Wichita eagle., 1890-02-05
NOT CREDIBLE, BUT TRUE.

NUI OAEU1DLE, DC1 1IO liz
What 1 have to say is not fiction, but fact.
The heroine OF my strange story"-and no
less true than strange-died many years ago.
Most of her generation have followed her to
the land, the inhabitants of which may OF
may not revisit ours in visible guise. The
Lord Of tie 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 shadowed her life, bat when half CEN
tury had softened the grisly outlines Of the
horror, and she could contemplate it in per
spective, almost with calInless although never
without awe.
l, Nancy Barks1ale who write this, was
girl of 1s when, at the close of a May day
fifty years agone, my fathers carriage set
me down at the door of my dear friend Au-
gusta Deane, in Cartersvlle. Va. Carriers
vile was then, and may be now, an uninter-
esting village, 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, a promising young lawyer, but for
having to 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 q country highway,
except that there were more houses on and
near it. had just time to observe that the
Deanes' cottage was a story and a half high,
with dorn1er windows in the roof; that 1t 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 multihora rose tree, now In
affiuent bloom, when Augusta ran out
through the open door and down the gravel
walk TO the carriage.
She was triAe thinner than when had
last seen her, but animated and joyous, with
vivacity that did not abate while she attended
me to her own chamber on the first hoor,
pouring out salutations, queries and interjec-
tions 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
Richmond day before yesterday and may not
get back before Saturday"
"Your first separation, isn't itg' asked I,
struck with something not quite natural in
her manner.
eyes. 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 had laid off. Her bands wavered, and
she kept her face turned from me.
With the slight land insufferable) touch of
superior soorn of fancy-free-as-yet maiden
for the sentimental feelings OF 'young mar
ried folks" feigned TO overlook her emo
ton. She might pine at heart for the absent
mate, but she did me the justice to be sim
cerely delighted st my coming. l would con-
tent myself with that for the present, and
tolerate q weakness peculiar to her position:
so | made talk of city news and the journey,
taking pains not to ask a question, until
presently she showed me sunny face that
was the pretter and sweeter for the mist,
which was not quite dew, lingering upon her
eyelashes. We supped en- 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 ribbonhke graveled paths winding away
into the shrubbeTy; enjoying the scent
freighted air throbbiRg and cooling before
the river breeze, and talking, talking, talk
ing, as only two girls who have been bosom
friends from infancy can talk after nearly
six months separation. Augusta bore her
part gallantly, and l quite forgot the passing
cloud that had dimmed her eyes and shaken
her voice.
When we were ready for bed the cloud re-
turned and broke l saw her llneeEng form
trembling from head to foot while she was
saying her prayers. and heard stit1ed sob.
Arising, with avcrted face, she went to a
bureau on toe far side of the room, took a
miniature from draw wer, ldssed it twice and
furtively slipped it under her pillow. When
we had lain down and the light was out ]
knew, genile and gradual as was the move
ment. that she drew the picture from it's hid
ing place and pressed it to her bosom. Pass
ing my hand coressingly over her cheek felt
that it was wet.
Augusta" l said, softly, "cannot COM
fort you? What is it, my poor dearl Surely
YOU are not grieving over a sorrow that will
be cured SO soon as will Mr.. Deane's ab-
sence!n
She clung to me in a wild storm OF tears.
She was but 20, and had not had secret
from me in ten years; so l got this one.
ferred, she said, had called Frank to Rich
mond. With all her sweetness of temper his
wife had been a spoiled child in her fathers
house, and her husband had never crossed
her. She especially desired that he should be
at home willis 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 10 rezoon-
STRANGE, then to indignant protest. The re-
suit was that reef of horrors to the newly
welded, the first quarrel Frank told her
that she was unreasonable and childish, and
asked her how she expected him to make
living for herself and him if she kept him
tied 10 her apron string.
And l called him unfeeling and cruel and
-brutal!' confessed she penftent, between
her sobs. Il have cried mySef to x5eep for
two nights over it, Ii / could but see him
for one ninute-long enough to beg his par
don-I could let him SO again for six months,
if necessary. If you had seen his face when
said that last wicked word! He turned as
white death, and htr his hips hard to keep
back the bitter answer | deserved. How
could | DO iii How ccald do iti"
1t did seem ine1cusobls to nse-a slightly
priSgish dsrsse1, with g wei formulated
creed Of wifsly duty ana depDrtnent-but
lectured her mildly in consideration of her
genuine distress.
He has generous heart CONCLUDED
he will not bear a grudge, Seu may be
sure, and his Tery soul is bousd up In you
The neatly cut plaster did not draw the
lips of the wound together. Indeed, it bled
afrsSh.
He never said an unkfpd word 70 me in his
life, my euff arlng, pasieur, i'll used &nseil
And wouldn't walk down to the boat with
him. although | knew he WAS longing to Ask