The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-05-08

''Softly, madame," l whispered as we
left her room.
Directly she was standing at the slight
ly open door, at which | had so often
stood.
Ifelt her nails sink deep in the palm Of
my hand as her blazing eyes rested on the
scene beyond. heard her breath come
in swift angry gusts.
For a full minute she stood thus. Then.
dropping my hand, she flung back the
door and swept into the dimly-lighted
room.
The pair sitting so lovingly before the fire
started to their feet, Pen with sharp cry
of anguish. Albert's first words were
given to her:
BE brave, MY Lowell" he smiled down
upon her in accents of melting tenderness.
But his lips were white and his eyes
glowing.
"What means all this?" demanded
Madame Viele, in awfully hushed tones,
gazing from one to the other with an an
ger before which even my fierce spirit
quailed.
at means this, my mother" replied
Albert, unfalteringly, as he stepped a
pace forward and clrcled more closely the
slender form of the pallId girl beside him.
1T means that for three months PERI has
been my wife"
'Wife!" gasped my step-mother, stag
gering back as if she bad received blow.
And then she screamed, pleadingly: mot
your wife, Albert?''
"Yes, mother, my wife," he returned.
sadly and firmly, while great tears rolled
over PERKS face. I'VE grieved to do it
secretly. mother, but"
Ny stepmother lifted her hand. She
had quite recovered herself now.
''Silence!" she commanded, in those
awfully hushed tones. Ask no forgive
ness! Ask no blessing! Peri, 60! Leave
this house. NOW and forever. Go. and may
my curse follow you to the last hour Of
your life! Albert, you are my son. Go,
or stay, as you will: but know that from
this hour never speak to you again.
From this hour know your blessing my
bitterest curse!"
"Mother'-
"Siience!" again commanded my step
mother IN fearfully concentrated tones.
go! Not a word! Put that creature
forth at once!" pointing her white fin
ger at PERKS bowed head.
'Say you forgive, mother" pleaded Al
bert. Say
"Silence!" almost thundered Madame
Viele, her face ghastly as the dead.
He turned away then.
''Come, my darling, we will CO." he
murmured with infinite tenderness to
Peri.
And catching up cloak and hood she
had cast there only few hours before, he
wrapped her tenderly in them and led her
to the door.
There they paused and looked back at
Madame Viele.
Farewell, mother" they said, softly,
land Heaven forgive us and you'll"
Madame gazed stonily at them without
word or gesture, and they sighed and turn.
ed away.
Directly the hall door GLANCED heavily
after them. As it did SO my stepmothel
turned calmly to me:
81 am sorry for you, vi" she said briefly,
in stern, even tones. Let US go to bed. v
And with firm step and erect form she
led me to my room. There she kissed me
goodnight, saying calmly as she closed the
door:
From this moment they are dead to us.
Never mention their names again."
1t was all over now. had stated my
vengeance.
1T is WE'LL" l said as my head touched
the pillow.
The days came and went. Ny. step.
mother was erect. cold and Imperious as
ever. Not by word, look or tone did she
hetray her secret suffering. But at the
end Of year she had lost every vestige o.
youth and health. A pale. gaunt old
woman, she sat in her easy chair now"
One morning she called me to her. II
was on my nineteenth birthday.
vi. she said, CURLY, ''it's all Dead Sea
fruit"
9azed at her. dimly comprehendinG
her meaning. Then she said:
''They have little daughter, vi, and
they have named her after me!-Ray
Lalor, vi! Shall we have them back,
vi?"
She looked at me wistfully. There was
brief strife between the good and the
evil. and then / replied:
at is Dead Sea fruit, mamma. We
will have them back. can look upon
Albert as my brother now"
Thank Heaven" exclaimed Madame
Viele.
And three days later Albert, Peri and
the little Ray were established at Gray
Fell.