Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1872-07-04
ONE WHO WAS LUST,

actress private parlor at the Clarendon. She
was just home from the theatre, jiaded fioult
evenings endeavors, and just as the little bronze
| time-piece over the crate rang out twelve, rap
at the door startled lier, as she sat resting over
| the Goals. Pc ~ =. HsL
I "a lady is waiting below, Madame, said the
colored. servant, sbowing politely as he entered.
Her name? her card?' the actress held out
her hand languidly, without lifting her eyes.
| She gave none. | limited that the hour was
late for tile Madame to receive, but she did not
notice my remark, except to haughtly bid me
| carry her message to your door,
| The lady glanced with an impatient frown
down upon her toilet She had left the Opera
House immediately after the last act, without
waiting to change her dress,
'Tell the stranger said She, smiling filintly,
that this is not. my hour for receiving guests,
and my toilet is unsuitable. No. Stay it
must be a matter Of importance. You may
show her up -
The servant disappeared ford moment, and
then a door softly opened, there was scent of
violets, and rustic Of rich robes, and Hortense
| turned with quick surprise 10 meet her visitor.
~ our pardon, Madame You are astonished,
and do not wonder; but could not sleep till
| saw you. You perceive am from the opera
as you are, and she glanced from Hortense's
| toilet TO her own. M saiu a
1t was mellow voice, and sweet but full Of
tears tonight. Hortense aeit this at once, and
! profsfed siler.a ehaif- with one Of he rarcst
.znsesIt liz ~ e siilpslncEic wdisias
I they were t0fai1y tfiiiKe-these twoswo
and each in her way so lovely. wish You
could have seen them as they stood there face to
| lace-IOrtense Breyior and Jessie MoIllton.-
The latter sligb, with fair oval face, and tinld,
| blue eyes, that never looked up boldly or conf
| IDENTIFY. Her hair was like slieins of pale yellow
| ioss, and hung loosely over her dress Of bliie.-.
Torquoises fastened the dainty collar and held
back the curling hair. There was not q stlgges-
tion of color in her face, only her exquistey cut
mouth glewed blood-red, as ii Stained with the
skin of pomegranateS Her hands, Which were
snow-wlite, and slender, We're aristocratic incut
and finish, from the round wrists to the perfect
| pink nails, and the delicate wrists were clasped
about,with bands of Jet, from which the word
| souvenir flashed ont in diamonds.
| All this Hortense saw. The other, looking at
the actress, noted the proud, splendid face, with
/ the glorious, black eyes set in IL, and the purple
i masses of hair wrapping about it. A crushed
iaponica still eluig among the dark tanges, and
! the band Of emeralds that had slipped low upon
| her forehead. A black velvet cloak, heavily
| bordered with ermne, fell away from her Shout
dels, disclosing their perfect shape and COLOR
Jessie caught the gleam OF white, regular teeth,
through the crimson mouth, and dropping weari-
~ into the preferred chair, she said with sigh;
lit is no wonder-no wonder'
1 What is no wonder?' questioned the actress,
drawing an ottoman near, and seating herself.
20, that men worship you, and almost go mad
for love of you, nor that the only one among
them all who is dearto me, should have turned
from me TO yoU'yg a-s4--at5AE Esss
Il SIIortense started, and a strange look crepi
in her eyes.
Il do not comprehend. WHO has turned from
one pure, sensitive, beautiful, as | see you to be
to me, tired, iaded, blase? One who has looked
| the world in the face, even dug to its heart, and
found it, for the most, t,hollow and untrue Win
could turn from you, gentle and womanly to me
L the bold, world taught actress? Tell me!
: o, how dreary her voice sOundedl How full
of heart, how world weary locked her face, al
she turned il toward the girl for an answer.
Looking listlessly into the fire, Jessie answer
ed in a low, discouraged tone; {Yil % sF55f "
IS You must know already that mean Rus
sci Bromley 4E1ln %
Hortense shiyered, blotches of crimson cover
ed her face.
And is RIlssel Bromley anything to you? sh
+ asked, trying to crush the haute1r ont of he
!. Ivoice, as she shut her white teeth down upo
u the red lips.
E" ts'He was-eyerything; and Christmas was +
5. have been our marriage time; but nOw-l d
Of not know-it all seems changed.
n There was moments silence; then Hortens
: broke it :,
erell me, why have You come TO me tonight
/
VA we'll, let us he equals
IGodknows there Il is reason why should j
familiar with III said Jessie sullenly. 4 am lit
Nv bert Mollton's daughter, Of GransOn Place; an
came to you tonight for help. Until yo
Of came, no lover was more fond than mine; and
II. l; was contented and felt myself blessed amor
women. Now, though things go OH much Il
re same outwardly, there is no heart in it; and
have learned, my woe, that Russel is fascin
ted with you. He is either too honorable or tt
cowardly to break his promise, and | am n
strong enoughFto take the weopon in my oW
. hand and strike my happiness dead. Totur,
with Jealous pain, came to you. o, Madam,
q Madame Wil you not go away? lfyou we
not here might win him back again. Smile
you will at my lack of womanly pride. | ha
sneercd at such things, too, but it was before
3' loved Russell Brontley.'+
:, The girls voice was passionate and broke
nod ad and her eyes ran over with tears. smile I'll
-iy was almost sneer, froze about the curves
: Hortense's handsome mouth.
Il do no know, girl, that would ever erin
to ask back one jot of an affection that had be
the transferred to another And If, after ever fcl
lover had left me, he should return and lay t
IT,, mangled, splintered gift of love at my fee
would spurn ii from me contemptuously, a
despise him and his weakness o, Jessie Mo
!, ton! Arise from the dust of humiliation in VIII
you have wrapped yourself ! Walk with bC
lin eject, and be a queen among women, as God
her tended you to be-
ad- 'Ah Madame, God has made OF different 81
'ase sS YOU and /. You could do all this, for you
D. strong and proud hut o, am weak and n
\. cradle"
nted Hortense's heart was moved with tender
1--WE compassion. She looked pityinsly into the
y turned face, and said in hoarse voice, full
zzA effort and pain
~ what and If too, love Russell Bromley?
hz Tell me that you care for him, and will