The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-12-06
YROAGIILRIIIOI DEGENERATION;
ACTING A PA RT
BY PAUL eALEN.

Fate sometimes works strange myste
ries. At least so singularly do som'
ev ents intertwine themselves with eacl
other, so einexplicably do some natures
meet and influence one another, for eyi
or for good, that one is fain to believe ir
fate, and 10th to ascribe the tangled
skdh of circumstances to mere chance.
Sydney Bruce and Maude Forrest wert
remarkable couple. So all observer!
said, and there were many observers, ,aut
shrewd ones, too, at the time Mr.. Bruce
and Miss Forrest made their advent
The season was particularly gay There
was most dazzling array of beautiful
bellies, enveloped in all the parapherna
liza which the ingenuity of fashion could
suggest, attended by elegant young men
and set off, by the rich backgroundsoi
superb matrons and stately fathers
There was music, dancing, riding, boat
ing, bathing and all the ct ceteras. "a
Sydney Bruce was one of the highes'
types of the elegant young Americans
Of the day. Rather tall. well proper
toned, with an intelligent face, black
curly mustache and dark eyes, ,wavy hair
brushed back from an intellectual brow
and with dignified and graceful CARR
age, he only wanted money and the ne.
cessary amount of suavity to make him
one of the lions. And such he was, fol
he lacked none Of the requisites.
But an acute physiognomist would
have seen look about the eyes sngges-
tive of possibility of something that
did not appear on the surface-a latent
power Of evil that needed but to be
aroused to make itself felt What was
there in Sydney Bruce's disposition that
caused this vague look of threatening
danger Surely, nothing that had yet
been called out, for his friends were
many, and none knew evil d him. His
money, his talent, and his agreeable
manners attracted all towards him.
He met Maude Forrest when he had
been at Newport three days. He thought
first that she was beauty incafnate, then
that sac was the very embodiment Of
pride. She was tall, fair faced blonde,
with great masses of wavy yellow hair
that enveloped her classic head like a
spray of gold. Her eyes were large. Of
a deep blue, her mouth was perfect in
form, and as mobile in its expressiveness
as poets heart Her chin and nose
might have been cut with Angeles
chisel, and her skin was like alabaster,
mixed with the most delicate tints of the
seasaell. In form she was simply mag
nifcent, and her carriage might have
been that of a queen in its stateliness.- -
But one could see at glance that she
possessed indomitable pride, and a
thoughtful observer could easily imagine
that, although her soul was capable OF
the most tender emotions, she was capa-
BILE of crushing all with her pride, and
sitting the most yearning promptings OF
her heart, should occasion demand it.
It is not to be wondered that Sydney
Bruce and Maude Forrest, having once
met, should be attracted toward each
other But ,phy should they have been
thrown together? Why should those
two intense and highly individualized
natures have met and wrought the chain
of events that it is my purpose now to
relate2 l puzzle my brain in vain for
an answer, and repeat that fate some
times works strange mysteries.
MIR. Bruce and Miss Forrest were
promenading the long piazza one even
ing. Said me-,
aDoes this buzz and whirl of fashion,
with which we are surrounded and with
which we mingle, please you, Miss For
rest p 5 ais4 S.
at pleases me very much. l take a
great deal of delight in it."
This reply was rather battling to
Bruce, who had intended to elicit a very
different reply from his companion. But
he perseyered: s.
40, there is, undoubtedly a certain
kind Of pleasure about it, but do you
find it satisfying 7"
"Satisfying2 Yes. The excitement
is what crave" i'is5
aAh! but is it not a false excitement
that arouses the mind ane nerves it into
an unnatural play !"
mo, sir; / do not think So. If ! did,
/ should not be here. It is a life that |
loye-for little while. Of course,I get
enough Of it in a few weeks, and then /
am ready to settle down in my home
again"
Bruce did not reply at the instant.
"You need not try she continued, sto
draw forth any mock sentimentality
from me. You may think ne giddy
headed, if you please, but l am not 60
ing to deny that i thoroughly enjoy the
fashionable folies of this life here"
sYou call it folly,and yet you say that
you enjoy it."
II say SO, and say it boldly" she said,
"And so do you."
ssDo II. Ai3 s's.
aCertainly. Have you found no
pleasure since you have been here-met
with nothing that was really attractive to
youp'
30, indeed I have!' he replied, quick
IL, looking into her face with ar. .unmis-
taxable meaning.
She drew herself up and blushed
slightly.
II was not soliciting compliment,
Mr.. Bruce" she said, with dignity. ~,
II beg that you will not imagine that
I su speeted you of such thing And
she looked up to see if. he was sincere
There was no mistaking his sincerity, as
he added, gravely:
ssIt was not mere compliment. l
meant what ] said" 6sss9s .af
For once Maude Forrest'was at loss
for something to say, and her,dignity
for the time being was unavailable. She
was silent for some moments. AT last
she said:
.Les us 60 into the parlor, Mr.. Bruce,
and join the others" In with the gay
throng they mingled, and, beng togeth-
,er more or less, attracted universal at
tention and whispered eomments.
aWhat grand couples" was frequent
ly heard on all sides.
FIR the next few hours the ttgrand