The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-05-23
IL ERARt,
THE BEST BELOVED.


"The law has given you your freedom.
You accused me OF SINS of which you
knew me to be innocent, and submitted
TO the outrage without word Of defence
or denial. And why. Because, stephen,
I am too proud to care 10 be your wife in
name but not in love, and because my
affection is and always has beer subject
to your lightcst caprices and desires. You
are tree, and you will marry Clelia Adair,
whose fatal charms have blinded ana be-
guided YOU But, Stephen, remember my
parting words-all that is yet noble of
your manhood is true to me still, ard the
day Will come when inSbitter sorrow YOU
will acknowledge ME as the first and last
and best beloved. The allowance you
offer me I will not accept. | have our
child, and wish nothing more"
IL am glad you are satisfied, Helen"
answered the man, impatient TO end the
interview lis there anything more you
wish to say"
Nothing" she replied. turning her
beautiful proud eyes for the last time up
on the face that Was still to her so dear !;
land -ycs--Stephen, ! forgive you
And thus these two, who had been
mar and wife, but who now were to each
other legally less than strangers, parted,
and Stephen Darrell hoped ane believed,
forever.
Several months after his marriage to
Clelia Adair he heard incidentally that
Helen had gone to ElTope with a retired
prma donna, and that she was studying
preparatory to becoming public singer.
He was not surpris d. She was still
young, of a noble type of beauty, and
possessed rare and highly cultured
voice that would have made name and
fame long ago had she not sacrificed her
ambition and her passion fnr song to love
and marriage.
Already his mad infatua,ica for his new
wife had begun to weaken. She was the
sort of woman whose charms soon sa.iate
those about whom the siren lies are TOO
closely woven. He deemed her the in
carnation OF all that is sweet and spmpa-
thete and satisfying, and his Slow Olsen
chantment sickened him. Celia was
brilliant, but she was superficial; she vas
as beautiful as II flower, and quite Is
soulless; Cleha could purr and carcss az !
stroke him coquettishly with her velve.y
fingers, but the tones and pretty gestures
ANA Gree EMBRACES, that once had been
so delicious and mesmeric, now only
amused HIM as would have done the
fawnlng of some handsomc, pettcd AMI
mai, forever expecting repletion o.
selfish delights
A lus.rdm Of w,dlock with Clelia
brought out FIVE epochs OF disenchant-
ment. mere was one year OF intoNica-
tlo.n of wild headlong passion, then a
restless time OF vague dissatisfaction. then
in difference, then liberation. and at the last
loathlng AT the end of this time he be-
gan To remember sorrowtully the cosey.
domestic home where he had been so hap
DIV with Helen before the conquering
temptresS smiled away his fealty with
her dark bewitching eyes.
In the stately house where he had Sd
proudly enthroned his new love he missed
the witelv soicitude, the delicate,
womanly attentions. the ineffable calm
and the pervading spirit of trust and con-
tdence and ELECTION that had made his
home like a dream of Eden. He wa,
weary Ct the cold spleudor of the rooms
through which the dazzling Clelia flashed
in her satins and gems; he was weary OF
the endless pageant OF giddy guests; he
was alarmed al his wife's monst1ous ex-
trsvsgance. and her pomp Of fashionable,
destination But she laughed at his re
monstrances. and frowRed at his anxiety
A STACEY tear, an affected frown. a pretty
pour. alone answered his anger. his sorrow
or his arguments. Her Skye terrier Wa
no more insensible to reason then Clelia
But there came day when the bank Of
which he was treasurer became insolvent
His honor WAS impugned. his creditors
clamorous. and his rrincely fortune gone
and in all ths great city he had not ont
true heart to counsel or comfort him
Months OF s.eepless anxiety had bowed
his handsome head snd whitened his hair
yet the needless and heartless Celia WAS
utterly ignorant Of his troHble-
lie had not been brave enough to tell he
for be felt that this woman who had ruines