Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-10-03

w NO "a Woyc Coy oou SAoA AAlAkS 6O AOW
could they suspect?
But sometimes I marveled that my
keen.eyed stepmother failed to observe
PERKS pallor and evident sadness.
"Ah, WE'LL" I laughed harshly to my.
self, "she will see it all in good time.
and then let them look to themselves "
So silently Swallowed the pair.
Night after night they stole an hour
of blissful peace in the ante-room of the
dim, old library, and night after night
l was ruthlessly on their track. But in
vain ! listened to their fond speech.
The unfinished sentence I had caught
in the hall above remained unfinished.
But one wild, bleak night, q month
later, my task was ended. With stifed
breath 1 noiselessly crept from the Ii
brary to my stepmother's chamber.
She sat in her dressing-gown before
the fire, lost in an inchaining book.
At my stealthy and unceremonious en-
trance she glanced up.
"Great Heaven !" she cried, dropping
her book and staring at me in alarm.
care you ill, Viz"
laughed harsh, short laugh.
"Only transformed into Nemesis.
mamma"
"A Nemesis echoed my stepmother
in slow tones of profound amazement,
the next instant adding impetuously,
I" You look like beautiful spirit from
Hades. :"
1 shrugged my shoulders with anoth-
er harsh laugh.
"Come!" said, imperiously. "Come,
and 1 will show you my Hades!"
She stared at me wonderingly, and
half shrunk as my icy little hand clasped
hers.
"Softly, madame !" 1 whispered, as
we left her room.
Directly she was standing at the
slightly.open door, at which I had so
often stood.
I felt her nails sink deeply in the
palm of my hand as her blazing eyes
rested on the scene beyond. I heard
her breath come in swift, angry gusts.
For full minute she stood thus.
Then, dropping my hand, she flung
back the door and swept into the dim
ly.lighted room.
The pair sitting so lovingly before
the fire started to their feet; Peri with a
sharp cry Of anguish. Albert's first
words were given to her:
BE brave, my love !" 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,
frn,,, r. <hn okhav xr,sk
anger before which even my fierce spirit
quailed.
I" 1t means this, my mother" replied
Albert, unfalteringly, as he stepped a
pace forward and circled more closely
the slender form of the pallid girl be-
side him. It means that for three
months Peri has been my wife"
"Wife !" gasped my stepmother,
staggering back as if she had received
a blow. And then she screamed plead
ingly: "Not your wife, Albert ?"
Yes, mother, my wife," he return
ed sadly and firmly, while great tears
rolled over PERKS white face. "We
grieved to do it secretly, mother, but
My stepmother lifted her hand. She
had quite recovered herself now.
"Silence J" she commanded, in those
awfully hushed tones. "Ask no for
giveness Ask no blessing Peri, go
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"
" Silence" again commanded my
stepmother, in fearfully concentrated
tones. Go not a word put that
creature forth at once p pointing her
white finger at PERKS bowed head.
Say you forgive, mother" pleaded
Albert. "Say-"
"Silence y almost Numbered Mad
anne Viele, her face CHASTITY as the dead.
He turned away then.
"Come. my darling, we will CO." he
with infinite tenderness to
Peri.
And catching up a cloak and hood
she had cast there only few hours be-
fore, he wrapped her tenderly in them
and led her to the door.
They paused and looked back at Mad
anne Viele.
" Farewell, mother" they said. soft
ly, and Heaven forgive US and you p
Madame gazed stonily at them with
out word or gesture, and they sighed
and turned away.
Directly the hall door changed heavily
after them. As it did so my stepmother
turned calmly to me:
" | am sorry for you, VII" she said
briefly, in stern, even tones. "Let us
60 to bed"
And with firm step and erect form
she led me up 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 y
II was all over now. I had sa. ed my
vengeance.
cit is we'll - I said, as my head
touched my pillow.
The days came and went. My step.
mother was erect, cold and imperious as
ever. Not by word, look or tone did
she betray her secret suffering. But at
tha end nf n voar che had lost oyorx,