The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-08-16

lne illtly eyes DcnJ upon leT. DlilllOItlS
scintillated and cleaned from her white
throat and arms. and were twined in the
braids of her dark hair. She did not
effect severe simplicity she priced her
rare jewels, not for their Intrinsic value,
but because they enhanced her beauty !;
true to womanly instinct, she wished to
appear fair in the eyes of all. The OPP
era was only half over, when note
was handed Linley It was from a friend
who had just returned from abroad, stat
ing that this would be his only night in
the city, as unavoidable business called
Kim North, and requesting Linley to come
around 10 his hotel, where they might
indulge in quiet tcte-a-tete.
''Do not remain on my account said
Beatrice, 81 think can rely upon Mr..
and Mrs. Dalc's kindness, to see me safe
ly at home"
The above mentioned personagcs eX-
pressed the pleasure they would derive
from becoming Mr.. Rutherford's substi-
tute.
With smile and bow Linley walked
of.
Why was there such transformation
in Beatrice, after her husbands depar-
ture! Was her quick. low drawn sigh
one of relief! She had sat mmovcd
during the most pathetic, soul-thrilling
passages of the opera, but now emotions
held under control while Lnley was pres
ent, were allowed full play it was as if
she had cast from her both past and fu-
ture, and existed in in an ideal world.
Her eyes grew luminous her lips parted
in half smile, and the color came into
her check in soft, pink waves.
The opera was concluded. Beatrice
slowly arose, and drew her white cloak
around her. She was again the cold,
self possessed Mrs. Rutherford. When
beatrice reached home Linley had not
yet returned, and she passed into the
drawing-room to await his arrival
A half hour later Lnlcy stood in the
open doorway. Beatrice was standing
before the glowing fire, totally oblivious
of lis presence The color and light had
died out OF her face her arms dropped
wearily by her side; she looked desper-
ate, despairing, hopeless, as if she had
played for large stake and lost.
Could that pale, grief stricken woman
be his wife, the envied Beatrice Ruther-
ford, whom he had sought to shield
from the breath of sorrow. A sudden
revelation was made to Linley; II gulf
opened at his feet Should he look into
the abyss, or stand with closed eyes upon
the brink lie was y brave man, and
dld not shrink from the inevitable; he
walked to his wife's side.
"Bcatricc :"
She started at the sound of his voice.
and turned her white face toward him,
intuiively d!yninS that the crisis had
come
"Bcatricc, you have never loved me"
Llnlcy's time was 50 suppressed that the
words were scarcely above whisper,
but it sounded strangely loud to the ear
upon which it fell.
She raised her eyes to his there was
no prcvaricaion or evasion.
"You are right" wa. all she said
Although Linley had ncrved himself to
hear the worst. he clenrhed his hands and
bit his lip at the confirmation of his worst
fears.
And yet you became my wife"
The reproach and grief OF heart
which had been deeply wronged rang
through the words
Hear me. Oh, hear me :" she cried.
but Liney interrupted her.
"When you gave me your promise did
you love another ,"
1t lay in her power to afford him, at
least, one glcam Of comfort,
"No. Oh, no, never' she exclaim-
ed.
II have loved you truly and trusted
you entirely" he went on in bitter pit
Hess tone. II would have scorred to
question love which | felt was implied
when you stood beside me at the altar
You have playod your part well, l have
blindly accepted counterfeit for genuine
coin Beatrice, perhaps your nature can
not fathom the depth of the wrong you
have done me. would rather have
died in the belief that your heart was
mine than to live on in the knowlcdg.
that we are hopelessly estranged!"
"Forgivc me! said Beatrice tremulous-
ly. 81 view thing in very different
light now / see how false | have been
tc myself and to you, 1t was selfshness
that prompted me TO offer you the SEM
blance of affection, thereby endeavoring
to fill tho void in my life. | was weary
of an empty, soulless existence. You
were my ideal Of nobility and truth. |
sincerely respected you, aud looked to you
to save me from the worldly whirlpool
into which | felt must soon be engulled.
knew of your lofty aims and charitable
designs to benefit mankind l felt that it
would be a great privilege TO be hv your
s,Ic and to work Wlth you. Altcr our
marriage the truth was forced upon my
mind that was untitled TO take part in
your efforts and purposes Only love
could raise me to your level and that
love was wanting. | could not sympa-
thize with and encourage you. To find
that | could not be YOUR soul companion
was bitter. In gayety l again sought re-
lief from thought. have been deeply in
the wrong-forgive me 7"
81 forgive you, Beatrice" ard Iinley