Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-06-08
glance" said the we'll known voice.

glance" said the we'll known voice.
Again they passed on, and the heart
of Maud beat almost audibly against the
arm that supported her.
"Can you now refuse to give little
Of that love you waste upon that man,
whispered her companion, drawing her
still closer to him.
| The revelry waved loud and furious.
Wine flowed freely, or rather circulated
freely, through the veins Of the dancers;
but Maud Cameron had long ago been
conducted home by her attentive escort;
yet not, however, until he had proposed
IAN elopement, and plead his!guilty love
with all the elequenee and ,sophistory
he could command.
He declared that to live with one so
Indifferent to her happiness and careless
and regardless of her welfare was an
absolute sin and, blinded by jealousy
and passion, the infatuated woman lis
tened passively to all he had to say.
He spoke of the growing creed of
free love; painted life in foreign land,
with affection and youth to assist in the
enjoyment; talked of deathless fidelity
and devotion; and at last left the wife
at her home with polluted lips, for he
had dared to seal his vows with kiss
that burned upon the lips of Maud FOR
many day.
Once in her room she changed her
disguise for simple wrapper, and sink
ing into an easy chair before the COM
Portable fire, tried to analyze her feel
ings. Failing in that she endeaversd
to forget everything but the awful guilt
that yawned at her feet, though deity
hidden by flowers, while the knowledge
of her husbands in6delity pierced her
heart as knife and forced tears from
her eyes. But at length, from very
WEAKNESS she slept. How long she
never knew; but when she again opened
her eyes, her husband stood beside her
in an evening dress.
"Not in beds" he said gayly. otis
after midnight, my dear. This is a
strange way to cure headache. How
very imprudent, Maud, and how pale
you are looking! I ought to be angry
with you, child"
The distress pictuaed in her pale face
touched him. He stopped to lift her
in his arms and carry her to her couch,
but she shuddared at his very touch and
drew away.
"What is the matter y he questioned,
in surprise.
''How can you ask me ?" she replied,
growing still more white in her anger,
while her beautiful eyes flashed with
contempt.
"Really, Maud, this is an exhibition,
1t is somethieg new for you to show
such a spirit, and simply because 1 hap
pened to be out trlfe later than usual
l thought we were to be free to act our
individual wills in all things compatible
with the welfare and happiness of each
other"
"Be it so in the future |" she e1claim-
ed, suddenly losing her anger, and sink
ing back into the chair, burt into hys-
teric tears.
| The good~hearted fellow began at
once to coax her in the old fashioned
way, but found her hard and unyield-
ing. But at last he said:
"Maud, wish you would explain this
conduct. You will make yourself ILL.,"
s'rhat cannot matter to a husband
who will 60 to the French masque with
a pretty fower-girl."
"Aha! That's that the grievance is it:
But where was the wife in blue domino
all the while?'
The crimson tide overran her brew
and neck, and showing the tell>tale col
or above the lace handkerchief pressed
to her face. AS no answer was given
to his question, he continued:
''Maud, I am at last awake to the fact
that it is not best to consult ones pleas
ure entirely, and that which begins as
an innoeent Irritation may end in an
eternal disgrace. I found the Dana
party sthpid, and, feeling a little anx~
ious about you, returned home, let my
self in quietly, SO as not to excite your
nerves, went to the library for a smoke,
and soon La France was announced.
You came down in your masquerade
costume gayly enough, and received the
praises and admiration of that man, and
went away with him to the ball. / was
shocked at such deceit and falsehood-
was grieved more than can tell. But
the manner of La France toward you
of late has been warmer and more pro-
nounced than is honorable or delicate
for you to receive, and fully awakened
to your danger l followed. What you
heard me say to the fowef<girl was to
arouse your jealousy, and let you know
there might be scene if your identity
became known. With satisfaction