Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-05-16
1er hands and raised her eyes as if in

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All, how beautiful she looked in that
narrow ray Of light, and how I hated
her.
Had she not stolen all the sunshine
from my life?
Presently she dropped her hands, and
YEARLY restored the drawer to its for
mer order.
But every attempt to reclose and
lock it proved fruitless.
Finally, after repeated efforts, she re-
moved it and turned the light into the
vacant space.
A paper, evidently pushed off in
opening the drawer, lay there.
It was half mechanically drawn out
and unfolded, but at the first glance her
face grew radiant, and a low exclama-
ton of thankfulness parted her lips.
Still tenaciously grasping the abstrac-
ted paper, she hastily closed and locked
the desk.
AS she prepared to resume her dis
guise, I stepped from behind the massive
piece Of statuary which had concealed
me, and spoke:
81 owe you my thanks, Miss Vivian,
I bowed mockingly. I'm the prosecu'
ton of your honorable task, you have
treated me to quite a dramatic little
scene. You should make your debut
as a tragedlenne, Miss VIVIAN"
The face which Vivian turned to-
wards me was certainly white and
startled; but she was by no means
annihilated.
She regarded me with grave self
possession for the space Of full
minute, and then she said, quietly, a
ring of irony in her sweet voice:
"Well, what is it to be-comedy or
tragedy? You look as if you would
like to murder me. Shall you?''
"They might hang me. That wouldn't
be pleasant. No."
"What then ?"
II only intend that your adorer shall
know YOU"
''You desire the pitiful satisfaction of
lessenlng me in his eyes?"
81 want him to know to what depths
you can descend; and want to be the
one to expose you," answered, with
cold scorn.
"Go, then, and summon him. You
shall be gratifed. Poor girl! you are
not naturally mean-spirited-not nat
urally spiteful; but the influence of
Harold Lorne is warping your whole
nature"
l hesitated.
Despite my hatred, her concluding
words had shamed me.
"Go!" she presently repeated, a
little imperiously.
1 obeyed her, though less readily
than cared to acknowledge even to
myself.
Miss Vivian employed the few
minutes OF my absence in lighting the
room, and, on my return, I found her
pacing its length with the air Of a
tragedy queen.
She took no further notice Of me, but
at the sound of Harold's approaching
footstep, she paused.
Snatchinga small, golden salver from
its bracket, she hastily lit and dropped
upon it the distracted paper.
The last Pickering blaze died out as
he entered.
had volunteered no explanation
when called him, and he now stood
gazing at US in utter amazement.
I anticipated his inquiry by saying,
coldly:
1.-THE black mask, Harold-the being
of nay imagination"
"And these the insignia of my office,
added Miss Vivian, as coldly, display
ing the mask, file, and keys.
He appeared stupefied for few
seconds.
At length he stammered out, in be-
wildered tones:
"How? what office? what does it
mean?"
In a moment Miss Vivian was trans
figured; and 1 shrank half appalled,
before the grandly beautiful woman,
glowing and quivering under the mighty
storm of passion his words had
awakened.
"What does it mean?" she repeated
joy, triumph, and contempt in every
musical infection of her ringing voice.
"What does it mean, Harold Lorne:
This-this!" and she lightly touched
the golden salver just returned to its
bracket. sit means that the man
whom you made your dupe and victim
by contemplate lie and more con
temptible artifce is free-for ever free
Look on that little golden salver. and
behold the gives of your yictim!"
"You held him your bondman by 3
fearful tenure of shame and infamy, ap
parently his, but really yours. I re-
solved to free him. 1t required time
patience, and exquisite tact and art tt
establish myself here as your guest
but was equal to each demand. I an
here, and he is doubly saved!"
She leaned towards him, and slo WHY
repeated, a strange meaning smile
covering her scarlet lips as she transfx
ed him with her eyes,
"And he is doubly saved"
These words increased to actua
ghastliness the pallor which had grad
ually settled on his handsome features
and for the first time he attempted tt
interrupt her.
"Answer me-who are your" he de-