Year: 1875

ana once OF lWlce lie crltlclSeu some Ol
my young and fashionable pupils very
severely, seeming to have very poor
opinion of them as to their usefulness as
probable wives and mothers. l natural
ly always defended my sex; and once
when l laughingly expressed my belief
that if / ever should see the woman des-
tined to be his wife, it would no doubt be
one of those same petty, useless, fashion
able creatures against whom he rallied
SO bitterly-a look of pain passed across
his face, that set me to thinking that /
had touched sore spot in his expert
ence.


We became very good friends, eventu-
ally; indeed, / am afraid that should L
confess TO the truth, we INDUCED little
in harmless and pleasant Irritation. L
know that L was always pleased to see
him; and am sure that he often fingered
beside me i'll manner savoring little
of devotion. Still this was only on the
surface; and l grew more and more
certain, from a melancholy that often
possessed him, that there was some Sc
cret connected with his domestic life of
an unhappy character.


At last, from an accidental remark of
one of my employers, discovered the
I" skeleton in his closet" He was a
married man, but separated from his
wife. think that / felt little panied
at the information and certainly could
not help the coldness of my manner
when next 1 met him. He saw the
change, and asked with his eyes for an
explanation, though not with his tongue.
Had he taken the latter liberty, it is very
possible that l might have told him, and
then-this story would never have been
written AS it was, few hours thor
oughly Gained me; showed me some
thing of the imprudence of which 1 had
been guilty, in making so close an ac-
quaintance with q man about whom /
knew literally knothing; and rousea all
the woman within me, III pride and
dim suspicion of revenge.


That revenge was much nearer than |
could possibly have dreamed and I'M
like most revengeS, no sorrow IS entalled
by the recollection. But of that anon.
Following the discovery, the first thing
l did was to enlarge it by ascertaining
particulars-how, is matter OF no con-
sequence in connection with this story.
What additionally discovered, however,
is of consequence.


He had married a petted, wayward,
beautiful girl-the only child of wealthy
parents, who had by injudicious man
agement tostered every weakness of her
character. He had formed her acquaint-
ance and married her after short court
ship, while on a visit to her native town,
and after a few months removed to the
city, where he now made his residence.
He had brought her home to the house
of his mother, who. with her sister, was
of the true New England type. They
were thoroUgh-going, practical women,
notable housekeepers, slightly Puritanl-
ell in their beliefs, and holding very
little sympathy with youth and inexperi
ence. The young wife was impulsive,
unused to discipline of any kind, care
less, ignorant of any habits of industry,
but warm-hearted and affectionate. No
doubt a very troublesome relative TO the
staid, methodical women with whom she
took up her residence.


Unfortunately for the wife, also, her
husband had been taught to look up TO
his mother and sister as the best of
women, and had fondly fancied that
when his new treasure came under their
control all those little weaknesses, of
which lie had soon become aware after
marriage, would be cured by their ex-
ample and advice. But his sanguine
hopes were doomed to early disappoint-
ment. Instead of his wife growing
docile and yielding she became more
willful and intractable, rebelled with
high spirit against any rule, and looked
upon her husband more as a companion
with whom to enjoy the amusements of
fashionable society, than as helpmate
and friend with whom to pass through
the trials and cares Of life. Still she
had kind heart and warm affections
and had more love and sympathy been
exhibited in connection with efforts to
change her habits, and less cold, severe
exactions shown on the part of her hus
hands relatives, the event might have
been better for all. At last she usual
result followed. Quarrels became of
frequent occurrence estrangementg grew
up between husband and wife and it
was only year after their marriage that
the young wife, one day, after passion
ate outbreak and most unhappy scene
with her husband, left his home and re-
turned to that of her parents. Here she
was not only received with open arms,
bat condoled and sympathized with to
her great injury-a divorce proposed,
and all chance of reconciliation de-
stroyed.


Such was the painful story, as gath
cred the particulars-no rare one in the
world, / am quite aware, and yet sad
enough as embodying the wreck of two
lives. Perhaps knowledge of the
whole softened my pride toward Mr..
Lee a trife, though it by no means cured
my wounded self-respect or put me more
at ease with myself. What more ac-
duaintance might have followed is un-
certain perhaps none whatever, under
/ the changed conditions nor have / the
clearest idea how my revenge would
have been accomplished, had not been
favored by new and unexpected circum-
stances.


It was in the month of December that
one very cold and clustering morning a
! lady was ushered into the instruction
room by one of the statesmen. She was
a young and remarkably pretty woman,
as 1 discovered at the first glance, and
dressed very becomingly in the prevail
| ,Do ,,ooda Tho ,,cttol rarnorka tbot ttaha