The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-03-28
miscellaneous.
Not Credible, but True,

w nat L nave u say Is uOt uCGlOu, DuL idCi
The heroine OF my strange story"-and no
less true than strange-died many years ago.
Most OF her generation have followed her 10
the land, the inhabitants of which may or
may not revisit ours in visible guise. The
Lord of the quick and the dead alone knows
how this may be. There is no reason why
should not put into print what many of her
contemporaries heard from her own lips not
only at the date of the mysterious occurrence
that Swallowed her life, but when half CEN
fury had softened the grisly outlines of the
horror, and she could contemplate it in per-
spective, almost with calmness, although
never without awe.
l, Nancy Barksdale, who write this, was
girl of 10 when, at the close ola May day fifty
years agone, my fathers carriage set me
down at the door of my dear friend Augusta
Deane, in Gainesville, Va. Gainesville was
then, and may be now, an uninteresitng vii
age, struggling leisurely along the banks
of the James river, to which it owed its being
and continued life. We had pitied Augusta
Elicit, the belle of two Richmond seasons,
not because she married Frank Deane,
promising young lawyer, but for having 10
live in the muddy, tame little town. The
wedding had taken place in December, and
this was my first visit to her new abode.
1t was small, white cottage, set back
about twenty yards from the street, which
differed in nothing from a country highway
except that there were more houses on and
near it, had just time 10 observe that the
Deanes' cottage was story and half high,
with dormer windows in the roof; that it was
neat and newly painted that the wicket gate
in the front palings was overarched by
bower of honeysuckle and the front porch
overrun with a multiflora rose tree, now in
atfluent bloom, when Augusta ran out
through the open door and down the gravel
walk to the carriage.
She was trifie thinner than when | had
last seen her, but animated and joyous, with
vivacity that did not abate while she attend
ed me 10 her own chamber on the first floor,
pouring out salutations, queries and inter-
iections in her old frank, impetuous way.
"You must stay in here with me until Frank
comes home," she said, helping me to lay
aside my travelling garb. "He went to Rich
mond day before yesterday and may not get
back before Saturday"
Your first separation, isn't it?" asked l,
struck with something not quite natural in
her manner.
Yes. He was obliged to go-on business"
adding the last word as it might be an after
thought.
While she spoke she was rearranging some
clothing hung in press to make room for
that Lad laid off. Her hands wavered, and
she kept her face turned from me.
With the slight land insufferablel touch of
superior scorn of a fancy free -as-yet maiden
for the sentimental feelings of "young mar
red folks" feigned to over look her emo
ton. She might pine at heart for the absent
mate. but she did me the justice 10 be sincere
ly delighted at my coming. l would content
myself with that for the present, and tolerate
weakness peculiar TO her position /; 30 l
made talk of city news and the journey, tax
ing pains not to ask question, until present.
ly she showed me sunny face that was the
prettier and sweeter for the mist which was
not quite dew, lingering upon her eyelashes.
We supped ell tete-a-tete and sat out on the
porch until bedtime watching the moon rise
and mount-the crystal white light driving
back the shadows from the wet grass and
ribbonlike graveled paths winding away into
the shrubbery enjoying the scent freighted
air throbbing and cooling before the river
breeze, and talking, talking, as only two
girls who have been bosom friends from in
fancy can talk after nearly six months sep
aration. Augusta bore her part CALAMITY,
and | quite forgot the passing clouds that
had dimmed her eyes and shaken her voice.
When we were ready for bed the cloud
returned and broke. l saw her kneeling
form trembling from head to foot while she
was saying her prayers, and heard stit1ed
sob. Arising, with averted face, she went to
a bureau on the far side of the room, took a
miniature from a drawer, kissed it twice and
furtively slipped it under her pillow. When
we had lain down and the light was
out knew, gentle and gradual as was the
movement, that she drew the picture from its
| hiding place and pressed it to her BOSOM
Passing my hand caressingly over her cheek
| | tet that it was wet.
Augusta" said, softly, Cannot COM
fort you 2" What is it, my poor dear? Surely
you are not grieving oyer a sorrow that will
| be cured 80 soon as will Mr.. Deane's absence?"
| She clung to me in wild storm of tears.
| She was but 90, and had not had secret
| from me in ten years; so got this one.
Law business, imperative and not to be
| deferred, she said, had called Frank to Rich
mond With all her sweetness of temper his
| wife had been spoiled child in her fathers
house, and her husband had never crossed
| her. She especially desired that he should
| be home while l was there, and could not be
| convinced that the matter in hand could not
| be transacted as well by correspondence as in
person. From pleading she passed to re-
| monstrance, then to indign ant protest. The
result was that reef of horrors to the newly
welded, the first quarrel. Frank told her
that she was unreasonable and childish, and
! asked her now Sn6 expected MIN 10 make q
| living for herself and him if she kept him tied
to her apron string. ucii
"And l called him unfeeling and cruel and
brutal |" confessed the penitant between
her sobs. Il have cried myself to sleep for
two nights over. If could but see him for
one minute-long enough to beg his pardon
Il could let him go again for six months, if
necessary. II you had seen his face when
said that last wicked word He turned as
white as death, and bit his lips hard to keep
back the bitter answer l deserved. How
could | do it How could do it p
1t did seem inexcusable to me-a slightly
priggish damsa, with well formulated creed
OF wifely duty and deportment-but lectur
ed her mildly in consideration of her genuine
| distress. ... .... .s... -
HE has generous heart" concluded
"He will not bear grudge, you may be sure,
and his very soul is bound up in YOU
The newly cut plaster did not drow the lips
of the wound together. Indeed, it bed afresh.
ale never said an unkind word to me in
his life, my suffering, patient, i'll used angel
And wouldn't walk down to the boat with
him, although knew he was longing to ask
me to do it. didn't even go with him to
| the door, and when he kissed me good-by