Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-03-01
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HA PIT Err IL.


hers. Her home was a stately and beautiful
one; every wish she formed was quickly in
dulged, and her husband was as fond and de-
vsted as her lover had been 1t was long, long,
before Katy would own that she missed the
small brown farmhouse under the naples,
even in her dreams.
For a year the sunshine lasted-the shad-
ow came. No children were given to make
the bond stronger between them, and by de-
grees dreadful fear crept over the young
wfe's heart. Could it be that Alfred loved her
less than when he had wooed her from her
humble home? He was less with her He was
scrupulously polite In public, but silent and
careless in his manner in private. He yawned
too, s5ores of times when she was singing, and
excdsed himself from tete-a-tete at the fire.
slde by q plea of /" business" each evening
She knew it was false one; knew he had no
business to occupy his time-and she grew pale
and ill with jealousy-of what or whom she
could not say.
As she sat one evening in her lonely boudoir
playing snatches Of song in the faint glow of
the freight, some one tapped lightly at the
door.
ENTER" said she, listlessly, for she knew it
was not her husbands knock; and Augusta,
her sister-in-law, came up and put her arm
around her waist.
.Alone, and sad, think" she said gently.
You are right"
And what can make you sad?"
Katy did not answer for a moment. Then
she looked up in her sisters face.
Will you be angry if 1 ask you ques-
tion2'
= am never angry with you. Ask what you
like"
why have you never married, Augusta"
The lady's cheek flushed deeply.
Some people would perhaps say because 1
cannot. You know to the contrary, however.
There is another reason, butI would rather not
tell ito you
II heard you give it last night, Augusta, to
your cousin Margaret"
Where were you?n
"Sleeping on the divan in the library. Your
voices awoke me-that was the first thing that
/ heard, and the last you said"
"Good heavens, katy-I did not mean"
" L know you would not have said it if you
had known / was there. think / shall never
forget the words-that you had avoided mar
riage because you had believed a man always
tired of his wife-that when your brother mar
ried you hoped to see in this case at least the
exception to the rule-but-but-" Katy's
voice faltered sadly-"since he has known La
Isabella you feared ho was like all his kind
false, fckle, and dishonorable. Therefore you
would remain single forever"
Augusta looked and felt deeply distressed.
She could not rstraet her words, or tell the
young wife that her information was incorrect
"Have you seen Alfred sincs?" she asked at
last.
"No. o, Augusta, I have not spoken to him
for three days. He has scarcely been in the
house for that time-he who was always by NV
side. 1t will kill mel shall die"
No, and Augusta bent down and kissed
her tears away; ''you shall live, Katy, to win
him back again. 1 am sure he loves you, after
all. He admires this woman it is true-he
may think, even, that he has passion for her,
but de not believe he is guilty, except in
thought, as yet. He is my brOther-he is your
husband-l did wrong to say what did last
might've will take him away between US, and
all will be well again. Dry those tears, my
mountain maid"
- not that name." cried Katy. "You
called me SO the first time we ever met. 1
can't bear it now. Tell me of La Isabella
abe plays to-night?'
"Take me to see her,
Augusta Aesitated.
do you know, Katy, that Alfred will be
there ?"
=" L am sure of it. Perhaps that is why 1 SO
much wish to go. Only let me see him near
hsh when he thinks am quiet and ignorant
athome, and / can tell what destiny is before
nSeS We can disguise ourselves-we will go
ihto our box-we can sit in the pit,-O, pray
don't refuse me-"
saCome then"
They went to Augusta's dressing room, and
saInmoning the maid, borrowed from the SER
want, through her agency, two dresses, cloaks
md hoods, that formed a perfect disguise
Leaving her to watch for their return. they
stole out side door, Just as the seven o'clock
bells were ringing, and hurrying down Broad
way, mingled with the crowd Of people who
were passing into the theater to hear the mag
ni6ceDt Isabella sing.
Katy, gazing eagerly about the house, and
ouiy for one face, soon discovered IL. Her hus-
band sat alone in the stage box; his head
loaned on his hand; he triled with a crown Of
roses lying on a cushion before him. He
looked pale, and the poor wife thought, also,
I'D. Was he by chance thinking of her. and
the rose she gave him at the garden gate, not
many months ago?
The curtain rose; he leaned eagerly forward;
the whole house rang with applause; and Katy
saw u fair haired, biue-eyed woman, tall and
majestic, with the disdem Of an empress on her
brow, and her court around her. That was La
Isabella, the woman who had won her hus-
bands heart. She felt sure of it, as she
watched him while scene after scene passed on.
She noticed also that the beautiful singer
glanced once or twice in his direction after her
most successful ronlades
At last the opera was over-the curtain fell
land La Isabella was called before 1t by the
plaudits Of the house, courtesied gracefully,
While shower Of wreaths and bouquets fell
from the boxes at her feet, and were gathered
up by her escort. A modest crown Of blush roses
nuttered down among the last; she stopped for
Il herself, and catching glance towards the
efver, went Of the stage with It in her hand.
Katy elung to Augusta, and her heart seemed
dying within her.
Hush" said her sister, for her sobs almost
choked her, do not give up yet. See-he has
lsft his box--now is the time to see him. We
win get near the private entrance; know
that wsy--we cannot miss him.
They forced their way hurriedly through the
noisy, rstreating crowd, and bribing a box
keeper to let them pass, hurried along to the
end of the gallery near the stage. A door sud-
denly opened, and the dim light showed them
the figure Of Alfred, with a lady leaning on his
arm. Augusta shrunk back into the shade,
and kept Katy from stirring.
e "We will not 20 down till the crowd have
dispersed" )" thew heard him say, 'sthough many
q them are waiting at the private entrance to
bee you 20, little thinking my Isabella, that I
nm bearing the pearl away. How can I thank
you Sufficiently for honoring my poor gift 80
greatly tonight"
! 4 The prima donna sighed.
- What grieves you, my beautiful"
= 90" she said, with slightly foreign accent,
O. was thinking how wrong all this isl was