Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1879-08-28


Softly, mndamei' whispered, as wc
left her room.
Directly she was standing at the
slightly-Open door, at which had 81
often stood.
/ felt her nsils 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 q full minute she stood thus.
Then, dropping my hand, she flung
back tue door and swept into the dimly-
lighted room.
The pair sitting so lovingly before the
s's'- -a'srted to their feet, Peri with a
words were given TO her:
'B5 brave, my lovel' he smiled To-
upon her in accents of melting ten'j"I ,Jmu
ness. 'onler-
But bis lips were white and bis
glowing. LIS eyes
What means all thisP' demanded M.
dame Vlele, in awfully hushed tones,
gazing from ono to the other with an
anger before which even my fierce spirit
quailed.
1T means this, my mother, replied
Albert, unlalteringly, as he paced for
ward AMI circled more closely the slen
DER form OF the pallid girl. l.beside him.
1T means that for three months Peri
has been my wife
'Wlfel gasped my stepmother, stag
gerlng back as if she had received a
blow. And then she screamed. plead
ingly: Not your wife, Albert?'
Yes, mother, my WIFE, he returned,
sadly and firmly, while great tears roll,
ed over Peri's white face. 'We grieyed
to do it secretly, mother, but
My stepmother lifted her hand. She
had quite recovered herself now.
'SllenceP she commanded in those
awfully hushed tones. ASK no forgive.
ness9 Ask no blessingI Peri, goi Leave
This house, now and forever. Go or
stay, as you will; but know that from
his hour ] never speak to you again.
From this hour know your blessing my
cursel'
Mother
Silencel' again commanded my step
mother, in fearfully concentrated tones.
Goi Not world Put that creature
orth at oncel pointins her white finger
It Peri's bowed head.
Say you forgive, mother, pleaded |
Abort. Say
'Silencer almost thundered Madame
llele, her face ghastly as the dead,
He turned away then. ,.,
Come, my darling, we will go he
with infinite tenderness to
'eri.
And catching up cloak and hood she
al cast there ouly a few hours before.
g wrapped her tenderly in them and
'd her to tho door.
There they paU sed and looked back at
Iadame Vielo.
Farewell, mother,' they said, softly,
a 20 Il fs1;H Ssse s, sic,;,;;FT and ynnl,
ld turned AWAY.
Directly the hall door changed heavily
fter them. AS it did SO my stepmother
armed calmly to me:
4 am sorry for you, vi she said
riehy, in stern, even tones. 'Lst us go
} bed
And with firm step and erect form she
ID m up to my room. There she kiss
d me good night, saying calmly as she
losed the door:
From this moment they are dead to
ID. Never mention their names againl'
1t was all over now. had sated my
1T is wellr 1 said, as my head touch
d my pillow.
The days came and went. My step
mother was erect, cold and imperious
is ever. Not by word. look or tone did
he betray her secret suffering. But at
he end OF year she had lost every YES
ige of youth and health. A pale, gaunt |
I'D woman, she sat in her chair now.
One morning she called me to her. 1t |
vas on my nineteenth birthday,
wi, she said, curtly, it's all Dead
sea fruit.
/ gazed at her, dimly ccmprehending
Ter meaning. Then she said:
'They have little daughter, vi, and
hey have named her after me-Ray
! llor, vi. Shall we have them back,
Vl?'
She looked at me wistfully. There
vas brief strife between the good and
ihe evil, and then replied
1T is Dead Sea fruit, mamma. We
will have them back. 1 can look upon
Albert as my brother now
Thank Heavenl' exclaimed Madame
Viele.
And three days later Albert, Peri and
the little Ray were established at Gray
Fell.