The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-02-07
pose so. Forgive me, Mary, if what
say should be painful for you to listen

pose so. Forgive me, Mary, if what
say should be painful for you to listen
to-"
"And does she love you2 Are you
sure9"
"To all appearances she does. You
know her-He1en varney''
When he spoke the name of his future
wife, she walked to him and placed aer
handupon his shoulder.
"When l shall have spoken what ]
have to say to You now, Gilbert. she
said, "you and / will enter upon our
parting. warn you against this marri-
age. know Helen Varncy better than
you can ever know her. If I had any
revenge to satisfy, that revenge would be
sufficiently insured on the day that you
should make Helen Varney your Wife"
i He looked up at her wonderingly
\ Her face-from which, truly, the beau
lty had vanished-was white with Che ag-
i ony that was beginning to overcome her.
Before he could speak to her, before he
could ask an explanation Of her strange
words, she had thrown herself upon the
sofa, and was weeping with her face hid
den from him.
These words. broken by the fearful
sots of Mary Plympton, were the last
that were to come from her lips, and to
which Gilbert Graves was to listen.
| He went forth from her presence with
"a feeling of guilt which was never
thenceforward to depart from him, to
seek the new love, while the faithful
heart that had SO longed for him was
lcrushed and bleeding with its heavy bur-
den of lifelong grief and disappoint-
Iment.
| From the home of the injured Mary,
iGilbert bent his steps toward the pres
ence of Helen Varney.
| She was possibly awaiting him, for
she sat at the parlor window, restlessly
Hooking out into the street. A handsome
woman, bold iRlook, and Of self-poise
which expressed itself in her bearing,
she received her lover as sovereign
wonld a vassal
/ He stopped and kissed her. She ac-
cepted the kiss with a stoic's indiffer.
ence-so much so, indeed, that it might
almost have seemed that Gilbert was
mistaken in supposing that she loved
him.
"Well ?" she said, firmly, when he had
seated hlmself by her side.
| 81 have seen Mary, and told her ALL"
he replied. at was cruel; but l had
ceased to love her. / feel now, more
strongly than ever, how much love
you. Helen.a
II am glad it is over. What did she
say ?"
/ 81 left her in tears. She declares that
she will never forget me-"
sPshawl" exclaimed Helen. eWas
she weak enough to cry before you? I
would like to see the man for whose
love I would shed single tear!"
Gilbert felt chill as Helen spoke
these words with a contumelious lip ;
but her nature had so conquered his that
he did not dare to protest.
"Now that this last obstacle is remoy-
ed, Helen" he said, awhen shall We be
married 2"
/ "As soon as you like, Gilbert" )"
i Before he rose 10 leave her the day of
their marriage was named; and when, in
| the course Of time, that day came around,
i they were married, with hundred in
terested witnesses looking on Some
s!rewd observers, indeed, were careful
to note that the most uninterested per-
I son present seemed to be Mrs. Gilbert
Graves, late Miss Varney.
i As the months passed, and as Gilbert
Graves began to understand Helen's true
nature. he reverted to his last converse
ton with Mary, and he often dwelt with
bitterness upon the thought that he had
rejected her devotion to,ally himself to
a woman whose actions convinced him
that she did not love. How noble, by
contrast did the character Of May then
appear
i Whatever might have been Helen's
failures in the domestic circle, in society
she was quite acceptable. The charm
which she denied at home was lavishly
bestowed when abroad. There her
handsome face was lighted up with a be-
witching smile, her laugh was the most
attractive, and her manners the most
, winning Indeed, it seemed purpose
with her to fascinate all with whom she
!. should come in contact; and so reckless,
after while, did she become in this
lpursuit, that even her dear friends in so
lciety began to question her motives
The murmurs thus raised by the world
did no., however, reach the ears of her
husband. He had not yet learned to
doubt her sense of prcprety, although
he had long ago become assured of her
indifference but that which. in pity, was
kept concealed from HIM, he was destin-
, ed to know from herself.
;. One day-it was the first anniversary
of their marriage-he vent home from
| the haunts whereto his daily duties called
him. Prebably never, as on this day
since the time when his love for Helen
was strongest, bad he SO loved her, SC
E cherished her image, so yearned to bt
r near her and to feel, if only for little
|, while, that spark of her old interest in
' him remained. He had planned for hel
a surprise. He had carefully selected
for her number of gifts, not of any
| great value, but which he thought would
please her, and would, perhaps, revive
/ some happy rccolectious, in her mind.
This Gay,too,he had set apart as day
4 sacred to the history of their lives-or
. which to speak to her more seriously
, than he had ever spoken before. Some
/ lingering remnant of the feelings which
/ lin his belief, had once actuated her to-
warl him, would induce her to listen te
l him quietly, he thought. Aud, from the
c conversation which he had proposed to
S himself. he hoped that his wayward wife
D would rise with better understanding
of her duty to himself and to him.
The dusk was falling when he finally
/. raoohod h;o bopo SO intput was hi