Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-05-13
A THRILLING TALE.
REAPING THE WHIRLWIND.
By BETTE ROGERS.

1t was midnight. The orchestra peat
forth the mad waltz melody, and a score Of
couples were whirling down the salon, that
was one long dazzle and simmer Of rose
and gold, of splendid, exotic festoons, Of
glittering silks and cleaning jewels.
Lillian Dreux, leaning over the starlighted
balcony, YEARLY, needless Of the select RI
ot within, heard low and Cautious voices in
the budding shrubbery underneath.
~ would give my whole fortune-aye,
my life even, if dying, could know that
Lillian had not deceived me !"
dry, cautious laugh answered Gerald
sayer, and LilianSwaited for the next words
her imperious face flushing to richer
scarlet, and every nerve strained and quiv-
ering.
Hum WE'LL" observed he who had Civ
en- utterance to that stealthy chuckle, " de-
tectiyes make gross mistakes sometimes, as
well as tie less watchful part of mankind.
And for one year l have sought for the
rightful heir of this mans inheritance. If
she were not the mother OF this Walla Outh-
bort; why has she given him such unprece-
dented devotion l have abundant evi-
dence that she met Elner Cuthbert repeat
ediy and clandestinely, while she was at
the Hazeldale Seminary. This pretty boy
Wala is undoubtedly his child and hers.
There was secret marriage; and the bride
was all devotion until her father took this
sinecure from the government; and then,
like all women, the girl chose to ignore her
romantic and secret bridal. But the moth
erly conscience must do something for the
1lnacknowledged child; so she adopted him,
after a two months absence that even her
father can't satisfactorily account for. 1t
is as plain as noon-day, Lillian Dreux went
away for an ostensible visit; in the mean
time Walla was born. When she came back
her fathers prospects were unexpectedly
bettered. Ambition for wealthy marriage
assailed her. She claimed to have adopted
the boy, and everybody believes her."
{" And you say this man-Walla's father
lives ~ asked Sayre.
Certainly ~ said the man. Unex-
pectedly, he has found himself immensely
rich. And his first thought after these five
years OF probation was to find his son.
/" And the mother ?"
The tones floated up to Lillian, stiAed,
but full Of agony.
"Oh he is too proud to ask anything Of
her, at this time. She was giddy, merce-
nary little creature, who loYed him with a
childish love- And as fear of her parents
disapprobation was stronger than her af-
fection, he will ask nothing of her now.
All he wants is his boy. He came, himself,
this morning, at my notice"
"The villain Oh, the villain !" cried
Sayre. at could strike him dead"
Lillian, her heart full OF tumult, never
heard the voice that came through the
shadows in answer to this exclamation.
She left the balcony, and among the dan
GERS found q yellow haired sylph, with an
infantile face and bands of yellow-hair
braided in coronet above soft, babyish
brow.
/" Eve, want to speak to you," said Lii.
an, leading her into au alcov @.
tEve," she then said, il you are moi
willing to make confession, am wrecked
love, life, and peace, forever"
81 cannot-I cannot ~ replied the little
creature, crouching in terror among the
bloom.
'Mr. Gerald sayre wishes to see Misi
Lily" said servant, looking in upon them
And Lillian Dreux, her sweet white face
giimmering through cloud of maize col
cred silk and golden gauze, followed him Il
the reception room, where her lover wa
waiting.
"Do you love me. LilY2" he askek, draw
ing her into his arms.
I'Better than life, Gerald" she answered
her dark eyes full upon him.
"Then, dear, if you hear i'll Of me, vii
YOU remember that the i'll is done to vindi
cate your womanly honor"
"What would you do, Gerald ?" she asket
in terror.
But with one wild kiss on her cold lips
without answering, her lover was gone.
And Lillian DreuX was again left alone
marveling at that abrupt departure, and lie
tening to the ceaseless tap of the dancers
feet on the waxed floor within.
Presently going back to the balcony, OH
OF the garden shades, she iheard the nois
of struggle.
'rYou are nv murderer ~ came up to he
on the mellow breeze, in an awful under
tone.
of gold and gauze about her-an angel
vision floating through the mist OF bloor
seeing a helpless man being born throug
the shadows, and dark figure stalkin
away down the lily. bordered path.
She knew that Gerald Sayre had met th
father of Walla OutLbert, and that her loN
er, wounded by passionate assault. wa
being borne toward Madame La Grange
villa.
The days that fallowed were terrible t
Lillian.
But what could she say while Eve Aube
was still stubbornly silent?
Coming in one day from walk, wrappe
in the most miserable thought, she opened
bv mistake, the door of the disabled guest
room.
She saw him lying on couch, swathed /
bandages, and pale as phantom.
"Have you come at last to pity me, Lily
he asked, his surprised eyes full upon her
"No !" she answered, throwing open IL
door, "I think it is in my heart to despis
you for your suspicious of me-"
And so, in doubt and pain, the inval
passed his days until he was permitted
leave his room.
The first thing he came upon was a We
anda scene. Lillian sat among the buddir
roses, with Walla CuthbeIt before her, al
Eve Auber bending over her.
He would have retreated, but at that m
ment the high wind whirled about him. al
EYES iaunty hat was wrested from her ye
low curls and blown at his feet.
"Thank you |" said Eve, simply as
brought it to her. But Lillian, glancing
flushed like a rose-red daisy, and turn,
toward the pretty boy to hide her conf
sion.
"Ah!" thought Gerald, Gillian thinl
know her secret, as 1 do. hate myst
for loving still this girl, who was, and
still, the wife of Elmer Outhbert; and
the mother of his son. Does she imagil
that know her secret-that she seems