Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-12-09
Sssslfft Story.
Love and Diamonds.

Are yon going out this evening. love ?
'Of course | am a9.r 6s.s.
/ looked down complacently at my
dress of. pink Grape, dew dropped with
crystal and the trails of pink azaleas that
caught up its folds here and there A
diamond bracelet encircled one white arm
aud little cross blazoned fttingly at my
throat. never looked better, and felt
a sort of girlish pride as my eyes met the
fairy reflection in the mirror.
Come, Gerald, make haste. Why,
you havn't begun to dress yet
Where were my wifely instincts that
did not see the haggard, down look in his
feetures-she tevered light in his eyes
i can't go to hight. Madeline-i am
not well enough.
You are never well enough to obIige
NE Gerald | am tired Of being put of
with such excuses .as.
He made no answer, but dropped his
head in his hand on the table before him
oh, come. Gerald. urged petulantly
it is SO awkward for me to go alone al
ways!'
lie shook his head listlessly
L thought, perhaps. you would be will
lug TO remain at home with me, Madeline
Men are selfish : | said plain,ively
and am all dressed, Claudia took hall
an houf for my hair, dare say you will
be great deal quieter without me-that
is, II you are determined not to CO.
No answer again.
Well if you choose to be sullen. can't
help it, / said listlessly, as | turned aud
went out of the room, adjusting by boquet-
holders, the tube roses and heliotropes
seeming to distill incense at every motion
Was | heartlvss aud cruel ? had ceas-
ed to love my husband? From the bot
tom of my heart | believe that loved him
as truly and tenderly as ever. wife did
but | had been SO often spoiled aud petted
all my brief, selfish life, that the better
instincts 80 to speak. were entombed alive
| went to the party, and had my fill Of
adulation md homage, as usual The
hours seemed to glide away shod with
roses. aud winged with perfume and il
was not until wearied with dancing,
sought momentary refuge in the hall
lighted tea-room, that l heard words
Weakening me asst were, from dream
Gerald Glenn!'
| could not well be mistaken in the
name, it was not commonplace enough for
that. They were talking-two or three
business-lke looking gentlemen-in the
hall without, and could catch now and
than fugitive word or phrase.
Fine enterpising young fellow 7
Great pity 7 Totally ruined, so Bees &
McMorkin sayp Reckless extravaganza
of his wife =
All these vague fragments I heard and
then some one said. And what is he
going to do now !?
What can he? Poor fellow I am
sorry; but he should have calculated his
income better.
Or his wife should Oh, these woman;
they are at the bottom of all man
troubles =
And they laughed, Oh, how could they?
| had yet to learn how easy it is in this
world to bear other peoples troubles
| rose hurriedy up, with my heart
beating simultaneously beneath the azaleas,
and went back to the lighted saloon. Mr.
Albany Moore waiting to claim my hand
for the next dance!
Are you i'll, Mrs. Glenn !? How pale
you lookp
IL am not very WELL I wish you
would have my carriage called for. Mr.
Moore
For | now felt that home was the prop
er place for me.
Hurried by some ubaccountahle i'm
pulse. | sprang out the moment the car
rage wheels touched the curb stone, and
rushed upt to my husbands room. The
door was locked, but | could see light
shining family under the threshold
knocked wildly and persistently.
Gerald, dear Gerald ? for heavens
sake let me in ~
Something fell on the marble hearth
stone within making metallic click, and
my husband opened the door little way.
| had never seen him look so pale before,
or SO frigid. yet so determined.
Who are you :? he demanded. wildly.
Why can not you leave me- inp peace !?
1t is I, Gerald-your Madeline your
own little wife =
And | caught from bis hand the pistol
he was trying to conceal in his breast-its
,uata Low on tho ,uarhla hn.rtb eupdar tho
mantel-and flung it out of the window.
Gerald. would you have left me Z
i would have escaped he cried, still
half delirious, to all appearance, Debt
disgrace misery their reproaches!
would have escaped them all =
His head fell, like that of weary child
40 my shoulder, | drew him gently to q
sofa,- and soothed him with thousand