The Hartford herald., 1875-04-28

Tdugeu tndt Tue operation cuOulQ De per-
formed under the influence of chloro-
FORM"
He paused
"But surely you didn'f-"
Hear me out" he said, and he smiled
1 thought, horribly at was accident, of
course, pure accident was dreadfully
nervous. Was that surprising? ! loved
her, and she was amazingly beautiful. 1t
was an accident, as have said, or call it,
if you will. an error of judgment, but
nothing worse than that, as You value my
friendship" As a matter of fact did
not value his friendship in the slightest
degree, but did not say so. my con-
duct, l do assure you, was strictly profess
sional. did not even kiss her; but / ex-
tracted the wrong tooth"
'That was your vengeance?" interject-
ed a ..sl.
''No. She said so; but it wasn't true
extracted, as / believed, the tooth she
had pointed out desiring me to extract it
Was it my fault that it was a perfectly
sound tooth, and front one, too2 She
said it was; but women, you know, are
not reasonable in such cases. / was a
dentist then, with a reputation to lose;
was lover then, though deceived one.
However, there was no pacifying Arabel.
la. She was persuaded that had done
it on purpose. She was most violent She
had predetermined upon a quarrel with
me, although she had not perhaps fixed
upon the precise period for its occurrence.
Well, she brought it on then. 1t was an
awful scene. How she abused mel What
language she permitted herselfl How
she screamed What Mysteries she went
intol However, the tooth was ous, there
was no mistake about that"
Here he smiled again, most malevolent-
ly, as il seemed to me-
Her treachery towards me was pun
ished, although, as have stated, by pure
accident or error Of judgment, which you
please. But Arabella vowed vengeance
against me. In that respect / am bound
to say she has been as good as her word
les no thanks to her that l am living 10
speak of these things tonight"
"Then you really believe that she let
tall the opera-glass on purposeT
81 am quite satisfied of it. She meant
my death. She knew was there. l had
noticed her before leaning out of her box,
and taking note of my position. / was
just thinking of changing it, suspecting
what might happen, when was struck
down. Arabella is woman who knows
what she is about She was always that
kind of woman. l know her. I've
good reason to-. And it's not the first time
she's planned to punish me as savagely as
she could. You did not know until to-
night perhaps thar one of my eyes was
artiicialS Mol naturally you didn't
Well, that was her doing"
What The artificial eye?'
"Den't be stupid" he said, rudely. No
doubt have been rather obtuse; but
had heard of ladies painting on glass and
doing potichomanie and other strange
things in the way Of fancy work, and for
the moment, altogether, my mind was in
rather confused state.
NO." Stericker continued, "but owe
to her the necessity for wearing an artifi-
eial eye. 1t happened at the fower-show
in the Botanical Gardens. There was a
dense crowd. 1t was in the tent where
the pelargoniums are exhibited. Not
that care about such things, but it so
happened. A lady advanced with her
parasol held in front of her. Suddenly
she seemed to thrust it at me, as a Ian
Ger might his lance. Her aim was won-
derfully true. The sight of my eye was
gone forever. 1t was quite a mercy that
the spike Of her parasol did not penetrate
to my brain. That was Arabella's doings,
of course. Part of her revengei"
"And she said nothing?'
"She said calmly, 4 beg your pardon.
1t was an accident and passed on. She
looked very handsome. She was superb.
| ly dressed. However. that she always is.
Her husband is old, but amazingly rich.
He labors to crafty her slightest whim-
so I'm told. But her only desire-the
sole passion of her life-she cannot for
get, much less forgive, the loss of her
front tooth. You see, she's reminded OF
that unhappy business every time she
looks in the glass, which she does fire.
quedtly. of course. She was always vain.
And she means, sooner or later, to be the
death of me, that's quite clear. She's
made two very good attempts; at the
Botanical Garden and, tonight, at the
opera. The third time perhaps she'll
succeed"
''But doesn't the thought horrify your
II will accept my destiny" Stericker
said. smiling. and with rather an affected
air. at would be something to fall by the
hand of such woman; that would be
my consolation; really fine creature you
know, although no longer in the bloom
Of youth; indeed, removed some distance
now from the bloom of youth, but still
grand and beautiful, and 80 resolutel Il
she had loved me as she hates meI''
"You love her still, thenr'
"Well, not precisely. But ! admire
her, just as admire the Bengal tigress ir
the Zoo. If possible, should like Ara,
bella to be Gagged like the tigress; but a,
that can't be-well. wear this stud as 6
memento of her. and for the rest, tax,
my chance Now. what will you take
Another cigar2 MOI Some more brand,
and water?'
No. l would take nothing more. had
in point of fact, already taken more thar
was absolutely necessary to me. / lef
Stericker | was much impressed by my
experience Of that night, by what haC
happened at the opera, and his extraor
dinary narrative touching the vengeanc,
of Arabella. Was it true? was reallI
not in state Of mind to determine. Ever
now l have difficulty of arriving at an,
distinct conclusion on the subject. Blu
| know that Stericker's face wore, to ny
thinking, a very remarkable expression
as l Quilted him His smile was simply
awful. And strange to say-at least,
think 80, though it may not strike 9th
ers in that light never saw Stericke