"look louis, what a nice packet has come by express, i wonder what it can be. oh, open it now dear louis," she added, laying her hand coaxingly upon his shoulder, as he was about to pocket the wonderful packet. "i am dying with curiosity, to see what it contains."
"it is only a business affair, nothing to interest you, little curiosity," he answered playfully.
but she was not so easily satisfied, for the start of recognition as he glanced at the writing, had not escaped his wife's quick eyes.
"but i do so want to know what is in it, i felt something hard like a little box, and it is such pretty writing," she said.
"perhaps the drugs i wrote for," he returned carelessly.
"drugs from a lady, louis," she said archly.
"oh i forgot, no it can't be the drugs, but it will keep," he replied, thrusting it into his pocket. "i must teach you not to be so curious natalie.
then laughing, she endeavored to withdraw it from his pocket, but he took the little hand in an iron grasp, saying "don't be silly natalie."
"oh louis, you hurt me," she pouted.
"i didn't intend to do so," he returned, loosening his hold, but there was a stern, determined look in his face as he did so, which prevented her making any further attempts to satisfy her curiosity, and the large tears welled up into her eyes as he hastily left the room.
that night, after natalie had retired to rest, louis stood leaning against the chimney-piece, gazing thoughtfully into the fire. upon the table lay the packet, he knew well enough the moment he saw it what it contained, the letters and presents that isabel had received from himself. yes there they were, and he would not for worlds have natalie see them. there they were, the letters, the trinkets, but he had expected something more--an angry note, upbraiding him for his mean conduct and requesting the return of her letters. over this he would have rejoiced, but no, here were the letters and trinkets without note or comment, just enclosed in a blank cover, and this cool contempt annoyed him more than the bitterest expressions of angry reproach would have done. she had returned all that he had ever given her, well, what else had he expected, did he think she would have kept them? no, of course not, but then he had not thought about it, he knew now that his revenge had had a very different effect to what he had intended, she would cast off all further regard for him, perhaps she hated him, while he, trusting to her sweet disposition and deep affection for himself, had expected that she, unable to overcome her wondrous love, would pine and grieve over her great, her irreparable loss. ah louis, if this was your object you did not manage the affair skilfully. you also forgot that by marrying another, you were taking perhaps, the only step that could effectually prevent the object you had in view, (for this, together with the offensive manner in which it was done, supplied her with a motive which aided essentially to enable her to carry out her determination to stifle all feelings of love towards him, in fact to forget him.) he now saw the folly of the course he had adopted, she would soon forget him altogether, perhaps find another more patient and gentle, who could make her happier than he would have done, such thoughts as these were madness--perhaps she might marry another, no, he clinched his fist and vowed she should not. how had his so called revenge recoiled upon himself, he had not been aware how madly he loved her, until she was lost to him forever, and he almost cursed the filthy lucre that had lured him on until it had been his ruin. for what had he gained--he new what he had lost, the only woman that he had ever loved or could love, but what had he gained, not the satisfaction which he had expected, only a few thousand dollars and a pretty childish little wife of whom he already tired.
with an angry exclamation he threw the whole packet into the fire, and then leaning his face upon his hand, before an open book, sat still and pale through the long long night, until in the gray dawn, a soft little hand upon his shoulder, and a warm kiss upon his cheek, aroused him from his reverie.
