The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-15

rered large warehouse in the business
part of that city. He approached the
principal desk with bundle of papers
and letters on one arm, from which he
drew a single letter bearing the New Or
leans post-mark.
A Young man who stood at the desk
writing what appeared to be business
notes, of which pile, damp with ink,
lay at his elbow, took the letter, and
thrustiDg his pen back of one ear, pre-
pared to open it. There WAS an appear
ance Of great ahd even sloyenly haste
about this letter. The paper was folded
unevenly. The wax had been dropped
upon it in a rude mass, and was roughly
stamped with a blurred impression
which it would have been difficult to
make out. The address was blotted,
and everything about it bore marks OF
rough haste.
The young merchant broke open the
seal with some trepidatiOn, for the sin
gular appearance of the letter surprised
him NOT little. He read half dozen
of the first lines, then looking over his
shoulder as if afraid some one might
see that which he had read, he turned
his back 10 the desk, and was soon wholly
absorbed in the contents of the epistle.
AS he turned over the page, you would
have seen the color gradually deepen
| upon his cheeks, and even flush up to
his forehead, as if there was something
in the epistle which did not altogether
please him. Alter a little he folded the
letter, COMPRISING his lips the while,
and fell into deep thought.
\ l.t rod
of him was one against which every
honest feeling Of his heart revolted
but his worldly prospects, his hopes OF
advancement in life, all depended upon
the writer.
Ross had been his friend; had placed
him in the Philadelphia branch ot a
great commercial house; and TO thwar:
one Of his wishes might prove absolute
| ruin.
Ro,s had omitted in that epistle moth
ing tnat could persuade or reason iuto
wong 1t was doubtful, he said, even
If Clark ever had been married to Zl-
| lima; or, being 20, ii he would not deem
| II good service in his friend to relieve
him oi the obligations imposed by that
union.
Bitter and cruel we're the accusations
urged against that poor young wife
and with his interests all with Ler enc
mics, joined to lively desire to think
Ill of her, in order to justify his con
duct to his own heart, this weak and
cruel man yielded himself to become
the tool of deeper and far more un-
principled villain than himself.
Again and again he perused that let
| ter, and at length put it carefully away
in mis- breast. POI ket, close to a heart
which its evil folds were doomed t.
harden against the secret whisperings of
conscience that would not be entirely
| hushed.
Perhaps, had James Smith been given
time for after reflection, he might have
become shocked with the part he was
called upon to perform; but the letter
which opened this wicked scheme tc
him had been delayed and carried in a
wrong direction by the mail, and nearly
two weeks had been thus lost after the
time when it-should have reached him.
Smith had scarcely turned from his
| desk with the evil letter in his bosom
when another man entered the ware
house and placed a little rose-tinted
| note in his hand. A vague idea that
| this note had some connection with the
slovenly epistle that ne had just read
took possession of him, before he broke
the drop of pale-green wax that sealed
| it.
The conjecture proved real-Zulims
| had written that note. she was in Phil
adelphia, and hoped through her hus
bands proteqe to hear some news of him
Smith had no time for reflection; he
was called upon to act at once. lie
went TO the hotel where Zulima wa;
/ staying.
Smith entered the hotel hurriedly, a.
one who has a painful task to perform
and wishes it over. He was not vii
| lain enough to act with deliberation, Of
with that crafty coldness which titteo
Ross so siDgularly Tor ii domestic con
spirator.
When he found himself in the presence
of this helpless young martyr; when h'
gazed upon her beauty, dimmed-lt Il
true, by all that she had suffered, bu
obtaining thereby a soft meianeholl
that was far more touching than th'
glow OF youth in its full Joy can eve
| be-his heart smote him TOR the wrong
it had meditated against her He sa
dowL by her side, trembling, and almos
as anxious as she was.
"My husband" said Zulima, turning
her eloquent eyes upon his downeas
face; YOU know him, sir-he Is you
friend; tell me where he is to be found. :.
Your husband, madam! OF whom
do you speak"
"Of Mr.. Clark-Dapiel Clark-you
benefactor and my husband, said Zd
lima.
Daniel Clark, lady ?"
81 wish TO see him-I must see him
tell me where he is to be found. ia
Iiraa was breathless With impatience
her large ewes frightened, her cheek
took a faint color. she was determines
hat nothing should keep her from tn
presence OF her husband.
Aud you-you are The young lad
that went South with him the last tim
be was here?' said Smith, bending hi
eyes TO the floor, and faltering IN hi
speech.
"Yes, l went with hin-I was hi
wlfep'
Smith shook his head; faint smil
crept over his mouth; he seemed
doubt her assertion.
Zulima saw it, and her face kindle
with indignant passion. | am his wife
she said.
"The marriage-was it not secret
was it not almost without witness
Secret, yes; but not entirely withou
witnesses ?'
you can prove that some cerenon
: took place; but can you prove that ]
was real marriage ceremony? lndees
, have you never had reason to dont
i that it was sueh?''
/ Never, sir" replied Zulima, turnin
pale, "neyer9'
.You were very young, very cor ts
, ing" replied Smith. "Yet you ha
i some experience in the perfidy of mar
} this should have made you cautious"
i "Oh, my experienced it had been bi
: ter-terriblel murmured Zulima, elasl
) ing her hands, and gazing on the fat
! of her visitor with look of wild e.
: citement.
; nAnd vet you trusted again.
Zulima stood up; her face grew viii
: as death. aDo YOU mean to say, 81
D that my husband-that Daniel Clal
T deceived me like the otherg'
9 III mean to say nothing" replis
Smith; nothing, save that from N
: heart pity you, sweet lady 50 mut
7 beauty. so trusting; who could he
plying your
aYou pity me? Oh, Father of me
3 ciesr' cried the excited Young creatur
Q bending like a reed and raising b
locked hands to her eyes, IF this thin
should be truer' She fell upon chat
Il her slight figure waved to and fro in t
: agony Of her doubts.
n 1Has he written--did he send +
'e your questioned Smith, steeling hil
% self against her grief.
"No, nor