Daily globe., 1878-05-19
THE BEST BELOVED.
BY ETTIE ROGERS.

You accused me of SINS of which you
knew me to be innocent, and I submitted
to the outrage without word of defence
or denial And why? Because, Stephen,
am too proud to care to be your wife In
name but not in love, and because my
affection is and always has been subject
to your lightest caprices and desires. You
are Tree, and you will marry Clelia Adair,
whose fatal charms have blinded and be-
guiled YOU Bur, Stephen, remember my
parting words--all that is yet noble of
your manhood is true to me still, ard the
day will come when in bitter sorrow you
will acknowledge me as the first and last
and best beloved. The allowance you
offer me will not accept I have our
child, and I wish nothing more"
II 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;
s:and Stephen, forgive yeu.'
And thus these two, who had beep
mar and wife, but who now were to each
other legally less than strangers, parted,
and Stephen Darrell hoped an'1 believed,
forever.
Several months after his marriage to
Cleiia Adair he heard incidentally that
Helen had gone to Europe with a retired
prima donna, and that she was studying
preparatory to becoming public singer.
He was not surprised. She was still
young, of a noble type Of beauty, and
possessed a rare and highly cultured
voice that would have made a name and
fame long ago had she not sacrificed her
ambition and her passion for song to love
and marriage.
Already his mad infatuation for his new
wife had begun to weaken. She was the
sort of oman whose charms soon satiate
those about whom the siren wiics are too
closely woven. He deemed her the in
carnation Of all that is sweet and spmpa-
thetic and satisfying, and his slow olsen
chantment sickencd him. Clelia was
brilliant, but she was superficial; she was
as beautiful as a flower, and quite as
soulless; Clelia could purr and carcss and
stroke him coquettishly with her velyety
fingers, but the tones and pretty gestures
and Circe embraces, that once had been
amused him as would have done the
fawning of some handsome, petted ami.
NAL, forever expecting repletion OF
selfish delights.
A iustrum Of wedlock with Clelia
brought out five epochs Of disenchant-
ment. There was one year OF intoNlca-
ton of wild headlong passion, then a
restless time of vague dissatisfaction, then
in difference, then toleration, and at the last
loathing. At the end of this time he be-
gan to remember sorrowfully the cosey
domestic home where he had been so hap
by with Helen before the conquerine
temptress smiled away his fealty with
her dark bewitching eyes.
In the stately house where he had Sc
proudly enthroned his new love lae missed
the wifely solicitude, the delicate
woman]y attentions, the ineffable calm
and the pervading spirit of trust and con.
fidence and effectlon that had made his
home like a dream of Eden. He wa,
weary cf the cold splendor 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 at his wife's monst1ous ex
travagance, and her pomp Of fashionable
dissipation. But she laughed at his re
mOnstrances, and trowmed at his anxiety
A STACEY tear, an affected frown, pretty
pout, alone answered his anger, his sorrow
or his arguments. Her Skye terrier was
no more insensible to reason then Clelia
But there came a day when the bank Of
which he was treasurer became insolvent
His honor was impugned, his creditors
clamorous, and his princely fortune gone
and in all tbs great city he had not ont
true heart to counsel or, comfort him
Months of sleepess anxiety had bowed
his handsome head and whitencd his hair
yet the needless and heartless Clelia was
utterly ignorant of his trouble.
lie had not been brave enough to tell he
for he felt that this woman who had ruined
his life would madden him by her insip
id and selfish wonder and regret, for o
any stronger emotion she was incapable
But a. last his grand house was sold t.
satisfy a mortgage, given as security 70
money that had been wasted in the lac
and silks and jewels tnat Clclia vor
with such imperial pride-money that h
dared not take from the bank, alread
shaking for the final fall.
linen lie reSOlVeu 10 te1l nef OF I'll
trouble that was to end her life of splen
dor. 1t was unavoidable, but he shran
from the ordeal with weak and heav
heart.
1t was at the close ola peaceful, gold
en- day when he drew up his spankin
piebald roans before the up town pa
ace that was his no longer. The silver {
moonrise and the rose OF sunset vet LING
cred on the purple dusk of the evenin
as he wearily descended from his glitter
ing coach, and with Laying feet went u
the granite steps. The handsome pa
lors were blaze of light. The heav
odor Of costly cut flowers filled the al
In the centre of the room stood Clei
her supple, rounded figure clothed j
amber silk and cloudy lace, her haughi
lips red as the priceless rubies on ht
arms and bosom, or the red rose fastene
in the snaky coils of her black hair.
heavy sigh parted his pale lips as he lool
ed at her.
II am sorry that you are to give
soriee tonight, Clelia,' he said, gent
drawing her to tete- a-tete upholstcre
in nola silk satin