The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-10
VOL. 23---No. so.

for dinneu which was arranged for s
O'clock
ran upstairs to my bedroom, my
heart ready to burst with modification,
and had a good cry. Ny friend did all
she could TO console me, and to put a
cheerfulsaee upon matters, and after a
while / rallied a little, and went down
stairs and sat down to the piano and
played and sang TO pass away the time.
Three O'Clock came and passed and
still he did not return. Then his friend
who had remained with US, said he
would go in search of him.
In about half an hour he came back,
bringing Arnold with him. He after
ward told me that he had found him
playing cards, and recklessly treating
everybody who entered the room, at a
tavern used by the actors. / always
possessed great deal of self-control,
and kept myself quite tranquil.
1t had been arranged that we should
sup at my friends lodgings, and thither,
alter the performance, for we played that
night, we went. There were only four
of us-the four present at the ceremony.
Arnold was dull and sullen, and at times
seemed scarcely conscious of where he
was, for, when addressed, he would start
and look yacantly about him, like one
suddenly aroused from doze.
1t was 2 O'Clock in the morning be.
fore we turned our faces homeward- ST.
lently he pursued his way; and was
too proud to speak. But, oh, the agony,
the shame, the humiliation I endured
that night When We arrived at our
lodgings the fire was out. 1t was very
chilly night, and he complained of be-
ing cold, and said he should rekindle il.
While he went away seeking some wood
in the kitchen, l ran upstairs to my
room, and went TO bed.
At last my aching, swollen eyes closed,
and fell asleep.
When 1 awoke, the cold gray dawn of
the spring morning was just stealing
across the darkness of my room. I
awoke with start, and sat bolt upright,
with sense of ineffable horror. Had
been dreaming? / could not remember.
Yet there was upon me all the terror
which is left by some CHASTITY nightmare.
l leaped out of bed, huddled on a
dressing gown, and with bare feet hur-
ried down the stairs. 1t was an impulse,
nothing more, for. I had no thought in
what / was doing. ! opened the parlor
door and looked IN. All was dark and
silent
ale has gone to sleep upon the sofa, ~
was my reflection. My woman's pride
prompted me to return to my chamber,
but some other feeling held me rooted to
the spot. The chinks of the shutters
were penciled with faint lines of light.
| crossed the room, unbarred and threw
them open, and looked up at the sky.
The waning moon was high in the heav-
ems, over which faint Foseate flush was
just stealing, and wild chorus of birds
in the trees close by alone broke the deep
stiffness of the early morning.
stood gazing upon the picture for
some seconds, not because | felt its beau
ty, but because / dared not turn my
head.
When, after a time, l summoned up
! resolution to do SO, il was slowly, and by
degrees. First my eyes fell upon the
sofa; that was empty; then they travel
ed towards the hearth. The fire had
burned into great hollow, gray and
brown within, black above. l could see
only portion of the CRATE, as an easy
chair was drawn in front of it. There
was something in the chair, something
lolling side ways; and there was coat
sleeve with hand dangling across one
arm. | could feel my hair bristle and
my heart stand still as | crept up to it,
ard saw huddled heap of clothing, in
which was half buried iivid, hair
strewn face.
II was my husband-dead.