Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-05-16
ELEANOR.


LAE"N'h'
The last notes of the Sophie waltz died
on the perfumed air, and the dancers wan
dered away in groups. Two, a lady and
gentleman, passed into the conservatory,
stopping occasionally to admire the bloom
of some tropical flower. then going on un.
til they reached fountain, whose waters
fell, with q gentle murmur, into the mar
bic basin below. The subdued light shone,
like the soft rays of the moon, upon n
scene of beauty that was almost faultess.
But to the eve of the artist, there was
nothing so beautiful as the lady who stood
beside him, q perfect picture in herself.
From her lovely face, with its dark, starry
eyes, and tender mouth to the satin dress
that fell around her in graceful, glStening
folds, there was nothing wanting.
Seven wears before, Robert Willard was
poor artist, and she was Eleanor Ray
nond, the only daughter of c wealthy
merchant. He had loved her then, but
could not ask her father to bestOw his
daughters hand upOn one almost penni-
less, So, after gaining her promise to love
him and wait for him. even years he went
to Rome to win fame and fortune. Six
months ago he had returned to New York
and found her cold. proud woman of the
world, the wife of Oscar Lambert and a
leader in fashionable society. Eleanor had
waited impatiently for letter from her
lover, but the months heightened into
three wears, and she had not heard from
him. 1t was not until after her marriage,
and her fathers death, that she learned
how the latter had deceived her by keep
ing Roberts letters. hoping She would for
get her girlsh love.
Her husband loved her Just as he did
his fine house, his paintings and his statu-
airy. She was beautiful, she adorned his
house. and she was his. Her diamonds
were the envy of all her friends She had
everything wealth could procure, and
what reasonable woman could fail to be
happy under such circumstances?
Her husband had said these things to
himself sometimes, when he had realized
in a vague way that his wife was restless
and disconnected.
Since Robert Willard lad come back,
the months had passed like DAYS. She had
been happy in meeting him at receptions.
thetheatre and opera, but had never asked
herself how it would end. Not a word
concerning the past had ever been spoken
between them. and this was the last re-
ception of the season lust before Lent.
Rumor said he was going to Rome
again: that he was betrothed to lady in
Rome, and would soon return to America
with his bride.
The evening was nearly over when
Eleanor was SURPRISED to hear A we'll
known voice at her side saying:
Mrs. Lambert. do YOU hear your favor
lite waltz? Let me have my last dance in
America with YOU"
She obeved in an absent.minGed manner
and they TIidnd into fine dance fine wild
weird music seeming TO her like mourn.
fpl rromsm over dead homes How often
in HAMMER davs thew had danced TO the
same strains when she had tbongbt heaven
conld NOT bn mara beautiful tIon eortL
How hitter and skonticol sho had crown
since thon, What misery had cr0wdeI
itself into her life oltbonsb # Ind onIy
numbered twontv,fye ycers
Rnt tho woltz wos ondoJ and tLov u,ora
standinr in tbe conservatory before the
fomntoiH Tho si,onco wos heco,nino noi in y.
fnI when he nxcloimcc. ~ ''''7 '''''
uFIeonor mrst snool ot ,ost, For
rive me and listenI kltLongb ILod heard
Won woro morrisJ Tco,no Loel 70 A. Smo N
for tho soEn ot soninr Won 7 tbonnLt IL, 7
could be near Won and be onlv vonr frierd
Rnt Won arc r1bonnv and nyerv sorrow
reod in vonr face casts it's shadow mon
NV heart 7 cannot Gee Won suffer and bo
silent WIN did Won noyer writo and wbv
doI find Won m orriod to thot man so do.
void If nrincinlo and honor ond whom 7
knnw Won secratlv loatbn and Joonisn2 y
The nrond look went ont Of her toco
ber voica woe low and tender ber eves
fnll Of nnsbed tears when she renlied "
I" Robert never saw YOUR letters Nv