ed that I had the fullest confidence in
him, and particularly advised his employment, she consented to accept of
his services.

Their first interview was arranged to take place at my house, and in
the presence of my wife, when the notice Mrs. Dewey had received on the
institution of proceedings, was placed in the young lawyer's hands, and
some conversation had as to the basis and tenor of an answer. A second
interview took place on the day following, at which Mrs. Dewey gave a
full statement of the affair at Saratoga, and asserted her innocence in
the most solemn and impressive manner. The letter from her husband to
the lady in New York, was produced, and at the request of Mr. Orton,
given into his possession.

The answer to Mr. Dewey's application for a divorce was drawn up by Mr.
Wallingford, who entered with great earnestness into the matter. It
was filed in court within a week after notice of the application
was received. This was altogether unexpected by the husband, who, on
becoming aware of the fact, lost all decent control of himself, and
ordered his wretched wife to leave his house. This, however, she refused
to do. Then she had her father's angry opposition to brave. But she
remained firm.

"He will cover you with infamy, if you dare to persevere in this mad
opposition," he said. And she answered--

"The infamy may recoil upon his own head. I am innocent--I will not be
such a traitor to virtue as to let silence declare me guilty."

There was a pause, now, for a few weeks. The unhappy state of affairs at
the Allen House made it hardly proper for my wife to continue her visits
there, and Mrs. Dewey did not venture to call upon her. The trial of the
case would not come up for some two or three months, and both parties
were waiting, in stern resolution, for the approaching contest.

One day I received a message from Mrs. Dewey, desiring me to call
and see two of her children who were sick. On visiting them--the two
youngest--I found them seriously ill, with symptoms so like scarletina,
that I had little question in my mind as to the character of the disease
from which they were suffering. My second visit confirmed these fears.

"It is scarlet fever?" said Mrs. Dewey, looking at me calmly, as I moved
from the bed-side after a careful examination of the two little ones.

I merely answered--

"Yes."

There was no change in her countenance.

"They are both very ill."

She spoke with a slow deliberatenes