Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-09-25

Due lOOhcu up lHqulIlHgIy-
"A skeleton, dear how so? p
Haven't you secrets from your hus-
band, Violet 2" he asked
She blushed deeply, and dropped her
eyes; and her voice was faint and irreso-
Lutte as she replied, ooh, no, Guy! What
makes you think so?"
Because" he answered gravely, 81
have seen a young mana stranger
every evening during the past week
and yet you have not alluded to
such visitor to me. What does it mean,
Violet"
She averted her face; it wore a very
troubled, anxious look, yet there was a
dancing, mischicvous sparkle in her blue
eyes.
''Violet," he went on, seeing that she
made no reply, 'you can't tell how this
troubles me. Can't you trust me, Vio-
let-me, your husband ? Explain it all,
| entreat you, and end my tOrturing
doubt.
She looked up, her eyes full of tears.
"You.doubt me, Guy, she said mourn
fully.
81 don't want toZdoubt you, Violet
/ would sooner die; but it is strange, to
say the least, that you should have such
visitor every evening, vet never men,
tion it to your husband. But | believe
you can make it all clear and satisfac-
tory. Do so, Violet, and let US be happy
again"
Still she said nothing.
She shook her head, saying, sadly, Il
have nothing to say"
Then he rushed from her presence
down the stairs, out into the open air,
his head'throbbing as. if il wouldEburst.
''Oh'. "fhe'moaned, sinking down on
the turf, chow shall [ endure it? My
wife, my darling wife-my..Violet 'sthat
l love'so much. Can it be true?
But no one answered him; only the
little birds chirped and cOOed amid the
green leaves, making him envy them
their happiness. He remained there
wrapped in solemn thought until the
stars came out. lie would not be rash
he wouldIbear with her-to the very last.
Perhaps she would change her mind,
and tell him the teluh. Tie was ready to
forgive and love her all the same. no
matter how deeply she might haye'erred.
He arose and went back 10 the cottage.
Violet looked a little pale. that was all.
She did not even allude To the matter.
The night passed, another'evening'came.
He dismissed his school at noon and
came home, cOncealing himself in the
shrubbery. Hours went by, and at,last,
instead of seeing.the stranger coming as
he had expected, lie saw him leaving the
house He had,been there.the entire af-
ternoon, in the cottage with his wife
His face grew 7whiteswith anger, as he
cleared the hedge with a bouLd, He
would overtake him and forceshim to an
explanation. But the stranger was too
quick for him he had crossed -the
lawn and was ont of sight in the woods
before they could possibly overtake
him.
He turned back, aggravated and dis
appointed. and made his way TO the
house His head ithrobbed, and very
strange feeling filed his heart he had
never felt SO before, or looked so either;
for the little servant. who chanced to
meet him in fheTyardsshrieked and ran
man-almost q dangerous. .one-tTuy tIil-
lard, the good-natured, quiet and and
well-disposed young Gschoolmastcr. Truly
jealousy is sS'strong-as death. 'and as
cruel as the grave.
Violet looked up quietly from the lit
tie frock she was embroidering as he en-
tered. ...t...--... ...
''You are early this evening. my dear, "
she said pleasantly.
He made her no answer. Her gentle
ness seemed to increase his wrath; she
was So artful. Sc. cunning and treacber-
ous-and he had loved her so.
''NiOlet," he said, hOarsely, throwing
I 1.,,,,ra1f ~, o1
most insane. ! cannot bear this sus-
pense any longer-I will not bearit As
your husband demand an explanation.
saw that man leaving the house a few
minutes 8go. and he has been here for
hours Violet, | want to know what if
all means :"
She bent her head lower over her
work, but made no answer.
"Yiolet, he went on, his agitation in
creasing at a fearful rate. 4 cannot
live with you if you persist in Keeping
this secret from me. My wife ] must
have no skeleton in her closet / have
borne it as long as | can-as long as |
will. | command you now to tell me
ALTO make everything clear, or hence
forth our lives are divided"
Violet was very pale, and her fingers
trembled violently, as she stitched away
at her embroidery still that little mis-
chievous sparkle lit her eye.
''Violet, will you explain p asked the
excited husbUnd.
No sir; | have no explanations 10
make"
He rose to his feet white and stern.
'Then you are no wife of mine. ]
cast you off-wash my hands of you
You can 90 back to your father and tell
him that you have blighted my life and
broken my heart"
She arose and took up her babe
81 will go, Guy, she replied very
quietly.
He stood still where she had left him,
listening to her light footsteps as she as
cended the stairs. Was he awaken
his senses-was it reality? Was she
leaving him-his. Violet-the mother.0f
his babe-the only woman he had ever
loved? He was on the point of rushing
after her and imploring her forgiveness F.;
but that singing pain came back to his
heart and held him back She was false
to him-let her go. At that instant he
heard her voice calling from the head of
the stairs:
"Guy, Guy, will you come up here,
please? / want you moment"
He went up. She met him in the
passage.
Bear with me, Guy" she said hum
bly,, Il will go directly; l haveEsomc-
thing to show you first"
She led the way to small room just
beyond the chamber, the same little
sparkle burning in her eyes. Guy fol-
lowed with fierce, impatient stride
She threw open the door, and there, sup
ported against the wall, was asportrait
of herself with babe in her arms as
large as life. Her golden hair fell back
from her smooth brow in shining ring
lets, and her azure robe sweeping off
from her shoulders in clouds of misty
lace, fell to the floor in gorgeous folds
Never was there anything SO perfect or
lovely. And the baby, a mass of white
embroidery, with round, dimpled face,
and chubby hands peeping out. Guy
stared at the beautiful creation in per-
feet amazement and then, forgetting
his jealousy. everything in his joy, he