Year: 1867




knew the handwriting. He was persua-
ded the letter was written by no less a
person than Mr.. Howe. The company
were greatly astounded, Mrs. Howe was
so much alarmed and affected that she
was seized with fainting fit. Upon
her recovery, however, shortly after
wards, it was resolved that she should,
at all events, attend the proposed appoint
ment In company with Doctor Rose and
his wife, and the other ladies and gentle
men then present.


On the following evening, therefore,
attended by her friends, Mrs. Howe pre-
sented herself in Birdcage Walk. The
little party had not been at the appoint
ed place more than five minutes when
stranger approached them, lifting his hat
and bowling politely. He was at once
recognized. He was certainly Mr. Howe.
tie embraced his wife, offered his arm.
walked home with her, and the reunited
couple lived together in great harmony
up to the day of Howe's death, which
did not happen until many years after
wards.


What had he been doing where had
he been hidden during the long period of
separation


He had, it appeared, never quilted
London. On his abrupt departure from
,Iermyn street he had repaired to an OBJ
scure lodging house in small street in
estmin>ter, and there had hired
room at the modest rental of five or six
shillings Il week. Changing his name
and Disgusting himselfin in 4 black wig
for he was a man of fair complexion
he had remained in this secret retreat
during the whole time of his absence
from his wife. Frequenting u little
coffee house in the neighborhood of his
lodgings, he had enIoved the curious plea
sure OF reading in the journals the pro-
gress through Parliament OF the Act
which his wife had applied for in order
Oh the suppoSition of his death, to obtain
4 legal settlement of his affairs vet he
had not been tempted even then to re-
veal the fact that he still existed.


Furthar than this, Howe had contri-
we'd TO make the acquaintance oi one Mr..
Salt, a corn chandler. who lived in Brew
cr street. in a house opposite to that oc-
copied by Mrs. Howe. At length he
came to be on such friendly terms with
Salt, that he usually dine1 with him in
brewer street once or twice 4 week.
From the windows of the room in which
they dincd. it was not difficult 10 look
into Mrs. llowe'> parlor. where She gen
orally sat and received her friends Salt.
who all the time believed that his guest
was bachelor, frequently recommended
him 10 pay his addresses to his own wife,
describing Mrs Howe az wcll-to-do
widow, and i'll every respect suitable
match. For seven years before Howe
disclosed himself he was in tile habit of
attending services every Sunday at St
James Church. and from his seat in


,lr. Salts pew he obtained view OF his
wife, though he could not be seen easily
bv her


The real cause of his most extraord-
nary conduct Howe would never confess.
even 10 his most intimate friends Dr.
Rose was OF the opinion that Howe
would never have returned TO his wife ut
all. If he had not been. as it were, starv-
ed into surrender by the exhaustion OF
his means. 1t was supposed that he
took with him, on his leaving Mrs. Howe.
a sum OF about two thousand pounds
and that living in a very frugal manner.
he managed to sub>ist upon this during
the whole period of his absence, his store
decreasing every day As it became neces-
sary to supply his recurring wants. Earn
ing nothing, as his purse shrank, he WIS
} compelled to choose between starvation
and return to his wife. lie chose the
latter alternative, after 4 struggle, per
hapS, and some submission to the frs
approach OF privation. Yet at any time
during his seventeen years seclusion, il
: had been open to him to quit his obscure
| lodging and solitary life in Westminster
and share the comparative atfiuence anC
. comfortable home of his wife


: There is no hint that anything like in.


compatibility of temper had been the
cause Of Uowe's abandonment of hi.
: spouse in so strange 4 way, and for SO
protracted period. Reluctant as he
had been to return, yet that step once
: taken Howe would not appear TO have
repented it. He never regarded Mrs.
t Howe as a shrew, TO be dreaded and
5 avoided, but much rather as 4 good wife
: to be cherished and loved. Doctor Kin!
z relates that he had seen Howe after hi:
| return addressing his wife quite in the
I language of young bridegroom ant
the doctor had been assured by some o.
| the most intimate friends of the marie,
| couple, that the husband treated hi:
| spouse during the remainder of their join
5 lives with the greatest Kindness and aztec
s tion. But, OF course, the inquiry is in
t evitable. If he was SO fond OF her, WIZ,
j did he treat her so cruelty?


r Any explanation of the matter Cal
a only be of a conlectural kind. 1t is pos
: sible that the wife, unknown to herself
o had in some way offended or reused tn
i jealousy Of her husband, though he neve
= afterwards thought it worth while to Owl
: as much, and that with the view Of pun
e ishing by frightening her, he first scheIH
r ed to absent himself for short time from
S his home. The plan in its inception wa
e easy enough, but how to bring it to
: satisfactory conclusion was another and
e more difficult matter to manage, becaus
his return, while his absence was still
= cause of uneasiness and surprise, mus
r necessarily involve explanation Or just
:. tication more or less explicit and com
J. plete. He kept on postponing, therefore
l. his return, until the exhaustion of his re
d sources made postponement no longe
y possible. After his seventeen years at