Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-09-12

wealthy, ana my mOlner was aU uealn
| door, and southern trip was ordered by
the physicians. l married him, AM she
went 10 Florida for the winter.
What was the other reason?
1t WAS this: | was tired of my lonely
life my father was dead, my mother was
dying, and dreaded the grim future that
stared me in the face. And longed for
change-for different existence.
A moments pause, and he said, meas
/: uredly-
l am sorry this has happened between
you and me. 1t pains me to question you,
but bid you to answer canddly.
| shall do so, have no fear. | want
your doubts, yonr suspicious to be put at
rest.
She read him then, and how meanly she
felt.
Tell me about your intimacy with Mr..
Berry, the New York actor, and about Mr..
Asten's suicide.
What she dreaded had come at last.
She stood up, and leaned heavily against
one of the pillars of the piazza, The moon
was coming up out of the water, and there
was long, quivering ray of light across
the waves.
Mr.. Carmel, she said, turning to him,
would you mind saying who told you
, these things about meP
An intimate friend of mine. His name
is Harold Florimel He came down here
this afternoon to see me. told him about
you, and our engagement, and, in return,
he told me the story Of your life. He said
that he had known Mr.. Asten for number
of nvl Il chat h,, h11
couple of times.
am much obliged to him for acknowl-
edging the acquaintance. Now, will you
hear my version, or are you satisfied with
what you have heard?
wish to hear your version.
Well, after our honeymoon, and when |
WAS in my home in New York, Mr.. Asten
requested permission to introduce me to
his dearest friends, namely, Mr.. Berry and
Harold Florimcl. He was particularly
anxious that they should be my friends
also, for he thought the world Of them.
Mr.. Carmel, that was impossible. Harold
Flormel had known me but IL couple Of
months when, utterly regardless Of his
friends honor, he paid me dishonorable
attentions. In my anger and surprise |
spurned him so severely that he never
dared to look ut me again. You under
stand now why he is my enemy-why he
should express himself so bitterly when
: my name is mentioned. Mr.. Berry was
cleverer in his line of action. He got me
perfectly infatuated with the stage, and
pursuaded me into studying for it. was
foolish and giddy, and acted as he wished
me, much to Mr.. Asten's opposition and
displeasure. Despite his entreaties, his
commands, l pursued my dangerous
course. | was wild and headstrong, and
| would be an actress, and hand my name
down TO fame. felt he would be the very
first one to applaud when my success was
sure. studied diligently, performed for
managers, and finally received a very flat
tering engagement to appear in one Of the
large theatres as Juliet. All this time
Mr. Berry was my friend, instructor and
admirer. My respect and admiration for
him was great, but never loved him.
Distracted with what l was doing, my
husband demonstrated with me, but in Il
way that infamed me more for theatrical
glory. Mr.. Berry was aware how miser
able my life had become, and lie exhibited
the cloyen foot. There is no occasion for
me to tell how felt in that horrible mo-
ment of shame. | forbade him ever to
speak to me again, or even 10 enter my
walking the boards. My mother had died
in Florida, and there was but one refuge
for my wounded pride and outraged self
esteem, and that was my husband. was
repentanU, but he was not there TO know it.
He had gone away for day to settle some
business matters in Albany. He never re-
turned. He committed suicide. If he had
waited Il day longer, or had been more pa
tient with me at the beginning, all might
have been right and well. might have
learned to love him, for WAS willing and
eager TO try. However, it is too late.
There is the end of my story; and there is
no more to tell. Do you condemn me?
Do you dispise me? | did not deceive
you; from the first you knew that [ was
u widow-that | was full of grief and re-
morse. Not once die ever try to appear
differently TO you. intended to tell you
my story iore-but-but-I was SO hap
py, and | felt afraid. and so refrained.
Come what will, shall always remember
that you loved me, trusted me. That, in
itself. made me the happiest of women.
The moon was up in full splendor; the
swelling waves glittered with bright light.
We shall not speak further of your un-
happy past. he remarked, rs though he
was conferring favor; ior it was II con-
tinual mistake.
She listened calmly, but for the life of
her she could not prevent her face turning
white. She understood him. He would
soon say he could have nothing to do with
her.
Mr.. Florimel and leave in the morn
ing!
You doP or course you do not expect
me to say l am sorry! ! dare say you
would like your ring back? Here, take
it, and remember that shall never remind
you that there is such person as Serena
AsteE in the world. You have believed
your friend, believed what he has said of
me; and have set me aside. | can do
nothing. You have heard my story, but
your belief and sympathy is with your
friend. cannot blame you, but think
your love for me was us light as the low
summers wind-and us lasting,
He waited as if he wished to say some
thing, hut checked himself She also
waited, looking away from him, and lis
tening pitilessly to her heart beats. Per-
haps he would relent, take her to his heart,
and make her happy. Oh, how she pray
ed that he would! There was u move
ment on his part; she heard him walk
away from where she stood. She longed
to look round at him; but cold pride with
II deep sense of injury held her back with
terrific force. Tears rushed to her eyes as
the sound of his footsteps died on the night
air, and blinded her. Size stretched out
her arms, her figure swayed, and, without
a cry, she fell down. She had lost con
seriousness.
Mr.. Carmel did not go away in the
morning, for about seven o'clock lie was to
be seen walking briskly along the beach,
his hands clasped behind him, and
thoughtful look on his face. Ahead of
him was ii low, rugged cliff, under whose
overhanging rocks stood Il motionlesS fig
nre. What had tempted Serena out SO
early? The sound of his approaching
footsteps aroused her from the reverie into
which she had drifted, and looking up she
met his glance. She paled and then drew
back He came forward and opened his
arms.
Come to me! he cried; Harold Florimol