The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-09

cent daughters, and told them to strive for
such prize as she had won. But in the
solitude of her own chamher-could they
have seen her then!
1t was Chr:Etabel's wish that she might
never look upon tie face of her early love
again. Ii was too deep a wound to be
opened with impunity. She dared not
meet the trial. But fate, who always per-
forms her unkindest act with q treacherous
smile upon her face, brought about the
very thing she dreaded just when she
deemed herself the most secure.
At party given in honor of the English
consul a brilliant, dark Keyed woman, with o
certain italian case and coquetry in her
manner, was the acknowledged belle of the
room. Young men and old men bowed
alike at her shrine, and gazed enraptured
at the perfect loveliness of her face. All
save one, and he stood aloof at little dis
tance, with his head bowed moodily and
his arms crossed upon his breast.
| 1t was Cecil Brent, the husband of the
beautiful Maud, who looked 80 scornfully
OF the throng of idlers that surrounded her,
and YEARLY at the beauty that had once
enslaved him. Time had disenchanted
him, and he was conscious of other and
higher wants than she could satisfy. His
thoughts often went back to the days at
Chestnut Point with kind of remorseful
tenderness. He was thinking Of Christabel
then with that gay crowd around him.
"If she had been my wife," he thought,
"what a woman could have made of her.
Hers was a glorious mind. She was far
my superior, Heaven knows. But she has
forgotten me long before this time, and has
probably married some worthy country
merchant and settled down as they call
it. And yet what o destiny for Chris
label"
A low murmur around him caused him
to look up, and he saw lady and gentle
man moving slowly up the room toward
the hostess, who stood smiling an eager
welcome. He could not See the lady's
face, but her tall, majestic form and the
glitter of her diamonds came over him like
dream. He was reused from his contem-
plation of her by hand upon his shoul-
der and cherry voice speaking his name.
He turned and saw Rene Underhill, who
knew everybody and everything, and who
was the intimate and confidential friend
of two-thirds of the persons in the room.
"What-Brent, my boy, are you in
brown study? And with such beautiful
wife, and such fine fortune, too! 1t
would do well enough for poor devil like
me; but in Heavens name what have you
got to be sober about?"
"Rene, be sober yourself for minute
replied his friend, taking him by the but
ton-hole, ''and tell me who that is that just
came in-the tall, graceful lady, dressed in
blue satin, With diamonds on her neck and
arms. There-you can see her now dis
tinctly. l wish she would turn her face
this way"
"That?" said Underhill, as he saw whom
his friend alluded to- 'why, that is Mrs.
Cyril Deserraux, who has finer diamonds
and horses than any other woman in tie
city. Why, where in the world have you
been living that you don't know her?'
"You forget that have only been in the
city a week." said Brent II presume
my wife knows her, however; 1 fancy
have hearl her mention that name"
"Of course she does Not to know Mrs
Desereaux is to ARGUE ones self unknown.
And there goes your wife at this very mo-
ment to speak to her. Now if you were
only in your proper place by her side, my
boy, you would have the felicity of an in
PRODUCTION"
Cecil Brent did not answer. He waf
watching The interview with the greatest in
terest The fair Italian was petite in her per
l son and quick and nervous in her movements
: Christabel was above the ordinary height
: of woman, and graceful and steady as ar
empress. The peculiar expression witt
8 which she always talked to the wife of hel
early love was upon her face, but Ceci
could not see it. He did see, however
I how quietly she listened to the lively non
sense of Maud and watched the stately
y head bend in mute adieu as they parted.
Something in the movement made hin
o think of Christabel, and with kind O
y startled interest he mixed with the selec
" few who we're following her to the musi
. room. His wife came up and took hi
" arm
., at will be such treat" she whispered
''Mrs. Desereaux seldom sings, but to
> night she was obliged to yield l am 8,
Il glad"
" He did not answer. He was watchin.
the superb air of indifference with whicl
she received the attentions of those VIII,
q thronged around her.
: "Oh, let it be one of your beautiful
+ Irish ballads" said lady who stood be
side he