The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-09-16
@tsfellanp.
A MASKED BALL.


nat six hours, until it Was indelibly impresse,
Snon her mind-realized ~ the one misery ant
aystery of her lie. Sae sat in her boudoir be
fore TIE huge mirror, in which she had sur
yeyeo herself but Few hours previously -sur
veyed only to admire herself as the prettiest
isppiest wife lu Paris. Now. how changed wa
che image reflected; q pale, care worn, misera
ble woman, whose wretched smile was q saG
nockery to the elegance and gayety of her ball
costume, put On but few hours ago with 90
much hope aud plessure-taken off now to be
trampled under foot the curse Of her life.
What she had intended for the success of her
lite had been miserable failure, bringing dis.
grace upon herself and child, enshrouding her
life in . mystery, and driving her husband, per.
haps, to desperation; and wherefore was all
this? The tiny slip of paper in her hand was
the only solution 10 what had befallen her. It.
vas written in the dearly beloved hand of her
husband, but the words must have been dictated
BY a fiend. They were simply:
"To realize my Oh ION, l tore myself away
for three DAYS iron you aud our child When
returned unsuccessful in my mission, instead
Of finding wife ready to console. [ found the
woman to whom had given my name disgrace
Ing it by accepting the escort of lover to a
masked ball. Thitber followed her, and found
her reveling in pleasure, dancing, and COO nett.
ing. Ny faith WAS great; intense was my love;
both have flown. 1 follow their. example l
leave you my child, but you will never see me
more. COMMENT DEsCOURs."
After perusing the cruel lines for at least the
hundredth time, Nine. Dsscours threw herself
1pon the Aoor in agonizsd grief, which con.
dnued some moments. Then she reflected as to
what to 90. True, she had gone to the ball in
the absence and wthou. the knowledge of her
husband, but it was to serve him, and on her re.
turn she INTENDED TO tell him all; now she
would bury her secret in her heart letting her
husband misiudge her to the end of his life, she
cared not He would, she knew, reap the bene.
1T of her visit to the IN 'ked ball She would
know him happy and pro, ,srous, and if he hated
her she would love him. After composing her.
self as best she could, Nine. Desceurs changed
her DRESS prepared herself for her breakfast, an.
aounoed to her household the departure of her
husband, attended to her child, AN interesting
boy of three years,-and then sat down to think
TO form her future, and to nerve herself to
lace it. At first her thoughts wandered to her
happy marriage four years ago,-to the love that
mao prompted ito the happiness that had tol,
lowed it,-happiness, she thought, would con.
ttnue forever. The thought that it had all sud.
denly ended caused her such shock that fer
some moments she feared her reason would de.
sert her, but the sweet voice OF her little boy,
10 like his father, brought her to herself again,
and from that moment she never allowed her
mind to dwell ON herself. She forgot she had
been once a dearly-beloved wife, and she also
strove to forget that she was deserted wife.
She only remembered that she was mother,
and to her alone could her little Ernest look for
guidance. After considerable deliberation she
concluded to alter nothing in her life except its
.gayety. She remained in Paris in her home, but
Ale secluded herself from all society, thereby
avoiding the numerous questions she would be
compelled TO answer and the pity her ans wers
would elicit, for she would, when questioned.
speak the truth. Why should she, by conceal
ment bear the blame due to her husband ?
Alone she might have done that, but i. was due
to her little one that she should stand blame.
less before the world. Poor little Ernest missed
his father greatly; he would search tho entire
house for him, and insisted on believing that
''Papa was hiding from Ernest"
Louise made 10 comment but let the baby's
mind draw its own conclusions, and she was
right. In time Ernost ceased to ask for his
father, but he would frequently sigh and say to
himself Papa hides long time; Ernest was
be a man before he finds papa
Two years went quietly oy, Louise never
hearing of or from her husband. lie miyh. be
dead tor eught she knew. II living he was still
hsr husband, and time might lead him back to
her not that che would ever again love him IA
she had, bat she would forgive him for his
shild's sake. Being of lively disposition, two
years seclusion was sufficient for Louise. In
that time she had stifed her love, regaiued her
happiness, and longed for society of some sort.
She would blush with shame at the thought of
her husbands desertOn, aud could not conten,.
= plate return TO the circle from which she had
been married, yet to continue her present life
was impossible. Luckily she thought of cous.
in who lived a little beyond Paris, surrounded
BY friends, pleasure, and happiness. She wrote
TO her, asking permission to visit her for a time
In reply to her request came the following letter
DEAREST LOUISE: Time and patience has
1esurrected you from gay Paris You weary
q 1t, and wish to fly to me. weary withou,
yoo' and Will gladly welcome you. 1 have no,
seen you since your marriage, nor have I eve,
seen your husband You have not seen me
since l became widow, nor will you uules.
you hasten, for l contemplate change from
weeds to orange blossoms The change i.
prompted BY love, an impossibility in Paris. bul
not here. Ny only cause of delay IL that I am
not sure who love of two-a duke and his sec
rotary. You will assist me to decide, and am
sure shall be as happy wife as you are
expect ysu ct once. MIRELLE RAMBEII,E."
VI course good cry followed the perusal O
TINS ietter' out 50 did speedy packing and de
pefture' much to the delight Of Nine Rambelle
SA e"'e''aiHeu VroaC anectlOn tol
Louise, who was several years her junior.
"Good gracious. Louise, you look old and fad
"a was the greeting Of Mm Rambelle.
Il shall! recuperate in yonr lively society,
@ourniuliy answered Louise, shrinking iron
the task before her Of explaining to her cous,,
al that had happened.
"Where is your husband?,
In an instant, Nine. Rlmbelle OWNED tber.
was some trouble between louise and nor hns
band, and with the goodhonrtednes. wbicb mad,
her liked by all who knew her, she refrainef
from questioning, gave Louise double nmo,,n,
of caresslng, petted Ernn.A ..na 4, -. -o,,"