Year: 1860




a quick glance of investigation at my
face, and one even more transient OF re-
proach to Percival, preceded her acknowl'
edgmcnt of the introduction, the high
bred courteousness of which scarcely vail
ed the coldness of the welcome.


But the first step was taken l had
formed her acquaintance and obtained en-
trance to her house, and as often as pos
sible, without arousing any suspicion on
her part, for many succeeding weeks did
| seek her presence and study her as one
of the most difficult pages of the abstruse
book of nature


Sometimes ! found her almost gay and
Joyous, as though the lightness of heart
which probably originally characterized
her from some unknown depth, would
bubble up to life again; sometimes in a
tender melancholy, as if her soul with
trailing pinons mourned its wasted treas
ures; again in an apathy OF indifference,
benumbcd, as it were, by the conscious
ness that "unknown fate" could bring
nothing more than she already endured
and then fierce, defiant, combative, with
a flashing light in her splendid eyes that
took the wierd and wicked gleam of in
sanity. But in whatever phase found
her, no word was ever spoken of sell, and
the most artful turn could give conver-
sation in that direction was either foiled
or met with frigid silence.


An all-seeing eye alone could know all
that she had to hear, but | as a visitor
saw enough to understand that it was
everything that course, ,tyrannical nature,
embruted by the constant use of strong
drink, had power to infict on high
strung, refined and sensitive tempera-
ment.


Oftentimes, though, when the digniied
coldness of her manner failed as check
upon him, / saw the rough oath vanish
unuttered from his lips, the malicious
ferocity disappear from his actions, and
his eye absolutely quail before the stead
fast look of naughty warning she would
fix upon him. Involuntarily the thought
would rise:


"God help you, man, should you ever
transgress the verge of her endurance
Desperation could give that slender hand
grasp of steel upon dagger's hait il
conviction come that one blow might
avenge the torture of years"


AS tine progressed, Ross became more
and more addicted to habits of intemper-
ance, with each Bacchanalian orge he
grew more and more ferocious, until he
became the terror of the entire commu-
nifty.


Even public curiosity, which, from
her perseverng retirement had almost for
gotten her existence, commenced to won
der how Mrs. Ross endured his conduct,
and a silent sympathy seemed to rise in
her behalf.


Percival and / gradually became con-
scious that she secluded herself from MS,
and under an exterior of calmness, know
he was chased to madness at his lack OF
power to rescue her from the horrors OF
her situation, and would, thought, but
I for the restraining influence of solemn
promise she had exacted from him, have
sought with Ross deadly quarrel.


Finally, upon the occasion OF public
meeting one memorable night, Ross drank
as usual to intoxcation, and raved and
ragged about the streets with more thar
his usual phrenzy of conduct; insulting
all, threatening all, brandishing his Bow
ie- knife, and ostentatiously displaying
the pistols belted around his waist. IL
those times such sights weronot unusual
and in the absence of public regulations
none esteemed it their duty to interfere