Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-03-08
that reilly was absorbed in two words,
that I 6irted abominably with her.

song. Quite calm and self-possessed,
with no appearance of noticing my con-
duct, the thought that it troubled her
never occurred to me. So that when the
evening was over, and VIC had left the
house together, l was astonished beyond
measure to see an offended look upon her
face, and hear an offended tone in her
voice. l offered her my arm. She re-
jected it, replying the ground was damp
and that her hands were occupied with
her dress but | knew that this was
merely pretext, and feeling myself in
| the wrong, and having swallowed more
wine than should at the supper table,
| grew very angry.
MAY ask what ! have done 7" |
said.
"You know" said Grace.
II know !" / repeated. MAY, /
know nothing of woman's faucies.
You must explain"
II scarcely think it worth WHILE"
said she. IF you do not know that you
have done wrong to- night, really should
not care. You have neglected me- and
devoted yourself to that vulgar woman.
| heard lady near me say that you
seemed tired of your bargain. She
thought that you we're in love with that
creature. SO did other people Under
the circumstances l have right to feel
offended, insulted."
Perhaps she thought would deny
her charge. Perhaps she expected me
to plead for pardon God only knows
what possessed me. answered her
only
"May I not talk to pretty woman
because hope to marry you some day Z"
"You were flirting-almost making
love to her." she replied.
"She is the sort of woman with whom
men fall in love-" l replied; "irresisti-
BILE in her manner, I've heard she makes
conqucsts everywhere don't doubt it. :"
Grace looked at me with a stern face,
white in the starlight as marble statue.
"Other women arc always jealous of
such women" l added.
II am not jealous of her," s he said
Il would not be like her for kingdom.
She is terrible woman. But since you
admire her SO, you are free to tell her SO
after you have seen me to my door"
"Grace!" l said.
miss Hunter, if you please. "Mr.
Rutherford" she said, 1--WE have both
: made little mistake easily rectifed
that is ALL"
l felt as | stood looking at her that
the effect of the wine had drunk upon
me was stronger than had thought, bu
1 gave no heed to the warning Of my
giddy head and rapid pulse.
"Just as you please" 1 said. 81
should think that jealous woman woulC
curse any mans life. I'll go now;
won't trouble you any longer. Good
bye"
We were not at the door of her home
we we're about half block from it; bu
l turned on my heel then and there and
left her. staggered little as | walked
away, and | was hot and angry Imadt
my way home, and without undressing
fell upon my bed and dropped asleep.
In two hours | awakened sober.
sat up and looked about me. The scenes
of the evening required to me wildly
| saw how blame-worthy I had been, anC
terrible grief oppressed me. | put N,
head down upon my hands and burst in
to tears. had lost her, and with he
all that made life precious. Then hop'
.. dawned upon my soul. l would write
to her tell her how, unused to liquo
as was. the wine had affected me.
would tell her that to my sober self there
was no charm in the woman who hac
seemed to enchant me the evening be
! fore.
/ would draw the comparison felt 81
keenly between her pure self and tina
bold-eyed Airt l would pray for for
giveness and she would forgive me.
Springing to my feet rushed to my
desk. l drew from it pen and paper anC
wrote letter overlooking with remors'
and tenderness. | read and rereaC
it. Then leaving it upon the spo
where it was written, stood at th,
window and waited for the tardy
dawn, very jealous Of the slow hours
that kept my missive away from my dar.
ling.
/ bad put out my candle when | loft
my desk, and the room should have been
dark, but as | turned my head, after a
long and anxious reveric, saw it was
full Of pale radiance like that Of moon
light. II startled me. Whence did the
light come? Had a miracle occurred
Had the moon risen again q?
Suddenly, amid the silvery light, APP
peared a still whittier radiance. II slow
" took form. A female figure in white
garments so bright that they dazzlcd the
} eyes stopped bending over my letter.
! remained motionless--to speak OF
stir was not in my power-and gazing
on the strange object with terrified intcn
sity. The figure seemed 10 turn Tho
pages Of my letter with its Transparent
hand. heard a gentle sigh ; then th,
head turned towards me and | saw I
face | knew-the face that seemed the
loveliest Of all on earth 10 me, endowed
with a mysteriously divine beauty foI
which no man can find words--tho glori.
fed face Of sweet Grace Hunter.
At the sight | burst the bonds that
held me--bonds as tangible as though ]
could have seen them--and rushed for.
ward. stroye - clasp my love, or her
J shadow. 10 my arms. A shock, such a.
one might experience from an electrical
! machine, flashed through me, anl / fell
> powerless 10 the 6oos.