Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-07-01

and Colonel Hildreth came into the room
looking pale and weary. His countenance
expressed surprise and annoyance when he
saw that she still retained hefs wrappings
and when, having lighted the gas himself,
for it was by this time growing dark, he
saw how white and frig htened she looked
he set his teeth sharply, and seemed to NUT
ter something behind them. He spoke
gently. however, to Alice and when he
had himself put away her hat and shawls,
he sat down beside her and talked pleasantly
till servant came to say that dinner was
ready.
He says nothing Of that strange woman;
he does not tell me why he locked my door,
Alice said to herself, as she let him take her
hand and lead her down to the handsome
dining room glitter with light, with silver
and crystal. She locked the timid child
she was, as she sank into the seat to which
her husband conducted her, and stole furtive
chances about the room for Eleanor.
DO we dine alone ? she asked, in a low
voice.
Certainly Why not 2
IL did not know she stammered,
avoiding his eyes, which fingered on her
troubled face with half questioning, half
annoyed expression.
Strange and i'll at ease as Alicefelt, anxi-
Gus and distressed, she yet could not bring
herself to break the silence which her hus-
band maintained concerning that strange,
flashing eyed Eleanor Whether he con-
sidcred her too Insignificant person to re-
q lire an explanation, or had some weightier
reason for his silence, she could not guess.
Certainly he treated her rather more like a
child than she cared to be treated, in some
ways.
Matters indeed were on far from AMIGA
bic footing between the pair.
Alice, accustomed to petting and indul-
gence, to have her desires consulted, her
happiness studied in tt ousand charming
ways, found but chill substitute for her
fathers devotion in the stately. half-pater-
nal condescension Of her stern, and reserved
husband Colonel Hildreth, on his part,
saw but too plainly how Alice shrank from
him, and attributed that shrinking to posi-
tive dislike, when it was only the natural
awe and terror inspired by his unbending de-
meanor While he accorded her merely
the form of regard it would have been pos
sible for his nature to bestow upon child,
he resented what he supposed to be her lack
of kindly feeling as though she had been a
woman. That was not all. Alice remem-
bered Eleanor, though she saw her not,
remembered her fearfully, with sensitive
wonder that grew more and more pain as
her loving heart, in the absence of some
thing else to care for, reached forth its cling
ing teudrils to her grave and silent husband.
Perhaps, too, that strange pain to which
she could not have given name, reached
in it's turn, and taught her love. But the
dearer he grew, the more she shraDk from
him.
She was sitting one day alone in her own
apartment It was summer, and door and
windows were wide open. Suddenly a
shadow darkened the doorway, and look
ing up, she beheld with thrill of recogni-
ton, Eleanor. She was atsired richly as
before, but the dark eyes glittered now
with tears, and she regarded Alice with a
half pitiful air, that filed her with vague
terror She could not have spoken if she
would. Those sorrowful eyes chilled her to
the heart
i have something to tell you, poor child!'
the woman said, in that bell like voice which
Alice remembered so well, and she came
quite into the room, and stood, stately and
beautiful, looking down upon the young,
scared wife. lift were right that I should
keep silent, l would never speak and that
I have done SO great a wrong as not to
speak sooner, is simply because | was pre-
vented from coming to you by force"
Alice could only stare at Ter with wide
dlating eyes. She went on, after pause :
You think you are Colonel Hildreth's
wife but you are cruelty deceived. ! am
the wife of that bold, bad man, the wife he
disowns and has deserted but his still, the
only woman who has legal right to wear
his name"
At thismoment hasty sound was heard ap-
preaching. Alice knew it was he she called
her husband. Eleanor slightly pale, but
turned huughtily and selfpossessed toward
the door.
Alice watched him eagerly as he saw her,
and her heart sank as she saw his startled
look from Eleanor TO her.
He hesitated an instant ; then gravely
coming forward, with a low bow extended
his hand to the woman.
Mrs. Hildreth' said he without lifting
his, eyes permit me to conduct you below.
Our carriage waits
Eleanor turned with a strangely glitter
ing triumphant glance to Alice; then, with
profound inclination Of her beautiful,
stately head, gave her hand to Col. Hildretb,
and suffered him to lead her away, smiling
graciously.
He was back almost instantly Alice sat
pale and STILL wondering if she were awake
or dreaming
You poor Child = he said, bonding over
her anxiously. I ought to have explained
this matter before, but was afraid OF alarm
ing you. Did she tell you she was my
wife 2
Alice look up almost wildly. Is she 2
My darling, no | never had any wife
but you. You are my own true, dear wife.
Do you believe me p
ooh, yes, yes p Alice sobbed, clinging
to him. He had never said such tender
words to her before. Of course she be-
lieved him. and would not have doubted
more extraordinary story still.
You do not ask for an explanation but
you shall have it, he said. But FIRST do
you really and truly care for me, Alice p
And was imagining all the time that you
almost hated me- But about the woman.
She is my cousin, dear. Her lover died
suddenly on the eve Of marriage, and she
has been insane ever since, She imagines
that she has been married to me and
whenever she can escape from her keepers
she comes here. and asserts her claim, as