Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-05-16


and | went home as speedily as possible.
glad in my heart Of hearts that the wo-
man was at rest
Once seated in my Office. I b.oke the
seal of the packet, and read the following
strange STORY
have been faitbless wife; but Oh
how have been pun ished !!
Twas native of a far country
Russian. Here I was but a poverty
| stricken and unhappy exile.
Years ago was the young and happy
wife of the Duke of all the Russias
He was powerful and rich, and the
slave of my beauty
I loved him in return with all the ar
dor of a passionate soul.
| He had taken me to his heart a peas
ant girl. and had raised me from harsh,
daily toll, to proud coronet
My husband was forty years my seu-
Tor.
Yet. oh, how kind be was to mellow
fatherly
We dwelt in the couu try to the south
and the duke had winter palace at St.
Petersburg.
At court I was the cynosure of al
eyes
The more 90, perhaps. because my his
! tory was known.
From rude cabin had risen to a
palace.
But St. Petersburg gorgeous cap
i'al-tbere it was-amid splendors slmos,
like enchantments-tha blight fell upon
me.
| There. amid the crowd Of wealth and
gallantry that csme to lay it homage at
my feet, first saw the cause of Il my
woe.
There first burst upon my dazzled Wis
ion Count Ivan, glorious in ALL the
charms of opening manhood.
The peach blossom of youth was upon
his cheek, and the romance of love was
in his voice
l owned his influence in my heart, but
sbrank from it as an adder.
Yet, whenever he as near. | was con-
scIous that new beauties flushed iuto my
face, and that strange unwonted sensa-
;ion penetrated my bosom.
scarcely ever dared openly look at
him. but by furtive glances revealed to
me terrible fact.
The Count Ivan looked upon me with
languisbipg eyes.
Aaouis himself seemed no more love y to
imprisoned Vents than he did at times
to me.
But I loved my husband tenderly.
devotedIy, aud the thought, of treason to
him was madness
And l did not mediate treason.
H is passion for me s'iil continued as
ever, and was daily manifested.
Jealousy was as remote from his great
soul as from God himself, and hence
when gay noblemen. and with them the
Count Ivan, We're admiringly about me
the duke was not only pleased. but actu
ally treated the homage extended to ME
az in part rendered to himself.
| tried to shun the Count Ivan.
My soul whispered danger to NE.
But the duke was partial to the youth.
He told him. while | shuddered, that
his doors were ever open to him.
I could not warn my husband
could not tell him my fears.
Meanwhile the c unit Ivan was almost
always near me, and each day grew
more ardent and more open in his pas
sion.
I could not fail to understand him
now.
At last the crisis came
And Fate-horrible and grim Fate
wrote in its book the ful6llment of my
awful destiny
Que evening I was left alone with my
lover
We wero at St. Petersburg, and the
duke was absent somewhere, busted 18th
the affairs of his vast estate.
1t was the gay winter season, aud the
frozen snow that night was alive with
the tinklipg bells.
| was alone with Count Ivan in the
great reception chamber of the palace.
He was sitting beside me on the dlvan;
the red velvet covering of which was but
pa lie compared to the crimson flush that
was OH my cheeks.
We spoke in low whispers. We talk
ed of love.
God the delirium of delight exper.
Fenced.
| He drifsed back to the regions Of clas-
sic fable.
He spoke Of the amours of the divln j.
ties Of Mount Olympus.
All, SO glowingly, SO passionately he
spoke I listened, and hung upon biz
breath enrapsure9-entbralled.
Tue dark angels that were battling for
my soul held victory balanced in theil
hands
I was afraid. l almost wept.
/. The Count looked into my eyes AM
seemed to read my very soul.
shook like leaf.
buried my face in my hands.
Suddenly the Count clasped me in hi
arms. and, impriEting burning klss
upon my lips, drew my head upon hi
shoulder.
"Mi ue now, forever"
But suddenly, oh. horror! he ard tn
we'll known voice of the duke upon tn
stair outside.
The Count Ivan sprang to his feet
and in an instant l thrust him into
large wardrobe, and was just turning tn
key my husband entered and stood be tor
me. He was pale as the face of corpse
Grea t distorted purple veins stood GU
on his forehead, aud his lips were tw itch
ing with terrible convulsive motion.
. He knew all.
We had been betrayed. :.
He spoke no word whatever, but wen
| L IL. Ia III