The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-05-26

I
did she for moment suppose
"What?D
1t was a siren voice that startled
them both; and then Laura st. John
herself radient in daintiest blue vel
vet and minover costume, came laugh
ing in, so sweet, so arch:
"My dear Mrs. Vivian, | am Sc
delighted to-why-p
For Ethel had arisen, cold and
still, with no welcome on her white
face, and only reproachful sorrow in
her eyes.
"Miss st. John has no reason to be
delighted to see the woman whose
life she has blasted-whose husband
she has tempted"
Ethel spoke very deliberately,
looked Laura full in the face; then
she turned to her husband, in whose
eyes there shone a red CLEAN that
porteuded wrath.
Perhaps you viii assure your
friend she is in the way just now, "
she said. II have only quarter OF
an hour to attend to our business. "
And then Ethel consulted her
watch with an air Of quiet; but, oh,
how, under that cold exterior, were
her pulses leaping, bounding!
Laura stood motionless, with an
ungloved hand resting on the libra
ry table, her scarlet lips quivering as
if her heart was broken-her big, re-
.plendent eyes slowly filling With
tears, as she looked first at Ethel
then at Mr.. Vivian, as if to humbly
beseech them to tell her what it all
meant. She was very beautiful at
that moment, and she thought Ed
ward Vivian appreciated it to the
full; she knew it when be turned to-
wards her.
Il am sure you will pardon us,
dear Miss st. John," be said. "At
this moment Mrs Vivian is psrticu-
larly engaged"
Laura shot hiln 4 glance from her
liquid eyes.
But | must come again and find
out what she meansl / must know
why | am thus accused :"
But her mission was accomplished: :
and, with thrill of qualification at
her heart, she bowed to Ethel, and
gracefully departed. And Ethel
Vivian, with icy-gleaming eyes, COM
pressed lips and unfaltering hand,
now signed her name in full under
her husbands.
And SO it was done--or undone.
=
Two years-twice twelve month
and Laura st. John was standing
before her dressing table, earnestly
peering at the splendid reflection she
made, with her personal beauty
heightened by the chastely-rare bri-
dal attire she wore, that was fault
less from the floating tulle veil, fas-
tened by an orange blossom spray
and a glitterings diamond elgrette, to
the tiny, white silken slipper, with
its rosetts scintilating with small
jewels She was beautiful she was
triumphant, for she was successful !;
and this, her wedding-day, would
GRO nn her success.
She managed well according to
the chart she had drawn for herself,
from the hour she first saw and loved
Etbel's husband, she had marched
straight en-, regardless of cost, regard
less of anything but the ultimate re-
suit.
Here it was close at hand not half
an hour from accomplishment.
Down in the saloon Laura heard
low, musical laughter at intervals; /;
in the several dressing-rooms oppo-
site she heard the wedding guests
preparing to descend to the festivi-
ties, and she smiled at her own eyes
in the glass, that at last she would
marry Ethel's husband.
And Ethel?
She had dropped suddenly from
the social armament. Like a meteor
that comes flashing in dazzling light
across the sky, and then plunges in
to black deeps of obscurity, 50 had
Ethel dszzled, delighted and disap-
pointed the people. Now, after two
years, she was to them as if she had
never been.
To Edward Vivian, if memories Of
her haunting eyes and quivering
lips ever came, he never gave q sign,
but deliberately wooed and won Lau-
ra st. John.
Laura st. John herself? In the de-
sert silence of her chamber, as she
stood drawing on her gloves-for,
with pretty wilfulness that was ir-
resistsble, she had driven her maids
from her--a graceful, ebon-robed
woman suddenly, silently, swiftly
glided across the glaring carpet, and
confronted her, with upraised veil,
and cold, clear eyes.
at is even /, Miss st. John. Sure
ly You will not despise my cSngratu-
lations p
Ethefs sweet, low voice it was,
and Laura after one slight start of
great surprise, bowed constrainedly,
and waited.
IL will not detain you more than
moment, as Mr.. Vivian, doubtless
is impatient for the moment when he
may call you his wife. Under the
peculiar circumstances, Miss st. John,
and to assure you that bear you no
malice, may ! present you with this?''
She quietly reached out small
rosewood box, that was mounted
with silver.
The KEY is in the lock, you see,
Mss st. John. Have | the pleasure
to know yoa accept it z"
Ethel set the box on the maable
bureau top and awaited an answer
Laurs's cheeks were flushing
slightly: her hands trembled as she
esssyed to button her glove, and
busy thoughts were speeding through
her brain.
What did il mean this sudden ap-
pearance Of Ethel? Did it augur i'll
or peace, as Ethel declared 7 Dared
this stately, calm woman in black
attack her there alone, and wresk q