols and
found them of clay, and in the bitter
anguish and terrible fear Of discovery
she almost prayed that she might
never again behold his face.
Nearly three years had passed away.
and she had been wooed and won by a
man whom she loved devotedly, and
whom her father had selected for her
future husband.
She could not rid her mind Of the
fear which forever haunted her of
some day encounteriDg the man who
called her wife; but notwithstanding
she plighted her vows to Gilmore
Mayfeld, and devoutly prayed that
they might never be sundered.
Scarcely q month after she received
intelligence from her husband. And
that nights meeting was the final
result.
In wild and desolate pass, near the
Sierra Nevada Mountains, stood a
small cabin built of rough hewn
boards, set in perpendicular position
and covered with clapboard shingles.
TWO small windows, containing four
panes Of glass, and each on separate
sides of the wall. admitted the light;
while an oaken door hung on wooden
hinges, was the only mode Of egress.
1t contained but one little room. and q
bed, number Of split-bottomed
chairs, rude table, and a large red
chest.
Outside, nature seemed to have
surpassed herself in the desolate and
solitary grandeur which was yisable
at every step. Directly back of the
cabin rose the whitetopped mountains,
while stretching along their feet for
q great distance, was narrow but
well-beaten path, which gradually
wound its course mp amid their Jagged
rocks; and then was lost to view by
an abrupt turn round an overhanging
cliff. Farther up, perhaps two hun
| dred feet, was an abyss, followed out
by the commissions of nature.
The shades of evening had fallen,
and the night promised To be one of
troph cal beauty. The moon, inst
rising fromthe mountains, lighted up
the scene around with loyeliness
both weird and picturesque. The
night wind moaned sadly through the
ravines and passes, whistling solemn
music between the clefted rocks,
breaking into loud walls as it fioated
along the valley.
II crept through the cracks into the
cabin. where a woman was bending
over the fire. preparing supper. She
lifted her head aud inhaled it CRATE
fully for some minutes. and then she
proceeded with her occupation. This
woman still bore traces OF remarkable
beauty, though every lineament Of Il
careworn face spoke volumes 0f
intense suffering.
Ter ewes sp~rkled with an undIm-
med lustre. Notwithstanding they
gave evidence ola heart long since
dead 70 emotions Of love or sorrow.
Her dark hair. slightly tinged with
gray. hung in disheyeled ant nnkempt
masses round her shoulders: and her
every surrounding bore marks OF
privation and poverty. She drew The
table to the middle OF the floor. and /,
after spreading 1T with some dishes
taken from the chest. sat down and
waited
Presently man came down The
mountain path with hasty steps. In
another moment he entered the cabin
The woman arose, and going 70 the
chest. took from thence some bread
AMI laid II on the table without n
word. then she again resumed her
seat by the ere. and mooslilv watched
the red-hof Goals go ont one In one
and crumble into ashes.
Meanwhile tire man drew chair
near the table and sat down in snlien
silence. In the course Of few
minutes his repast was ended. and
rising u his feet. with furtive glance
IN tie direction If ihe woman. he
said
There il worA to-nirht--work that
vll Day-the mail agent Tasses along
the eff at near midnight. lie car
rles al the money belonging to tlae
department. TIE mail agent i
zamed Gilmore Mayf.id. ] owe him
an oil grudge. Money isnot the 0nly
incentive tonight.
4 bolt OF ice seemed 70 have passed
through the woman sitting hy tie
are. She raised herself. bnt sat
HaotionEess without speaking.
4 MAY not return till morning
And with these words the man lett
tha cabin
She remained perfectly sill after
he was gone. with her hands clasrea