e. I should have taken a degree in madness
and been raised to a professor's chair in some college of lunacy!
Herbert, at the age of forty-five I fell in love with and married a girl
of sixteen out of a log cabin! merely, forsooth, because she had a
pearly skin like the leaf of the white japonica, soft gray eyes like a
timid fawn's and a voice like a cooing turtle dove's! because those
delicate cheeks flushed and those soft eyes fell when I spoke to her,
and the cooing voice trembled when she replied! because the delicate
face brightened when I came and faded when I turned away! because--

"'She wept with delight when I gave her a smile,
And trembled with fear at my frown,' etc.;

because she adored me as a sort of god, I loved her as an angel and
married her--married her secretly, for fear of the ridicule of my
brother officers, put her in a pastoral log cabin in the woods below the
block-house and visited her there by stealth, like Numa did his nymph in
the cave. But I was watched; my hidden treasure was discovered and
coveted by a younger and prettier follow than myself. Perdition! I
cannot tell this story in detail! One night I came home very late and
quite unexpectedly and found--this man in my wife's cabin! I broke the
man's head and ribs and left him for dead. I tore the woman out of my
heart and cauterized its bleeding wounds. This man was Gabriel Le Noir!
Satan burn him forever! This woman was Marah Rocke, God forgive her! I
could have divorced the woman, but as I did not dream of ever marrying
again, I did not care to drag my shame before a public tribunal. There!
You know all! Let the subject sink forever!" said Old Hurricane, wiping
great drops of sweat from his laboring brows.

"Uncle, I have heard your story and believe you, of course. But I am
bound to tell you that without even having heard your poor wife's
defense, I believe and uphold her to be innocent! I think you have been
as grossly deceived as she has been fearfully wronged and that time and
Providence will prove this!" exclaimed Herbert, fervently.

A horrible laugh of scorn was his only answer as Old Hurricane arose,
shook himself and led the way back to the parlor.

CHAPTER XII.

MARAH'S DREAM.

And now her narrow kitchen walls
Stretched away into stately halls;
The weary wheel to a spinnet turned,
The tallow candle an astral burned;
A manly form at her side she saw,
And joy was duty and love was l