West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-05-25
THE BEST BELOVED.
ny ETTIE ROGERS.

"The law has given you your free
dom. You accused me of sins of which
you knew me 70 be innocent, and 1 sub
mitted TO the outrage without a word of
defense OF denial. And why? Be
cause, Stephen, | am too proud 10 care
TO be your wife in name but not in love.
and because my affection is and always
has been subject 10 your lightest caprices
and desires. You are free and you will
marry Clelia Adair, whose fatal charms
have blinded and beguiled you. But,
stephen, remember my parting words
all that is yet noble of your manhood is
true to me still, and the day will come
when in bitter sorrow you will acknowl-
edge me as the first and last and best be-
loved. The allowance you offer me /
will not accept. | have our child, and /
wish nothing more"
l am glad you are satisfied Helen"
answered the man, impatient TO end the
interview. -" Is there any thing more
you wish to sayi"
"No'hing." she replied, turning her
beautiful proud eyes for the last time
upon the face that was still TO her so
dear; and yet-yes-Stephen, ] for
give you"
And thus these two, who had been
man and wife, but who now were to each
other legally less than strangers, parted.
and Stephen Darrell hoped and be-
lieved, forever.
Several months after his marriage to
Clelia Adair he heard incidentally that
Helen had gone to Europe with n re-
tired prima donna, and that she was
studying preparatory to becoming a
public singer. lie was not surprised
She was still young, of noble type OF
beauty, and possessed n rare and highly
cultured voice that would have made
her name and fame long ago had she
not sacrificed her ambition and her pas
sion for song TO love and marriage.
Already his mad infatuation for his
new wife had begun to weaken. She
was the sort of woman whose charms
soon satiate those about whom the siren
wiles are too closely woven. He deemed
her the incarnation Of all that is sweet
and sympathetic and satisfying. and his
slow disenchantment sickened him
Clelia was brilliant, but she was super
hcial she was as beautiful "a a flower.
and quite as soullcss; Clelia could purr
and caress and stroke him coquettishly
with her vclvety fingers, but the tones
and pretty gestures and Gree embraces,
that once had been 80 delicious and mes-
menc, now only amused him as would
have done the fawning Of some hand
some, petted animal, forever expecting
a repletion Of selfish delights.
A lustrum of wedlock with Clelia
brought out FIVE epochs Of dsenchant-
ment. There was one year Of the in
toxlcation OF wild and headlong pas
sion, then reckless time Of vague dis
satisfaction, then Indifference, then toll
GRAFTON, and at the last loithng Atthe
END OF this time me began to remember
sorrowiuliy the cory domestic home
Wnere ne had been so happy with Helen
before the conquering temptress smiled
away his tealty with her dark bewitch-
ing ewes.
In the stately house where he had 40
proudly enthroned his new love he
missed the wifely solicitude. the deli
cate, Womanly attentions. the ineaable
calm ana the Pervading spirit Of trust
ana confidence and affection that had
made his home like a dream Of Fdep
Hc was weary Of the cold spIendor of
the rooms through which the dazzling
Clclia flashed i'm her satins and gons
he was weary Of the endless pageant OF
giddy gue.ts; he was alarmed at his
wifc's monstrOus extravaganza. and bor
pomp Of fashionable dissipation But
she laughed at the remonstrances. and
frowued at his anxiety. A STACEY tear.
an affected frown q pretty pOut, alone
answered his anger, his sorrow, or his
arguments. Her Skye terrier was no
more insansibe to reason than Cleia.
but there came n day when the bank
on which he was treasurer became iu
solvent Ills honor was impugned, hif