The mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1863-1943, 1865-02-25

! had thrown yourself; I vas prepared to
take you from the seduceT at any cost
! his death saved 49, tSessAS-' W -
you may not think there is a trick on my
part, here is an account of the accident, in
this paper; you will find his name in the
list Of the dead. Madame, you are the
mistress Of my house; you are to the
world, to our friends, even to my family,
all you we're before; and mind that nei,
I ther by word nor look nor deed, you be
tray the past that is a secret that rests
betW cen ourselves
You scorned and neglected me. Hen
ri, when | was faithful TO yOu-when
loved you; now do you think me so base
as not to despise--'
Madame said Henri, ALLOW me to
conclude. You have heard my fiat with
regard to outward appearances. To me
alone, of all the world, you are not wife.
You are a woman who has forfeited all
esteem and respect to me alone yon are
the mistress of Octave Seran, and as such
woman shall look upon you and treat
you. Never speak to me when there are
no witnesses; you will know nothing Of
my interests. nothing of my feelings, moth
ing Of anything that concerns me. You
have no rights; you are creature living
on nv bounty, at my mercy-a criminal
living ever with her judge. Remember
this, Madame; but remember, also, that
you have not the privilege of complaint,
nor dare to breathe to anv living ear, not
even to your cOnfessOr, one word of your
past crime or your present punishment
Henri left the room. E>telle'> first i'm
pulse was to fly the house but whittier
could she 60? Even her own relations,
when Henri should reveal the truth as
he would should she rebel would drive
her from their presence. Octave! Octave!'
cried she wildly, bursting into tears, why
did not die with you!
But there was nothing but submission.
, and. wretched and heart.brokcn, EStellc
submitted.
Henri strictly kept the conditions he
had made; in public, in his own family,
! his attentions to his wife were greater
than they ever had been; tendcrly he
cared for her, gently he spoke to her
he was growing richer; his genius was
emerging from the cloud and bringing its
reward; luxuries increased around ES-
telle her home was now one Of Splendor;
she had numerous servants around her,
and carriage at her command. iler dia'
mondS and dresses were the envy of heI
friends. Her own relations congratulated
her on her happy marriage. The world
too. told her that she should be proud o
her husband, prophesying that he would
rise to the highest honOrs. But Henr
had never changed his manner towarC
E>tclle; Indifference, silent contempt
marked his department toward her; no
for an instant did he seem to forget tha
she was 10 him nothing but Octave's mis-
treSS.
All intimacieS, too, were forbidden t
EStrllr.
Il cannot trust YOU he would say
you may fiI.d another lover Or, if
Young and virtuous wife sought E>telle'
friendship. he would command her +
avoid it: You might corrupt VirtuOu
woman. You are not fit associate f.
her
I Notwithstanding his solicitude in pub
lie, he never noticed E>telle's health o.
sickness in private, and when he himScl
was suffering, rcsulutey refused all he
care.
! So for five years they lived. Perhaps
after all, the quality which most inspire
love in the heart of woman, is strength
, The Indian Squaw loves her husband fo
I the number Of foes he kills; the woman
( Of civilization loves man for the power 0
j. his mind, his strength Of character an
will. Estellr, during the first few months
! had rcvolteh and resisted; she had deep
! ly lnourncd Octave'S death, but it seemed
impossible that she could weep for hin
beneath her husbands roof; she wa
ashamed Of the grief for her lover in hi:
presence. So, gradually, the grief faded
and rarely did the image Of, Octave in
tiude on her mind. Then came deer
feeling Of humiliation. Then a spirit O
defiance arose in her; but her husband
unlielding authority soon Subducd her
Hearing the worlds eulogiums Of him
seeing him the object Of its admiration
she grew to be proud of him; to be prouc
. of the homage she received from the worlC
aS his vile. Then came bitter repentance
for the past, deep remorse, astoniShmen
, at the folly which could have preferred
poor Octave to such a man as Henri. She
came to love him paSSionately, devot"dlv
and to feel that such love was utterly
hopeless. Yet wherefore? She wa,
beautiful, young, admired he might bt
made to forget, he might be brought tC
D., -. D.,
win back his affection, but Henri pcrceiv
Ell her intention.
Madame, said he, do not try vour
: arts on me- am not to he seduccd. anC
il, by any strange and irresistible fatality
| hal conceived passion for you, a de
graded woman and a faithleSs wife,
would die rather than yield to it. Pray
Madame, try no coquetrieS on me.
E>telle turned away, her brow burning
with shame. She was creature of deer
feeling and ardent impulse; she was deS
pFrate, and all her VOman's pride had
been deeply wounded. She fed to heI
room, with despair in her heart.
That night, hen Henri returned home
on his desk he found, as he had found
five years before, Estele's wedding ring
and the word Farewell
A deep pang shot through his heart =
had she left him againg Was she so de-
PRAYED. so corrupt? lie rushed to heI
room, threw open the door. and crossed
the threshold he had not passed for five
years. All was still ard silent; he dash
ed back the curtains of the bed there
lay EStelle. pale. beautiful. and motion
less; she did not turn as he approached
her; she did not move; he put his hand
on her heart, it did not beat-Estelle was
dead!
Then Henri knelt beside the bed. and
pressed his lips on her brow, in one long,
lingering kiss.
1t is better thus he said; she has
spared us both life Of torture, for loved