The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-08-31
But Uncle Crawley's next letter was

your wife about the fancy masquerade
ball." said he. 'The young folks are
all wild about it. Your wife is to go
as Rowena to Major Darrock's Ivan
hoe. The costumes are to cost no end
OF money!, am told. But I suppose
if you are willing, it is not my busi-
ness to object" ... 80 .,5f 9.g',f J q,
Gilbert Amydon knit his brows and
bit his lip, as he read the words that
his Uncle Crawley had penned with
such malicious pleasure. This was
quite different affair to the tea party,
to which Drusilla Amydon had taken
exception. And for the first time in
his lifeGilbert felt i'm his heart strong,
surging tide of anger toward the beau
tiful young wife whom he had prom
ised at the altar to love and cherish
"If she is really going to this ball.
he said TO himself, 81 don't know what
the consequence will be. She knows
that Late bal maasQues, and she knows,
too, that she has no business to go
with that major fellow when 1 am
away. Drusilla was right-she is too
young for wife. 1 should have
thought twice before gave up into
her hands such unbounded power to
sting and torture me. AT all events l
won't stay here to be made fool of.
III go back home, and judge for my
self whether she is losing all her COM
mon sense and discretion
lie glanced at hls watch. i
elf start at once," he thought, 81
can be at Dcdlingten on the evening
of the ball. And I'H do it!"
What long, dreary ride that was
midnight ioltings through endless
stretches of woods and meadow lands
aud tunnels Of echoing rock-days
when sleep and waking seemed oddly
jumbled together! And the one per-
vading idoa that filled his brain was
Florence, robed in pale blue silk. with
her golden hair dressed as in all old
picture he had once seen of the beau
tiful Saxon Princess Rowena, And
all the time his heart was as heavy as
lead within him.. --......
Florence, whom he had loved and
trusted-Florence, who had grown in
to his heart as the clinging ivy makes
it's way into the crevices of the granite
rock-F'lorence, whose pure innocence
and singleness of nature he had wor-
shippcd-what would life be worth to
that him if she should prove untrue?
Not he feared any such misery-no he
knew Florence too well for that
but a plum with the bloom brushed off
was no plum for him, he told himself,
with a hot, fevered anger sthrobbing
through his brain of what value were
the smiles whose sweetness was lay
ished literally on all alike?
= And as he rode along. with folded
arms and travelling cap drawn cullen
Iy over his eyes, Gilbert Amydon felt
like one who was already bereaved.
The house was dark as he ascen.led
the steps and opened the door with
his latch key.
"(ione!7 he said, with bitter smile.
Gone! Well, knew it. What else
could ] have expected2 She is no
longer my sweet, home loving Flor
ence, but-ROwena, the Saxon Prin-
cessH tf<1 EtHs5fHE aIr
.,4 With these thoughts in his mind he
strobe up the passage, and opened the
door. To his surprise
it was neither dark nor deserted. A
cheerful fire burned i'm the grate-the
seaded lamp threw it's circlet of light
on the red covered centre-table-and
there. all alone, sat Florence, her cheek
resting on her hand, her soft eyes fix
ed intently on something in her lap
his photograph!
1t was the prettiest little tableau in
the world. AmyJlon stood for Sec
ond. scarcely willing to disturb it.
"Florence!' 'uHa..H -uii fe 49,. |
90, Gilbert, Gilbert I" h7t1's saal
And with a low, sobbing cry of JOY |
she sprang to his breast.
$50 you haven't gone to the fancy |
ball, after ALL" said he, as ee sat down
beside her, passing his hand fondly
over her golden hair. ~, a..I
.'To the fancy ball never thought
of going, Gilbert. | knew you did
not like balls; and, beside, where
would be the pleasure of going with
you away?' H..,5F @.s5..n IT.
"Thcy wrote to me you were going |
as Rowena, the Saxon Princess" said
Amydon, half ashamed OF the words I
he uttered. I..-.
20, L know" said F.orence, laugh
ing. 'Fanny Myrtle did want me TO
90. She was 10 be Rebccca the jew
css, you know, and Major Darrock,
her cousin, WAS TO be lvanhoe; and
she though ht it would be nice party |
She even ordered a costume for me.
but told her all along shouldn't go;
SO Clara Myrtle is wearing it to-
night" 5as.fsta s.l gsu 4i .Hoi)
"While you are sitting here all
alone, aud studying my photograph" :"
he interrogated, iondly. a,faj 4
"I--l'm afraid was Cry ing little,c
Florence, for l was SO
lonely, and | wanted TO see you SO
much" f- r.-F
'My own darling little wileH utut
That was the last OF Gilbert Amy !
don's brief madness OF jealousy. Dru-
silla's spite and Uncle Crawiey's quiet
malice had all iallen short of their
mark. tJs.n-..r ......,s,...- ai
And Florence reigms undisputed |
queen at last over her husbands heart.
The man, who. weary Of his wife's
absence on n visit to her mother, had !