The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-08-31
ain that she would die, but we kept

nPf.
AT last her first act of consciousness
was to kiss me, and murmur:
81 love youw
AT last she could sit up and talk a lit
tie. And then she told Roscoe and me
her story.
will not repeat it here. 1t was tale
TOO sickening; ofhuman passion inflam-
ed by liquor; of mans tyranny; of wo-
mans weakness. Her husband was
false to her and his manhood. She
clung. to him, pleading; he knocked her
senseless at his feet. And, before that
she had borne-oh, pitiful heavens, so
muchl
"He has killed my love for him., she
said, white and shuddering. 81 am
afraid of him! 1 have horror of him !
Let me stay here! Here, he will not
find me. Oh, Roscoe-Constance let
me stay with you'll"
We soothed her-promised earnestly
that she should stay, protected, beloved
by us-for the conversation was most
hurtful TO her, and nearly brought on a
relapse of her fever.
And Roscoe wrote to his aunt. Mrs
Brompton of New Orleans, asking fur
ther particulars of Ora's story, and an
nounclng his determination to protect
her against her husband. To which
Mrs. Brompton replied as follows:
81 am glad Ora is with you. Her
marriage has certainly turned ont n
most dreadful affair. Her husband was
wealthy, moved in the best circles here.
but blame myself that did not inform
myself concerning his principles. He is
now avowed TO have none-ratber he
possesses the worst The scandal is dy-
ing down here, but if Ora wishes TO re-
main with yon for the present it will be
better than returning to New Orleans.
My love to her. AUGUSTA BRoMProN.
So found what never had-a sister
and think | made her as happy as
she could possibly be after the terrible
blight upon her youth. She found a
fund of comfort in little Lyle, who was
very fond of calling her "Lolo," in his
soft, lisping accents. She was most I'M
selfish and sympathetic in disposition.
and this latter trait won from me at
least, a confidence.
She sat with me, sewing. one day. in
my chamber. Roscoe had Just sent out
from town package of new books /
wished to see. We had looked them
over-promising ourselves much eniOv-
meht III the long winter evenings COM
ing.
"What splendid man Roscoe is!'
Ora said thoughtfully. "He is COM
pahion-a friend; he is interested i'm
everything you care for-he consults
your wishes-ministers to your tastes.
Now my husband never seemed to care
for anything only to own me-"
She seldom or never referred to her
husband. 1t seemed to make her physi-
cally i'll to do so. hurried away from
the subject.
81 know have good husband, Ora
respect him; admire him. But vet"
| added, 81 should have been happier if
had married another man."
Then told her the tale of nv youth.
OF my exceeding beauty-of the tourist
who wandered to my mountain home
OF his beauty, his charm, his power-my
passion for him. OF my invalid mother.
who prayed me not to leave her-of the
choice l needs must make-of his de-
parture-his subsequent desertion. OF
how my mother had died blessing me-
how my conscience approved, yet my
passionate longing for what had lost.
The hot tears rained down my face as |
concluded, so deeply had my nature
known this experience.
Ora listened with wide eyes, Quicken
ed breath; her work dropped upon her
lap. When had done she said:
"What was his name, Constance; Won
have not spoken it,"
"Ivan Gray"
"Have you picture of him?" she
ASKED, IN sharp, suppressed voice.
unlocked the cabinet, found the pho
tograph, placed it in her hand.
She glanced-dropped it as if it had
stung her.
"It is my husband, Constance"
l could only stare at her.
at surely is, Constance" she said,
winding her arm about me. "When
you first spoke of your girlhood's love
in the Blue Mountains, remembered to
have seen some sketches my husband
made there, bearing the date of 1865.
Ten years ago. Oh, Conny, what an
escape you made that you did not mar
ry him! To be the wife of Ivan Gray
was reserved for my fate" she added
mournfully.
"Was Mr.. Gray's name Ivan?v |
stammered.
eyes," she answered.
rose, by-and-by, and put the letters
and photograph into the fire.
And that night l talked alone with
my husband. Throughout all eternity
he will never doubt now that love
him.
Ora is still with us. Roscoe has taken
measures to procure for her divorce.