My Wife's Tempter by Fitzjames O'Brien
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nothing . it contained a string of paragraphs printed in_the Biblical fashion, and_the language was Biblical in style . it seemed to_be a portion of some religious book . was_it possible that my wife was being converted to_the Romish faith ? yes, that was_it . brake was a Jesuit in disguise--I had heard of_such things-- and had stolen into_the bosom of_my family to plant there his destructive errors . there could_be no longer any doubt of it . this_was some portion of aRomish book-- some infamous Popish publication . fool that i_was not to_see it all before ! but there_was yet time . i_would forbid him the house .

I had just formed this resolution when my wife entered .I put the strange leaf in my pocket and took my hat .

" why, you_are_not going out, surely ? " cried Elsie, surprised .

" I_have a headache," I answered ." i_will take a short walk ."

Elsie looked at me with a peculiar air of distrust . her woman's instinct told her that there_was something wrong . before she_could question me, however, I had left the room and was walking rapidly on Hammond brake's track .

he heard the footsteps, and I_saw his figure, black against the sky, stop and peer back through_the dusk to_see who was following him .

" it_is I, brake," I called out ." stop; i_wish to_speak with_you ."

he stopped, and in a minute or so we were walking side by side along the road . my fingers itched at_that moment to_be on_his throat .I commenced the conversation .

" brake," I_said, "I'm a very plain sort of man, and I never say anything without good reason . what I_came after you to_tell you is, that I don't wish you to_come to my house any more, or to_speak with Elsie any farther than_the ordinary salutations go . it's no joke .I'm quite in earnest ."

brake started, and, stopping short, faced me suddenly in_the road ." what have I done ? " he asked ." you surely are too sensible a man to_be jealous, Dayton ."

"Oh," I answered scornfully, " not jealous in_the ordinary sense of_the word, a bit . but I don't think your company good company for_my wife, brake . if you_will_have it out of me, I suspect you of being a Roman catholic, and of trying to convert my wife ."

a smile shot across his face, and I_saw his sharp white teeth gleam for an instant in_the dusk .

" well, what if I_am aPapist ? " he_said, with a strange tone of triumph in_his voice ." the faith is_not criminal . besides, what proof have_you that i_was attempting to proselyte your wife ? "

" this," said I, pulling the leaf from my pocket--" this leaf from one of_those devilish Papist books you and she were reading this evening .I picked it up from_the floor . proof enough, i_think ! "

in an instant brake had snatched the leaf from my hand and torn it into atoms .

" you shall be obeyed," he_said ." i_will_not speak with Elsie as long as she_is your wife . good night . you_think I'm aPapist, then, Dayton ? you're a clever fellow ! "

and with rather asneering chuckle he marched on along the road and vanished into_the darkness .

II

the secret discovered

brake came no more . I_said nothing to Elsie about his prohibition, and_his name was never mentioned . it seemed strange to_me that she should_not speak of_his absence, and i_was very_much puzzled by her silence . her moodiness seemed to_have increased, and, what_was most remarkable, in proportion as she grew more and more reserved, the intenser were the bursts of affection which she exhibited for_me . she_would strain me to her bosom and kiss me, as_if she and I were about to_be parted forever . then for hours she_would remain sitting at her window, silently gazing, with_that terrible, wistful gaze of hers, at_the west .

i_will confess to having watched my wife at_this_time . I_could_not help it . that some mystery hung about her I_felt convinced . I_must fathom it or die . her honor I never for a moment doubted; yet there seemed to weigh continually upon me the prophecy of some awful domestic calamity . this_time the prophecy was not in vain .

about three weeks after I had forbidden brake my house, i_was strolling over my farm in_the evening apparently inspecting my agriculture, but in reality speculating on_that topic which latterly was ever present to_me .

there_was a little knoll covered with evergreen oaks at_the end of_the lawn . it_was a picturesque spot, for on one side the bank went off into a sheer precipice of about eighty feet in depth, at_the bottom of_which a pretty pool lay, that in_the summer time was fringed with white water-lilies .I had thought of building a summer- house in_this spot, and now my steps mechanically directed themselves toward the place . as I approached I heard voices .I stopped and listened eagerly .a few seconds enabled me to ascertain that Hammond brake and my wife were in_the copse talking together . she still followed him, then; and he, scoundrel that he_was, had broken his promise .a fury seemed to_fill my veins as I_made this discovery . I_felt the impulse strong upon me to rush into_the grove, and then and there strangle the villain who was poisoning my peace . but with a powerful effort I restrained myself . it_was necessary that i_should overhear what_was said .I threw myself flat on_the grass, and so glided silently into_the copse until i_was completely within earshot . this_was what I heard .

my wife was sobbing ." so soon-- so soon ? I-- Hammond, give_me a little time ! "

" I_cannot, Elsie . my chief orders me to join him . you_must prepare to accompany me ."

" no, no ! " murmured Elsie ." he loves me so ! and I love him . our child, too-- how can I rob him of_our unborn babe ? "

" another sheep for_our flock," answered brake solemnly ."Elsie, do_you forget your oath ? are_you one of us, or are_you a common hypocrite, who_will_be of us until the hour of self- sacrifice, and then fly like a coward ? Elsie, you_must leave to- night ."

"Ah ! my husband, my husband ! " sobbed the unhappy woman .

" you_have no husband, woman," cried brake harshly ."I promised Dayton not to_speak to_you as long as_you were his wife, but the vow was annulled before it was_made . your husband in god yet awaits you . you_will yet be blessed with_the true spouse ."

" I_feel as_if I were going to die," cried Elsie ." how can I ever forsake him-- he who was so good to_me ? "

" nonsense ! no weakness . he_is_not worthy of you . go home and prepare for your journey . you_know where to meet me . i_will_have everything ready, and by daybreak there shall be no trace of us left . beware of permitting your husband to suspect anything . he_is_not very shrewd at such things-- he thought i_was a Jesuit in disguise-- but we had better be careful . now go . you_have_been too long here already . bless you, sister ."

a few faint sobs, arustling of leaves, and I_knew that brake was alone .I rose, and stepped silently into_the open space in_which he stood . his back was toward me . his arms were lifted high over his head with an exultant gesture, and I could_see his profile, as it slightly turned toward me, illuminated with a smile of scornful triumph .I put my hand suddenly on_his throat from behind, and flung him on_the ground before he_could utter a cry .

" not a word," I_said, unclasping a short-bladed knife which I carried; " answer my questions, or, by heaven, i_will cut your throat from ear to ear ! "

he looked up into my face with an unflinching eye, and set his lips as_if resolved to suffer all .

" what_are you ? who_are you ? what object have_you in_the seduction of_my wife ? "

he smiled, but was silent .

"Ah ! you won't answer . we'll see ."

I pressed the knife slowly against his throat . his face contracted spasmodically, but although a thin red thread of blood sprang out along the edge of_the blade, brake remained mute . an idea suddenly seized me . this sort of death had no terrors for him . i_would try another . there_was the precipice . i_was twice as powerful as he_was, so I seized him in my arms, and in a moment transported him to_the margin of_the steep, smooth cliff, the edge of which_was garnished with_the tough stems of_the wild vine . he_seemed to_feel it_was useless to struggle with me, so allowed me passively to roll him over the edge . when he_was suspended in_the air, I_gave him a vine stem to cling to and let him go . he swung at a height of eighty feet, with face upturned and pale . he dared not look down .I seated myself on_the edge of_the cliff, and with my knife began to cut into_the thick vine a foot or two above the place of_his grasp . i_was correct in my calculation . this terror was too_much for him . as he_saw the notch in_the vine getting deeper and deeper, his determination gave way .

"I'll answer you," he gasped out, gazing at me with starting eyeballs; " what do_you ask ? "

" what_are you ? " was my question, as I ceased cutting at_the stem .

"A Mormon," was_the answer, uttered with a groan ." take me up . my hands are slipping . quick ! "

" and you_wanted my wife to_follow you to_that infernal salt lake, city, I suppose ? "

" for god's sake, release me ! I'll quit the place, never to_come back . do help me up, Dayton--I'm falling ! "

I_felt mightily inclined to let the villain drop; but it did_not suit my purpose to_be hung for murder, so I swung him back again on_the sward, where he fell panting and exhausted .

" will_you quit the place to- night ? " I_said ." you'd better . by heaven, if_you don't, I'll tell all the men in_the village, and we'll lynch you, as sure as your_name is brake ."

"I'll go--I'll go," he groaned ."I swear never to trouble you again ."

" you ought_to_be hanged, you villain . be off ! "

he slunk away through_the trees like a beaten dog; and I went home in a state bordering on despair . I_found Elsie crying . she was sitting by_the window as of old . I_knew now why she gazed so constantly at_the west . it_was her Mecca . something in my face, I suppose, told her that i_was laboring under great excitement . she rose startled as_soon_as I entered the room .

"Elsie," said I, " I_am come to_take you home ."

" home ? why, I_am at home, am I not ? what do_you_mean ? "

" no . this_is no longer your home . you_have deceived me . you_are a Mormon . I_know all . you_have become a convert to_that apostle of hell, Brigham young, and you_cannot live with me .I love you still, Elsie, dearly; but-- you_must go and live with your father ."

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