Year: 1875

"Why, Arthur l did not know you hac
child"


II have been weak enough-perhaps
ought to say wicked enough, though Goo
knows did it from no i'll motive-to keep hel
existence secret from the whole world. NJ
one knows of it, at this moment, but Barbara
Mary Burton and curse Ives. Mrs. Green
who owns this hopse, hires me four rooms in
which she and hef attendant live, but is igno
rant of the relationship between US"


"But, why2 What possible reason"


"Rosamond, she is the most terrible de-
formity-nay, rather the most painful mon
strosity you can conceive of. She is scarcely
human in appearance that is to say, in the
face. Her figure is natural enough"


A shudder ran through him as he spoke
and 1 felt his fingers close convulsively on
mine. Wonder, pity, and sort of sympa
thetic horror, filled my mind. Itrembled, ye
longed to know more of the mystery thus un
folded to my knowledge.


"Dear Arthur !-go on. Tell me more,"
whispered.


81 will 20 back to thevery beginning, then
and tell you ALL, be replied, after pausing fol-
q moment to recover his composure.


"You have remarked, no doubt, that have
always avoided, as far as possible, all mention
of my former married life. 1t is not because
it was an unhappy one, but that the memory
of it, connected, as it is, with this most over
whelming misfortune of my life, is too trying
to be borne without pain.


"You know 1 married my cousin Edith, al
an early age, and came out to try my fortune
in America. Edith was bright, happy crea
ture, absolutely without reflection, but very
arniable and gentle in her disposition, and
though she did not fully meetthe requirements
of my nature, Il had craving after some
thing deeper, more comprehensive in its scope
it vas impossible not to be fond of her, and
indulgent to her childish ways. 1 think we
were not unlike David Copperfeld and Dora
I am sure l was quite as inexperienced and
ignorant of the world as David was. We
had Barbara with US, however. She was a
great help. We settled down in modest way
and got on comfortably and smoothly enough
and if occasionally felt the want of other
panionship, l stihed the longing, and tried
to find my highest happiness in the knowledge
that my child-wife was as joyous as the day
was long, and that her innocent heart was en-
tirely mine.


"Well, one day we went together on little
jaunt in the country, carrying basket with
US, and intending to lunch in the woods.


81 was not we'll acquainted with the locali'
ty, and unluckily fixed upon spot for our
little picnic that was very much infested by
snakes Now Edith had deep.rooted horror
ofall reptiles She loathed the sight of snake
or lizard, and would scream aloud if even a
harmless little frog hoped over her foot. 1
had often chidden her for her absurd fears,
and tried to laugh her out of them, but to no
purpose. Strangely enough, it never occur
red to either of US, on this occasion, that we
were liable to the incursions of any of these
unpleasant denizens Of the woods; and we
spread our feast in grassy spot, near stream
of water, and where the shade of the trees fell
pleasantly upon US.


"We had been laughing and chatting for
some time, and enjoying, to the utmost, our
primitive style of eating, when 1 went to fill
Edith's cup at the spring, at her request. l
had scarcely gone ton yarda when I hoard the
most piercing shrek, and turning around saw
that an ugly-looking snake had suddenly
made its appearance just in front of her. and
was rapidly making its way toward her, while
she sat paralyzed with fear, unable to move.
Quick as thought, I seized a heavy branch,
and rushed to her aid but before l could
bring my weapon down upon the creature II
had already touched her, and She tainted
away. ...


II made quick work with the reptile, and
dragged its wriggling body out of sight before
l attempted to restore her to consciousness
which, by means of some cold water, was
soon able to do. When she came to, l soothed
and reasoned with her, and succeeded at last
in allaying her agitation, which at first was
very great; but all pleasure for the day was
over, and we packed up the scattered remains
of our lunch and returned to town at least q
couple of hours sooner than we had intended
when we started.


"The memory of this disagreeable adven'
ture soon passed away. At least it did from
my mind, and as Edith never made any allu
sion to it, supposed that she also had dis
carded it from her thoughts.


"Some months elapsed, and lady. friend
of ours, who at that time was the owner OF
Sleepy Hollow, invited us to spend some time
with her in the country. She was very par
tial to Edith, and always treated her like her
own child. l left my wife with her, and re-
turned to town, after taking few days holi'
day from my business; and not long after.
wards received intelligence that Edith had
become mother, that she was very Ill, and
that my presence was requested Immediately.


"Of course hastened with all possible dis
patch to answer the summons. l arrived at
our friends house to find Edith in hopeless
state, and had not been with her many hours
before she died, very calmly and peacefully
in my arms.


II was 80 shocked and overborne by this
sudden and unlocked for blow, as at first Ut
terly to forget the unhappy infant whose birth
had been followed by so sad result. Indeed
not having it shown to me, or perceivlng any
evidences of its existence, it was natural
enough that should be completely engrossed
by other thoughts. 1t was not until after all
the preparations for Edith's burial had been
completed, and had some leisure for refec
ton, that it occurred to me to make some in
quries concerning it. was told that it was
living, but in so feeble and critical condition
that it was scarcely expected to survive, and
that it had been placed in the care of an ex
cellent nurse, who would do all that was nee
essary for it. I dare say you will think me
unnatural, Rosamond, when tell you that
felt no desire to see it, but rather shrank from
doing so, as a painful ordeal which, if its life
was spared, was anxious to postpone to soma
future time and experienced a sense of re
lief when Mrs Lenox, my friend, bid ME give
myself no uneasiness concerning its welfare
but leave it for the present entirely to hel
supervision.


MEI:.L,a E,noral nuar I ratnrned To my