A Bridegroom's Deception

CFrom the Cohoee (N. Y.) EagleJ Van Eanken's Corners, Watcrvliet, comes to the front with a sensation. Sorne yenrs ago a well-dressed, prepossessing young man, who introduced himsolf as a Mr. Avery, went to that village and registered at tlie hotel. He was a handsome appearing yonng man, and never was known to utter an oath or a profane word. In short, he was deaf and dumb, a fact that did not prevent him f rom playing the agreeable or making love in the most orthodox f ashion to the reigning belles of that región. He soon established quite a reputation as a lady-killer among the fair demoiselles, and what soft things he was iinable to say with his tongue he uttered but too eloquently with his expressive eyes. Cnpid smiled upon his endeavors, and his love-making at length culminated in his leading to the altar one of the loveiiest of the Corners' fair daughters, and - what was more to the point and to our story - an heiress in her own right to a considerable amount of money. Not a response did he respond wliile the ceremony was being performed, nor did he even intímate that ho oould talk until he had taken a position on the dancing floor at the grand ball given in their honor, when he betrayed the fact that ho had been acting a lie, and could speak and hear as well as the best of theni. His new made bride was only too glad to discover an additional charm in her heart's cnosen one, and her love for him j only strengthened with the discovery. He managed in some way to explain his almost unaccountable actions, and satisfied her relatives with some plausible story of a vow binding him to silence until a given time - his marriage. The newly wedded pair soon settled down ,to the humdrum routine of practical married life, and Mr. and Mrs. Avery were the model of connubial bliss. With his wife's money the model husband bought a farm, near Morrisville, and was to a degree prosperous and thriving. Two chüdren were born unto the pair, and they were gliding down life's fitful stream a staid, steady couple, beloved of each other and respected by their neighbors. And now comes the sequel. About three weeks ago Mr. Avery was taken ill, sick unto death we might say, and his family and friends gathered around his bedside to hear his last words and see him pass over to the golden shore. He struggled hard with the grim monster death, and piteously besought the physicians to afford him relief, and save him to his family. All the aid that human means could devise was extended to him, but without effect, and he was informed that hifi end was near. Then it was that he told the story of his life. With choked utterance and tear-fllled eyes he admitted that he had deceiyed his trusting wife, his conflding friend, and had been living a falsQ and untrue life. His right name, he said, was Ziegler, and he already had a wife and three children when he was married at Van Banken's Corner under the name of Avery. He gave his first wife's address, and asked that she might be telegraphed and some atonement made to her for the neglect and suffering he had caused her. He said he was'a Major in a Connecticat regiment, had served with distinction during the late war, and had been honorably rnustered out as a Brevet-Colonel. He gave no reason why he had deserted his wife and little ones, and was prevented by wakness from explaining his freak of piaying the mute. He soon after died and was buried with all honoM. In due course of time his first wife arrived, and, establishing her identity, took evidence of lier husband's death. She didn't make much of a to-do about the matter, nor did she seem heartbroken at his demise. She was very calm about the ocourrence, and explained that she was more desirous of procuring the evidence of his death and securing a pension of $3,000 that was in some way due to him from the Government than of recalling him to life. After having attained her object she quietly doparted, leaving her successor in peaceablo possession of what of the world's goods had been accumulated from the capital advanced at her marriage with Avery.