uld gladly go. I was
somewhat puzzled by her surroundings and manners, and I determined to
have a quiet talk with her as soon as possible.

"The next day, I went to Boston on very important business, and, on my
return, I found Annie plunged into all the gayety and dissipation of New
York fashionable life. She certainly presented a very elegant and
stylish appearance; yet, my heart ached as I looked at her. How much joy
it would have given me to have found her in a quiet little home waiting
anxiously for Henry's return.

"I talked with her for sometime about her affairs, and urged her to lead
a more quiet life; but she insisted that Henry approved of her present
way of living; of course, I could say nothing further.

"'Henry is not as unreasonable as you are,' she would say. 'He knew how
lonely I would be while he was gone, and, therefore, he told me not to
mope and pine, but to get into good society, and try to be cheerful and
happy.'

"Still, I had an undefined feeling that Annie was in danger, and I wrote
to Lucy about her, asking Lucy to induce her to break away from the gay
life she was leading. Soon afterward, I went to sea again, and, during
my absence, Henry was given command of one of the finest ships in the
line. Two years passed quickly away, but, as I was engaged during that
time in making short voyages to the West Indies and back, I frequently
saw Annie in New York. She seemed to grow more and more estranged from
me, however, and her conduct caused me great anxiety. I had seen some
things in her deportment, which, though not absolutely wrong, were, to
my mind, far from proper; besides, she showed a carelessness of
appearances not at all becoming a married woman.

"My next series of voyages were very long, and I was able to see Annie
only once or twice in several years. She was now thirty-two years old,
and was unusually and strikingly handsome. About this time, I returned
from a long cruise, and found Annie still teaching music in Brooklyn.
She dressed as elegantly as ever, and seemed very complacent and
contented. I invited her to take a walk with me, and we went out toward
one of the small city parks. As she swept along beside me, her features
all animation, and her eyes sparkling with health and pleasure, I
thought I had never before seen any one so beautiful. I did not wonder
that Henry was so proud of her, or that he should indulge her so much.
We strolled about in the park for a time, and then sea