The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-10


the Charring Cross Station, en- route for
the Continent; and Margaret, who had
the sense to hide her coarse visage under
thick veil, mounted by the side of the
coachman, and off they went. They
reached Paris the next day, and somehow
day by day Euphemia began to brighten.
Her conscience called out still at times,
but she managed to stife its voice, or
defy it.
1t was very pleasant life she led, and
Mr.. Roper's devotion increased instead
of diminished. He was proud of the adj
miration she excited everywhere, and he
lavished on her rich gifts for her personal
adornment.
Euphemia liked luxury, and would not
suffer herself to recall how this taste of
hers had been the bane of her life. Costly
Jewels, lace, silk, and velvet, he bought
her; and she smiled him always such
sweet thanks, that he would have thought
himself amply rewarded without the
pleasure of seeing how beautiful she could
look in them.
But there is no bliss without alloy, and
Margaret Cell was the drop of acrid
poison in Euphemia's cup of sweets. All
the day she would keep tolerably SOBER
because, fortunately, she had whole
some fear of Mr.. Roper; but towards
evening she would retire to her own
room, and there indulge her fatal propen-
sity unchecked.
This fact Euphemia rigidly concealed
from Mr.. Roper, and never allowed him
to suspect that she failed in any part of
her duty. Once he happened to remark
it was as odd that he never heard Marga-
ret leave his wife's room, or encountered
her in the passages; but Euphemia man.
aged to turn the subject after few vague
explanations, and Mr.. Roper, who had
seen from the first that she did not relish
any alusion to her maid, acquiesed in the
amendment Immediately.
But one night Margaret was oddly
excited-almost mad. Euphemia had
been to the opera with her husband; and
on her return, one of the female servants
came running to her, looking actually
frightened
Madame's femme-de-chambre had been
down amongst them, behaving so strange
ly she said, and finging her arms about
as if she were going to strike them. Her
eyes were rolling, and she laughed like an
idiot. Would madame 60 and see? She
might, perhaps, be able to calm her lit
tie; and she, Antoinette, would go down
and prepare "tisane," as the poor soul
must be i'll.
Mr.. Roper could not understand word
of French, fortunately; but he saw that
something was the matter, from the
Frenchwoman's excited gestulations, and
was very anxious to know what it might
be.
"Poor Margaret has had fainting-fit,"
Euphemia told him, "and will 90 and
sit by her little while, if you will pro-
mise me not to stay up. She has had
them before, and know Just the kind of
treatment she requires. She will soon be
all right if keep her quiet"
"But you are tired yourself, my love-"
ooh, no, indeed, thank YOU" replied
Euphemia, smiling at him reassuringly.
"Antoinette will help me- if l require as
sistance. | dare say Margaret will be all
right in half an hour. But, in any case,
you will promise me not to wait up?"
"You are quite sure [ can not be of
any usew
"Quite; and, indeed" with another
smile, sweeter than the first, gentlemen
are always in the way when there is sick
ness about"
I'll suppose we are very awkward"
"You have the reputation, certainly"
perhaps | shall have an opportunity
of proving some day that the assertion is
a libel"
81 must be ill on purpose" she said;
eff not, | shall never know"
The odor of Margaret's room showed
Euphemia what she had been indulging
in before she had time to put any ques-
tions. Euphemia had always noticed
before that brandy had most peculiar
effect upon her-seeming to excite, rather
than stupefy; and at the first warning of
her presence, Margaret broke out into
violent objurgations.
"You fanced / was going to die, ex-
pect; but there's no such luck for you,
my dear. shall live forty years yet,
unless we get drowned crossing the Chan
mel, which would serve you right for
coming to such horrible country as this,
where a Christian can't get drop of
good stout to comfort her, nor even a
glass of ale, but has to drink fire instead.
l feel as if my throat was scorched to
death, do"
"You promised me faithfully that you
would never drink brandy again, Marga-
ret" said her mistress, severely; "and
this is how you keep your word. Do
you know that if Mr.. Roper had the
slightest suspicion of what was the mat
ter with you, he would turn you off d.
rectly?"
"And you too, I expect, as we can't be
separated" replied the woman, with an
insolent laugh.
"True!" said Euphemia, guiltily;
"only you don't seem to see that the great
est harm you can do to yourself is to
harm me. From the moment | leave Mr..
Roper-which, mind you, may do at
any moment, if you push me too far-I
m, M IiSa to vn,, in apu WOW on6 tho