Louisiana capitolian., 1879-06-14
yourself. That wretch whose body
you found in your house was the
mani

yourself. That wretch whose body
you found in your house was the
man."
"What! William Cavendish Z"
eyes, Mary, twas William Caven-
dish-that self-advertising scion Of
aristocracy, who boasted Of his noble
blood, forsooth-was the cowardly
assassin of your late husband. l
heard him say how he had slain his
successful rival-how he would mur-
der his wife and child, and thus over
take on the black path Of his dark
destiny his victorious competitor in
love. ! saw him raise the open knife,
and I sent the thunderbolt at his
head. You know the rest"
"No, no, George! do not know
how you could have seen him-how
You could have been there" the lady
exclaimed, starting up and leaning
forward with an anxious look.
cha! ha madame" said he, "that
is a different question. But here, let
me sec whether you still recognize in
your greatest earthly benefactor that
stubborn integrity which you once
conceded even s your discarded
lover"
"What do you mean?''
~ mean," he answered, producing
a Bible, "that you will keep inviola-
bly, secret while l live everything |
may tell you at this interview, after
the present moment. ! trust to your
sense of gratitude for the secrecy Of
what l have already confessed; for,
were you to betray me in that should
feel justified in taking the life | once
protected. But now will tell you
more than you expect to hear. Do
you fear'"
"No," said she, standing up and
taking the oath from his dictation.
"Now," he commenced, folding his
arms, and looking straightin her face,
"let me give you a sketch Of my
rough life for the past ten years
since we last exchanged words. l
was then young and hopeful; and
how much of man ! will leave 9TH
ers to say. You were SO beautiful, SO
accomplished, that all who saw you
and who dared, would be your hum
bic suitors. There were too many
hearts at your feet, and you spurned
them away scornfully. Oh! who can
tell how many poor soul gets trip
ped up on the ragged path Of life by
such unfeeling coquetry9 Some, per-
chance, after squandering fortune and
health in career of vice, lay their
weary head on some curbstOne and
rest in POtters' Field. Some become
revengeful-like him who slew your
husband. And some become as | am
now. After trifling with all your
suitors, you married a rich conner,
and laughed ungratefully at the dis
appointment of those whose competi-
ton had raised your price i'll the
market"
"Oh, sir" cried the listener, shrink
ing back, and falling into chair.
eyes, madame, hope you will
pardon me for putting these plain
sentiments in as plain words. After
all your heartlessness to me, you will
allow me the poor satisfaction of say.
ing why l am guilty of 50 many sins
What else is f1ashy, fashionable so.
ciety than market !-and more vul'
gar in it's cold, hypocritical uncharity
than any of the shambles. Analyzt
those gilded bubbles they call ele-
gances, and those mercenary calcula.
tions they libel with the title of the
hearts promptings, those fashionable
kindnesses done in silver to those only
who can return them in gold, and SEE
if you will find it all sufficient warmth
or love to save a fly from freezing tt
death in summer. Well, you took 8
rich husband-and lost him by the
vengeance excited by your own co.
quetry. Some of your suitors, fol
want of energy to do better or worse
threw themselves away, and some
soon forgot they had ever seen you
l did neither; nor did / forget thai
poverty was thesin which barred me
out of paradise. Ever since that day
ten years since, when / was thrown
out of your fathers door-because
had not gold, Mary have laboret
to get possession, the shortest way
could, of the worlds great idol.
learned then the great secret, tha
the prondest will bend under the
weight Of gold. have amassed the
precious metal--in all points an(
places-for the last ten yearaDovel
Mexico and the United States, ant
now Percivars fortune would no
equal my wealth."