The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-05-23
his life would madden him by her insip-

any stronger emotion she was incapable.
But a. last his grand house was sold to
satisfy mortgage, given as security for
money that had been wasted in the lace
! and silks and jewels that Clelia wore
with such imperial pride-money that he
dared not take from the bank, already
shaking for the final fall.
Then he resolved to tell her of the
trouble that was to end her life of splen-
dor 1t was unavoidable, but he shrank
from the ordeal with weak and heavy
heart.
1t was at the close of a peaceful, gold
en- day when he drew up his spanking
plebad roans before the uptown pal
ace that was his no longer. The silver of
moonrise and the rose of sunset yet ling
cred on the purple dusk of the evening
as he YEARLY descended from his glitter
ing coach, and with laying feet went up
the granite steps. The handsome par
Tors were blaze of light. The heavy
odor CT costly cut flowers filed the air.
In the centre Of the room stood Clella,
hel supple, rounded figure clothed in
amber silk and cloudy lace, her naughty
lips red as the priceless rubies on her
arms and bosom, or the red rose fastened
III the snaky coils Of her black hair. A
heavy sigh parted his pale lips as he look
ed at her.
4 am sorry that you are to give a
sO-iee TO night, Clelia,' he said. gently
drawing her to tete a-tete upholstered
in pale silk satin.
Why" she inquired, for once i'm
pressed by the dumb misery OF the pale
face that had grown SO aged and thin
during the few past weeks.
For many reasons he responded,
with painful hesitation. II have some
thing unpleasant to tell you, Celia, and
, hope you will listen PATIENTLY
30, it is about money, of course" she
cried, petulantly, as she impatiently tap
ped her dainty boot upon the pale-green
carpet s,rewn with woven roses like drops
OF blood.
Yes" he said, very gravely, lit is
about money, and wish to tell you that
mine is gone to the last dollar. am
man broken in health and heart and for
tune, and suspected Of gross dishonesty.
This house is sold and my pers- mai prop
erty soon will be. have nothing left
nothing"
His broken voice had the sound of a
wall as he uttered that last pathetic word.
Not gleam OF pity sOttened the hard,
handsome face OF the woman before him.
For moment she sat naughty and silent
then the angry blood burned redly in her
cheeks, and cold light pa1kled in her
sullen. slumberous eyes.
you wish me to understand that am
the wife of poor dishonored bankrupt
she observed, and each chilling word
stabbed MS heart like sharpest steel. IL
will never forgive Won. l will never for
give YOU" repeated the woman who had
tempted and beguiled and maddened
ano destroyed him.
And he thought of her whom he had
wronged by falsehood and disloyality,
whom he had repudlated and iOrsaken
be thought of Helen as he saw Ter last,
standing Injured and heart broken before
him, and yet crying to him out of the
depths of her outraged love, 4 tcrgire
COZ, .stephcn.'
For the nrst time he turned upon Celia
a look OF such scorn and anger and bitter
ness that the quailed before it.
''For what will YOU never forgive me,
madam he asked sternlv. Because
have been weak enough to let you ruin
me- Because | have allowed YOU to
waste my fortune in folly. You have
been TO me she bitterest curse that ever
poisoned and blackened the life of man.
For the kisses of your lalse lips l have
lost all-honor, riches, usefulness, happi-
,ap, Aol ,-.t ,-o,, jora raprooch
y6p, rho care less for me than for the
Jewels you wear
Certainly" sta returned, with cruel,
hooking laugh; Il supposed you ha6
guessed the truth long ago..
You never loved me-" he demanded
hcarselv; it was my wealth for which
YOU cared Is that what you meant
Precisely So she replied, with icy
calm2ess.
Stephen Darrell said no more He had
drained the cup 10 the last drop. and
the lees were very. very bitter. Without
another glance toward the woman VIII ose
destinations had been his banc, he arose
and left her.
Some time after. sitting in his chamber
more miserable and desolate than he ha'i
ever been in his lite before. he heard the
roll OF arriace wheels. and the soft. muir
NITROUS confusion Of many voices told him
that Cielia's guests were arriving By
an.l-by he heard the preluding tlnkie OF
the grand piano, them Strauss waltz was
executed so finely that he listened and for
moment forgot half his misery. Then
there was a pause followed by sweet
voice singing. As the first not of that
rich. deep voice fioated by to him he
/ sprang tn his feet.
Like tue monk of old. who followed a
bird song fos years thinking them but
! hours. and who returned to fnd the very
earth changed, he listened, marvelling if
he heard terrestrial melody or the music
Of heaven.
But the sorg that Stephen Darrell
heard was simple ballad that told of
sinkliog brooks and whispering leaves
and sun kissed flowers ana happy trust
ing hearts. Often in the old dead DAYS
he had sung thxt ballad with Helen when
she was an artiess. passiooate-hearted
child. Who believed in him rs she did IN
the religion Of her fathers. But Helen :
4 nd mar s1f