Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-07-27
The Beautiful Wi|dow.
THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
CHAPTER I.

SHE sat before q mirror in her pr
vate apartment at the Reef House
the Widow Versly. She was gain
| at her own reflection in the glass
while the maids dcft fingers BRAIDED
and coied the immense bands o
purplish hair with which she wa
wont to encircle her superb head.
A magnificent woman, in spite Q
her eight-and-thirty years. Her fig
ure was full, supple and exquisitel..
moulded. The sleepy, almond-sha
ped eyes with their starry outlook
and the lusciously red cheeks, rount
and tempting as some velvet-coate1 &c
peach ripened on a, southern wall
were enough of themselves to hav'
brought an Antony to the feet of thi
Cleopatra for every day in the year
Add to these lips pulped with juicy
crimson, and the peculiar languor ane
richness of the olive complexion, anc
you have a creature Of such enchant
Ing loveliness as all the Helens anc
Aspasias and Margueritas of the pas
might we'll have been envious OF.
She smiled on the dazzling image
reflected in the mirror-a proud
pleased smile that had a little spice
of triumph in it.
al preserve my good looks won.
derfull1 well, she said, at last, ad'
dressing her maid.
Madam is charming exclaimed
Babette.
She drew a long breath. A shad-
ow. came to those languishing eyes
Some sudden thought knitted the low
| white brow.
"Bahl" she cried, sharply. j
am handsome, but what is beauty il
it cannot win the regards Of those we
love? am fabulously rich; bls
some hearts are neither to be bought
nor sold. S'death What am [. to
do? Vendale is killing me with his
GOODNESS. He is driving ue desper-
ate !"
She angrily stamped her foot,
clenching those soft, white hands
whose perfectness had almost grown
into a proverb among those. OF her
own set. Babette, the French wait
ing-maid standing behind her mis-
tress' chair, only opened her green
ish-gray eyes a triAc> wider than
usual.
THAT man." shemuttered. He
has infatuated you, madam. ! can t
understand it.
/ Mrs. Versly laughed harshly.
Don't try, Babette. She heaved a
long sigh. 81 never Believed in the
mad passion until l met .Nendale,
she added, quickly. But I. believe
in it now, Babette. | shall never
again be doubter.
He is ten good years younger
tuan youTSeli, Nuaeaui.
Ieste /! What care | for that
What would Vendale care if lie real
ly loved me? Do | look my age!
Bah Show me woman who can
compare with me Tor LOOKS; loh
can't? Then hold your peace, Bah
cite. Ten years. indeed Bah'
Babettc fastened the last sliken
band Of han with a silver srrow, ane'
Mrs. Veisiy 5 t@:Iet was complete
1t Is rer.E late. inada!a she S.9a'
anxious to c:4aaas Tie esTea; oi heT
mistress thoughts
II a'g CONG b9;o~ presently.
lying tie eject oi diamonds, emer-
aids and topazes against the wine
hued silk she wore. Il must look
my best tonight" she thought, flush
ing hotly. :" No more dallylng, nc
more uncertainty. He shall be brought
to my feet.
Babette had sleft. the room. She
came back presently, her greenish'
gray eyes sparkling.
g met Madam Delorme's Ie, maid IN
the passage just now. She reports
two new arrivals.
Mrs Versly turned, languidly grace
full still, though nobody says Babette
could see her.
Who are they ?"
GA Monster .Castlemaine and his
niece Mademoiselle Castlenaine."
No matter. | don't know them.
Babette flashed her swift side
long glance.
But monsieur Vendale does, she
said:
Mrs. Versly s.arted.
Did the Delorme maid tell yor
that?"
F" Yes, madam.
A sudden fear blanched the wild
ow's perfect tace; I1nlck' banette
my ian and handkerchief l am 50
ing below.
She opened 1t, a door i.2d;ng lnto li th'
passage: The blare OF horns and tli'
silver kisses OF cymbals tralled then
! +1,,n,,c-p Io Inuno 81 u I,