Year: 1875

when scene forced itself upon me at
which l was then almost too stupefed
to wonder.


Miles came YEARLY up one of the
graveled walks and seated himself in
seeming dependence upon a rustic
bench. Miss Slayton followed, placing
herself by his side, though she did
speak to him, as he sat with his head
upon his hands.


MY poor wife y my heart aches for
her !" 1 heard him murmur at last.


And then Miss Slayton's voice said
sneeringly:


'Your wife, indeed All, Miles
Clerris, if she only knew % was added
In softer done. Presently she moved
nearer and leaned lovingly against him
while her hand rested upon his. i
could not hear the words she said, but
he started up, angrily exclaiming:


"a curse upon you'll L defy you"
and pushing her from him he walked
away and stood leaning against the
trunk or the old elm. She followed.


"You defy mel You have perhaps
forgotten this little document And
she held up something.


He seemed astonished and almost
Missed between his shut teeth: ''You
have lied to me-"


''You were fool to think I would
ever lose sight of this" was the taunt-
ing reply.


He grasped for it and seizing her
little struggle ensued, but she broke
rra-,, hin, fnT 10
heard her go into her room. Miles,
too, soon walked away. Still stood at
the window, enwrapped in a may dream
that had neither purpose nor definite
ness about it, Night deepened, the
moon rose and the veering outlines of
shade crept steadily over the grass, yet
L had no inclination to seek my pillow.
As the shadows of the trees slowly
cirled around the moonbeams at last
directly upon the spot where Miles and
Miss Slayton had stood beneath the
elm hours before.


Something white upon the grass
cleaned distintly in the moonlight. 1t
recalled the scene / had witnessed and
for tile first time in days n definiteness
of purpose possessed me and L deter
mined to know what it was. Hurrying
down into the yard the glistening white
thing was found to be piece OF paper.
With almost insane jealously l ran back
to my room and bent over the time
worn sheet. My curiosity was cruelty
repaid for there, drawn up with all the
form required by law, read marriage
certifcate-a bond of union between
Miles Clerris and Helen Slayton bearing
date ten years previous. The clergy
mans name appended-Je New
comb-was a substantial proof of the
genuineness of the article, for well
remembered it and the peculiar chirog-
raphy had seen so often in girlhood.


Dear white haired old man how little
he guessed in his gentleness that deed
of his was lying in wait to stab me so
cruelty Ten years agol that must
have been in Miles college days. And
this woman was his wife while II had
no legal claim to the rights | had tried
to vindicate with such naughty ar
rogance. Too frenzied to rave or faint,
l realized it all quietly. standing there
alone in the night. There was nothing
to palhate the enormity of the great
WIpuR AdOt 1OAAC AC.
had been purposely and miserably
duped-an innocent girl-now mother,
whose mourning for her first born had
been rudely disturbed by the horrid
fact that she was not even wife. L
flung open the blind, and threw the
Saten-sent missive far ont into the yard.


/ could not upbrald my husband with
the discovery L had made, nor proclaim
it to the world, for it was the seal to
my own infamy. Neither could / ignore
it, though for moment something had
whispered "Keep the certificate and
say nothing about it, and the world will
always believe, as it does now, that you
are his wife, since there will be no
proof to the contrary, and the old clergy
man is dead" Only the experienced,
who know of what bitterness the human
heart is capable, can dream what suffer
ing came to me there. Presently l
realized that the family were astir and
crept to my bed, not to sleep, but to
experience that semi-unconscious state
that comes of utter prostration. Two
of the servant girls came to my room,
and as they moved cautiously y about,
putting things in order, l knew they
were preparing the house for the funeral
ceremonies, which were to take place
early in the day. At last one whispered
TO the other that Miss Slayton had told
Mt the breakfast table how some one had
entered her room during the night and
had rihed every drawer and box, and
that even the pockets of her dresses had
been visited. OF course they were full
of CONSERVATION and wonder, and in
talking about it quite forgot their sleep
ing mistress as they supposed. After
they had left the room Miles entered
and stood by my bedside. He bent
down and softly kissed my forehead as
l lay, with closed eyes, and then L
heard him sigh deeply and walk away


Miss Slayton met HIM in the hall and
said in her sinuous voice: II think
if last nights burglar had searched the
yard first he would have been more
successful, for have an idea that L
found, this morning, the article he
wished for" and her low sneering
laugh came in through the open door.
l dressed myself and sat with the
others while the minister read of Gods
goodness and his kindly christening,
and prayed for the afflicted hearts, all
the while nearly wild for the hatred OF
God and man that ranked in my bosom.


Miles tenderness maddened me, and
when 1 sank, half fainting, from the
coffin and he held me in his strong arms
while his hot tears fell upon my cheeks
longed to dash my hands in his face.
When it was all over and the house
was stilled again for the night, donned
my Bonnet and shawl, and taking my
portmonnsie, which was always well
supplied, walked to the station and
took the train for your city. l Iremem-
Der the long ride through hours ana
hours and the quiet breaking of the
morning, but that is all for l had been
many weeks in your hospital cared for
at public expense when 1 next awoke
| to consciousness. At last l was able
to leave its shelteripg walls, and it was
with such loneliness of heart as / pray
you and yours may never know, that L
set out to find some means of support.