The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-01-08
needless to say that I answered her she
had but to state her case, and count on
a uy;1l;oo, ohio ponion

hhu puL w othIC hCL CusCl anu COulu Oh
q willing champion.
She thanked me with simple grace
that was infinitely charming, and then
told me the story of her life.
She was utterly alone in the world
since her brother died, and tied to a
man whose cruelty WAS killing her.
Charles Herbert was strange char
acter, thought peculiar by his friends,
but believed by those who knew him
best to be developing traits of mad.
ness.
In the presence of strangers he was
remarkably kind and devoted to his
beautiful young wife, but in the sanct-
uary Of home he was actually brutal
in his cruelty to the unfortunate girl,
as was evident from the livid marks
upon her white arms and shoulders.
=" want to be freed from him am
in actual terror of my life! Oh, Mr..
Reavey, can the letters which bind me
to this terrible man be broken? Give
me some hope, or will no longer live in
this agonizing suspense!" she cried,
and l was frightened at the expression
of her face az she stood before me, with
her small hands clasped in an agony of
duplication, and her beautiful eyes
CHANGING hastily around her every min
ute, as if dreading the approach of hel
tormentcr.
Twas at a loss for words to answer her
appeal.
She wanted to be freed from the hus-
hand who was cruel to her, and she evil
IDENTIFY believed that had but to write
out couple of sheets Of fOolscap, and
pronounce her the divorced wife Of
Charles Herbert. How was | to I'm
deceive hers How was | to tell her
what work of time and trouble it
would be to obtain legal bill of di-
vorce? / told her | would exert every
means in my power to aid her, and |
resolved to watch the movements of
Herbert closely, while t he lady prom
ised to communicate with me Should he
attempt any further violence,
| left that house liRe one in dream,
my heart filled with pity for her hope
less condition, and my brain puzzling
itself over innumerable ways and means
of obtaining for her the release she
sought.
True to my first resolve, sought out
Charles Herbert in his usual haunts
about town, and studied him in secret.
He was a polished gentleman, dark
faced and handsome; but did not like
the glitter in his dark eyes, or the
treacherous and oft-recurring smile
that played about his full, sensual
lips.
| met him in society, where he was all
attention to his beautiful young wife,
and apparently devoted as the fondest
lover.
/ shuddered as | thought of the life to
which beautiful Elenore Herbert
seemed hopelessly doomed, for with the
cunning OF tiend, her husband wore
his mask of smiles, and gave no chance
to the most suspicious observer by
which he might have been condemned.
Noticed, with an inexplicabls feeling
of pain, that my beautiful client was
growing more fragile and worn-looking
every day, and the look of haunting
terror was deepening in her dark blue
eyes.
One night saw her wandering alone
through the fragrant aisles of con.
servatory, having stolen from the bril-
liantly-lighted parlors and from the
midst of the gay throng in whose So
ciety her husband fingered.
Watching favorable opportunity, I
joined her unobserved, and had the
satisfaction of seeing momentsry look
OF gladness sweep across her beautiful
face at my approach.
She questioned me eagerly as to the
progress was making; but something
in myface must have told her how lit
tie I could do for her, for she threw out
her tiny hand with gesture supreme in
its agony, and l could see the quick
shudder that ran through her frame.
What is it? Has he repeated his
cruelty" / asked, huskily; for some
how the indignant blood seemed to rise
in my throat and choke me. and | felt
like strangIing the wretch whose cum
ming baffled me.
She did not speak again, but looking
into her pale face, / could see her lips
forming the word "Hushw and looking
up quickly, l saw Herbert sauntering
toward US through the avenue of ferns
with that disagreeable smile on his lips,
and that strange, glittering light in his
black eyes.
"My dear Nellie, have been search
ing for you how imprudent of you to
stay out in this chilly place without
your wraps. All, Mr.. Reavey, | shall
question your gallsntry; see how my
little wife shivers. Come, darling, I
think we had best return home.
He spoke lightly, and with his arm
around his wife's waist: but could not
Danish the impression that he had been
playing the SOY: and to confirm the i'm
preston, I caught the CLEAN of abso-
lutte terror that Elenore Herbert threw
back at me as he led her away.
"That man is mad; there is danger
in his eyes tonight" I thought, and
impelled by some irresistible impulse, |
found myself hurrying in the direction
of her residence half an hour later.
Was it fate or providence that guided
my wandering steps? 1 do not know;
1t was all 30 strange and unreal; the
events that followed seem to me even
now, looking back into the dim vista OF
years, more like the incidents narrated
in some sensational novel than an oc.
curreuce in real life. Ihad just turned
into the block on which the Herberts
resided, when wild, thrilling cry dis
turbed the silence of the summer night,
q cry that came from the lips OF q
woman. and from the direction of the
house in which Elenor Herbert passed
her miserable life.
"Father in Heaven, save her" l
cried, and no such fervent and heartfelt
prayer had crossed my lips since l
kneJt AT nnthers knee. | cannot re-