Louisiana capitolian., 1879-07-26

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dressed entirely In black, and aroun,
her wrists were broad binds ofvclvc
md on u finger Of her left hand whicl
rested in her lap glittcred solitar,
diamond. My eyo wandered to he,
head. II was sllapely and small, ant
and covered with u mass Of black hair
rolled up In coils. There was " noble.
ness about her that captiyatcd me-
and without reason or apparent mo-
tive | had conceived for her pas
sion ut once instant ntaneousan intense.
10 was with u feeling ofeager yet sup
pressed emotion that l said: "Will
you come with met"
"rurning her face slowly around
she gazcd into my eyes stcadiastly.
Then the stern features relaxed, the
small mouth mdintcd into smile,
the eyes, large, lustrous black orbs,
twinklod and scintillatcd like stars;
the lips parted, disclosing small, white,
glittering teeth. In u low voice she
answered: .af
"Man is an unreasoning creature.
You know me not. may be an angel
or u devil"
"Angel or dcvil!" ! cried, vcllc-
mcntly, 81 love you! What matters!
COme!n
'Tt Is destiny" she said, rising, re-
suming her hat and shawl, wrapping
tho latter around her, throwing one
end over her shoulder, cure you oer-
tain Of what you sayw
"Ccrtain," ! responded.
"Thcn lead the way!' She took
my arm, and together we walked back
over tho pier into the city.
We were finally married. For the
better security of my "prize''--as |
loved to speak Of hcr--l took n house
iar out from the heart of the city. 1t
was u model home thanks to my
ample mcans--and not Il thing that
heart could wish for or eye covet, but
what ! placed there.
A year passed in the quiet of repose
for We had no company, each dny
binding more firmly the chain that
held mo willing slave to hor side.
Beautiful and proudly glorious, sho
was the embodiment of refined accom-
plishmcnt, and my chief delight was
to sit, evening after evening, at her
side and listen to the mcomprchen-
sible music of her voice IN CONVERSE
ton. asked no questions, but little
by little | became conscious OF
knowledge of her past history of a
little child deserted by unnatural pa
rents, thrown on the charity of the
world; of q brief home ut an orphan
asylum; of a rich but eccentric old man
who, attracted by her peculiar beauty,
took fancy to and adopted herr Of
years at school, and finally a brilliant
season in society in her Eastern home,
somewhere on tho Delaware. Then
her adopted father came to California,
and for many years lived u secluded
and miserly life, allowing her no COM
pany nor to become acquainted with
my one, treating her, though kindly,
rs u prisoner, till ut last she grew dcs-
perate and determined to end her
miserable life.
! made no attempt to find this adop-
ted father. | did not want to see him,
and was secretly glad she had mono to
claim her; no relatives. We were
very happy; at least she seemed to be
so, yet there were times when q sus-
picion flashed through my mind that
she was not so happy Us she would
have me believe.
Subsequent inquiry proved my sus-
picion well grounded. Her spirits
were dropping she said, and she need
cd company.
Thcnceforth my little home as
never empty. A select few of Iny
friends l introduced to her, and these
brought others, till there was never
an evening that she had no company.
Some peculiar fascination made the
men her abjcct slaves and all women
her friends. But an eager glance of
her eye, and the object of her attcn-
ton sprang to his feet to obcy-to dn-
ticipatc, ifpossible-her slightest wish;
and when, as sometimes happened,
two approached her at the same time,
the most cntravagant scramble was
the result. looked on these things
with indifference, proud of my wife,
and anticipating no harm.
Among the constant visitors were
two young men, cousins, the son and
nephew of New Orleans banker, out
here in California on q pleasure tgip,
and who came to me with letters from
a few of my old friends there.
TO these Geraldine gave her espc-
Cial attention, and. rs | ,hoIuht FOR