The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-11-02
cd ball at the Academy, next week
viii YOU take MOP"

cd ball at the Academy, next week
VIII you take MOI"
81 am sorry, my darling, but shall
be out of town on that night; and evqi
were here, it is not the place where
would care to see YOU"
| With pout, the young wife turned
away, and the subject dropped.
at is nothing to him now to refuse
my wishes, " she thought. "Once he
would have postponed any engagement
to crafty me-"
The day of the ball came. With q
loving kiss in the early morning, Will
Chesterfield badc his wife good-by.
Scarcely had the door closed upon
him when Mr.. Raymond was announc-
ed.
81 have come to ask you and Mr..
Chesterfield to join our party for the
masquerade tonight. OF course he
will consent ifyou but ask him"
"Mr. Chesterfield is unfortunately
absent, so that must Decline"
"Indced v'-fcigning the utmost sur
prise. "But surely, you will not spend
the evening alone? Mrs. Irving is go
ing to choperone the party. We shall
have box, and be perfectly to our
selves. No one will recognize You.
DO you say yon will come!"
And so he pleaded, until remember
ing her husband had not absolutely for
hidden her going, and knowing she
could readily assuage his displeasure,
she gave q somewhat reluctant consent,
and with his heart beating high with
| hopes ofwhat she little dreamed, Hale
Raymond left her.
But all that evening, surrounded by
mirth and fun, music and lights, up
roar and dancing, she wished herself
a thousand times back to her quiet
home. Between her and the jewellers
came the vision of her husbands hand
some face. What would he say? Yet
could he blame her! Had he not left
her alone?
AT last she could bear it no longer
and whispering Il few words to her cs-
cort, he arose, assisted her in her hasty
adieux, and went with her forth from
the din and glare, into the calm, peace.
ful moonlit night.
"Wlll YOU walk or drivc?"
"Oh, let us walk" she answered
and gathering up her rich ball-dress
and slipping off her mask, she drank in
with sense of inexprcssiblc relief
heavens pure air.
At last her home was reached
Turning, as the servant opened the
door, to say goodnight to her compan
ion, she was startled by the request:
at is early yet. May not come in
| have something | want particularly
to say to YOU"
She could scarcely refuse so trifling ;
request, so preceded him into tho
drawing room.
The room was in shadow, but as she
turned to ask his meaning, she started
at the unusual pallor of his face.
care you ill!' she questioned.
"Ill? Would 10 God were! Would
that torture of the body might teacl
forgctfulness of the minds anguish
Have You not seen, ali these weeks, how
| have loved you-how | would dare
all things for some response? YOl
must have known il all-why, then, dc
YOU give me that white face of horror?'
'IIush-no more! Yet | deserve i
all. You came to me with your tlattcry
at time when thought my HUSBAND
wavcring in his devotion-whcn fcl
foolishly grieved and injured, ant
meant thus to show him an indifference,
equal to his own, though never for on,
moment did l feel it. The glitterins
colors of the snake fascinated me, ant
| was all ignorant of the deadly stin;
they concealed. Leave me, sir; ant
our paths henccforth divergc.'
A glance at that cold, proud face
warned him of her meaning, and, witt
a bitter smile of irony, he bowed him
self ont of her presence and her life.
"Will. Win" she sobbed, whel
alone. Then, as in answer TO her cry
out from the shadow came he WHOM
she called, and taking her close into hi
strong arms, said, as he held her:
at has all been mistake, darling
sad, sad error for us both. | did no
think it best to disclose my presence
I had forgotten my little wife was bu
a child, and she has forgotten tina
sometimes a husband must leayc hi
home, but that he leaves as its guar
its most priceless possession, jewe
which the longer he wears, grow
more priceless in his sight. From to
night we will start atresh. The sci
pent has gone from our Eden. NJ
poor child! How you must have sut
fcred!"
But in all her husbands tenderness
Mrs. Chesterfield only feels the dcepe
, her remorse for her folly; and whe
, her head is buried on his breast, sh
, knows already il is hers; but neve
/, while she lives will she be tempted {
indulge in another Irritation.