Year: 1865




just before sunset Much rain had fallen
and as | crossed the bridge on foot ]
noticed the stream flowing whifling and
turbid beneath. This was not my usual
way Of going home, but in consequence
Of the rain, / rods straight to the stables,
gave my horse to the groom, and took the
short cut There was q shady summer
house in the upper end of the garden,
footprints a'ong the path leading thither
from the garden The prints were those
of fashionably made boot; and my sur
prise was increased by coming to a spot
1v'iero they seem to have been met by
another persons prints, and thence both
led to the summer house Whose foot but
hers could have made those tiny impress
sions? I Preached the summer house and
there | found my wife


"Good heavens! Caroline, / exclaimed
"you out on such a night--you so delicate?"
She was shivering with the cold .Who
was here ?? | said


" She shivered still more and replied
timidly, No stranger has been here


81 looked at her earnestly her eyes
dropped; she was ghastly pale


"Wcn, my dearest, l said, let me
muale you well; you are very imprudent
to expose yourself TO the damp air


" wrapped her large shawl around her;
from one of its folds there fell a glove. 1t
dropped from behind, and she did rot see
it. ] picked it up and concealed it. Tt
was lavender kid glove that had been
worn by man.


" will not speak much of my feelings
that night Hundreds Of trivial things
came rushing into my memory, all of them,
each Of them, confirmation that the worst
was true Of her


" Her detection, her frequent weeping
over the letters, were now accounted for.
Had she not often and often Withdrawn
from me in the evening, staying long away
and returning with overladen excuses
Had | not seen her more than once drop
letter into the receiving box at the post
Office, when she might have put it in my
mailbag at home? Had | not seen her
nervously start at the slightest noise,
when seated at the twilight in her little
sitting-room which overlooked the gar
den.


She walked into the house before me,
and had time to collect myself /
pleaded headache, and retired into my
room. She knew that never could bear
the presence of any one when Ill, so T
was safe from interruption. Amid the
whirling dance of my maddening thoughts,
no idea Of revenge on her had any place.
| don't believe in the commonly received
opinion that real love can be turned into
hate. | could not hate her. [ even
thought with pity of the outer sorrow that
could not fail to be hers in the world for
eyermoTc.


But hc-he escape me No. How
best to proceed? Shall | question my
groom who must from the stables have
sometimes witnessed the stolen inter
views ? No! my insticts rovoIted at the
idea Of talking to a groom about her, fallen
angel though she was. | would do it all
myself My plans were soon formed
Early the next morning / rode oyer TO our
little town, and sent back by my servant
a note to my wife, stating that ] was com
Pellcd to start for London that moment to
make arrangements for my voyage, aud
that | should be absent at least week I
went to the city of D, purchased q
light colored wig large pair Of green
spcctacles, and disguised with large
beard and moustachc, returned to our
village, where ] engaged rooms opposite
the post-office. There l remained on the
watch.


Three days after my supposed depart
urc, my wiFe's carriage drove up to the
shop kept by the postmaster Previous to
her entering the shop, I saw her drop Il
note into the letter-box After q few mo
monts delay IN making purchases, she
drove off again.


"Late in the afternoon, a tall, distin-
guished looking man, with a travelling
cap, It's peak closely drawn over his face,
entered the shop. / felt this to be nv
enemy. / saw him receive letter from
the postmaster's wife, and hastily walk
away | hurried to the shop, and in
broken English, asked if there was a LETT
ter for Herr von Thirl. She replied in
the negative, but | earnestly requested
her TO look over all the letters This was
in order to gain time to ask question or
two.


I inquired who was that fine looking
man who had just gone out Of the shop ?
She didn't know; he was 4 stranger. But
was not his name on the letter? Oh YES :
his his name was Thornton, but he didn't
live in this village Had he been long in
the habit Of coming for letters? Not very
long.


Il walked forth in the direction of my
home. 1t was about dusk when came in
sight Of the spot, where my bliss in life
4 l.