St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1878-06-22

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 o.
splendor. It was unavoidable, but he
shrank from the ordeal with weak and
heavy heart.
It was at the close of peaceful, golden
day when he drew up his spanking pie.
bald roans before the uptown palace
that WAS his no longer. The silver Of
moonrise and the rose of sunset yet
fingered on the purple dusk of the even,
ing as he YEARLY descended from bis
glittering coach, and with tagging feet
went up the granite steps. The hand
some parlors were a blaze of light. The
heavy odor of costly cut flowers filled the
air. In the center of the room stood
CIelia, her 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 in the snaky coils of her black
hair. A heavy sigh parted his pale lips
as he looked at her.
II am sorry that you are to give a
soiree tonight, Clelia," he said, gently
drawing her to tete-a-tete upholstered
in pale blue satin.
"Why?" she inquired, for once inn
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 sme-
thing unpleasant to tell you, Clelia and
I hope you will listen patiently"
90, it is about money, of course she
cried, petulantly, as she impatientg tap
ped her dainty boot upon the palegreen
carpet strewn with woven roses like
drops of blood.
eyes," he said very gravely, it is
about money, andI wish to tell you that
mine is gone to the last dollar. ! am a
man broken in health and heat and
fortune, andsuspected of gross dishonesty
This house is sold, and my personal pro-
perty soon will be. I have nothing left
$50 nothing"
His broken voice had the sound of 9
wall as he uttered that last pathetic
word. Not a CLEAN of pity softened the
hard, handsome face of the womm before
him. For moment he sat naughty and
silent; then the angry blood burned
redly in her cheeks, and strange cold
light sparkled in her sullen, slunberous
eyes.
"You wish me to understand that I
am the wife of poor and dhhenored
bankrupt" she observed, and each chill
ing word stabbed his heart likesharpest
steel. II will never forgive you. I will
never forgive you," repeated tho woman
who had tempted and beguiledand mad
dened and destroyed him:
And he thought of her whom he had
wronged by talsehood and disloyalty,
whom he had repudiated and forsaken.
He thought of Helen as he saw her last,
standing injured and heart-broken be-
fore him, end yet crying to him out of
the depths of her outraged love, II for
| give you, Stephen
For the first time he turned upon
Clelia look of such scorn and anger and
bitterness that she quailed before it.
"For what will you never forgive me,
madame7" he asked, sternly 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 the bitterest curse that
ever poisoned and blackened the life OF
man. For the kisses of your false lips
have lost all-honor, riches, usefulness,
happiness. And yet you dare reproach
me-you, who care less for me than for
the jewels you wear"
| "Certainly," she returned, with a
cruel, mecking laugh; "Isupposed that
you had guessed the truth long ago."
"You never loved me 7" he demanded
hosrsely; it was my wealth for which
you cared. Is that what you mean ,"
Precisely &c." shs replied, with icy
calmness.
Stephen Darrell said no more. He
had drained the cup to the last drop,
and the lees were very, very bitter.
Without another glance toward the
woman whose destinations had been
his bane, he arose and left her.
Some time after, sitting in bis chamber,
more miserable and desolate than he
had ever been in bis life before, he
heard the roll of carriage wheels, and
the soft, murmurous confusion of many
voices told him that Cslia's guests were
arriving. Bye!and-bye he heard the
preluding tinkle of the grand piano,
then Strauss waits was executed 80
finely that he listened, and for a mo-
ment forgot half bis misery. Then
there was a pause followed by sweet
voice singing. AS the first note of that
rich, deep voice aoated up to him he
sprang to his feet.
Like the monk of old, who followed
bird song for years thinking them but
hours, and who returned to find the very
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