Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-07-23

fierce agony. And then starting up
right. painted with vengeful BREATH
but what meant that unfinished sem
tence Can they -
And then paused and stared breath
lessly at the glowing Goals.
'Ah! will watch I will watch"
muttered later.
And shivered at the sound Of my
own low, relentless voice.
| l did watch.
Madame Vielc never dreamed Of the
task that engaged me ner did the VIC
tins of my pride and love. took care
to be always gay and charming, so how
could they suspect:
But sometimes l marvelled that my
keen eyed step-mother failed to observe
Peri's pallor and evident sadness.
'Ah, WE'LL laughed harshly, to my
self, she will see it all in good time, and
then let them look to themselvesv So
silently shadowed the pair.
Night after night they stole an hour
of blissfhl peace in the ante room ofthe
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. month
later, my task was ended. With stifed
breath nolselessly crept from the libra
ry to my stcp>mother's chamber
She sat in her dressing gown before
the Ere, lost in an enchanting book. AT
my steallhy and unceremonIous en-
trance she glanced up.
Great Heavens! she cried, dropping
her book and staring at me in alarm
Are you i'll, vi"
laughed harsh, short laugh.
Only transformed into Nemesis,
mamma
"A Nemesis y echoed my stepmother
in slow tones Of profound amazement'
the next instant adding impeiueusly,
You look like a beautiful spirit from
Hadesp
I shrugged nv shoulders with anoth-
er harsh laugh.
Comet I said imperiousIy. Come
and | will show you my Hades"
She stared at me wonderingly, and
half shrunk as my icy little hand clasped
hers.
Softly, madame I whispered, as
we left her room.
Directly she was standing at the
sllghtly.open door, at which had 30
often stood.
I felt 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 hung back
the door and swept into the dimly-light
ed room.
The pair sitting so loveingly before
the fire started 10 their feet, Peri with a
sharp cry of anguish. Alberts first
words were given to her.
BE brave, my love! he smiled down
upon her in accents Of melting tender
ness.
But his lips were white and his eyes
glowing.
What means all thiss demanded
Madame Viele, in awfully hushed tones,
gazing from one TO the other with an
anger before which even my fierce splr-
il quailed.
IT aeans this, my mother replied
Albert, unfalteripgly, as he stepped a
pace forward and circled 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.
staggering 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
grieved to do it secretly, mother, but
Ny step-mother lifted her hand. She
had quite recovered herself now.
.silence y she commanded, in those
awfully hushed tones. Ask no for
giyeness ASK no blessings! 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 bllterest curse"
Mother -
'Sllence = again commanded my step |
mother In feariully concentrated tones.
60! Not o word I! Put that creature
forth at once p pointing her white finger
at Peri's bowed head.
Say you forgive, MOTHER pleaded
Albert, Say -
Silence = almost thundered Madame
Yiele, her face CHASTITY as the dead.
He turned away then.
Come, my darling, We will CO. he
murmured with infinite tenderness to
Peri.
And catching up cloak aud hood she |
had cast there only lew bours before,
he wrapped her tenderly in them aud led
her to the door.
There they paused and looked back at
NJ. ,or.. Utola