Daily globe., 1879-06-08
task that engaged me; nor did the victims
of my pride and love. ~ took care to be
always gay and charming, SO how could

always gay and charming, SO how could
they suspect?
But something ,mawelled my keen
eyed stepmot thcr failed to observe Peri's
ISpallor and evident sadness. ss
"Ah, well,' I laughed, harshly, to my
| self, ''she will see it all in good time, and
then let them look to themselves! Z So
silently shadowcd the pair. y .3s II. 5l5 D. ) D
Night after night they stole an hour OF
blissful peace in the ante-roonn of the dim
old library, and night after night / was
ruthlessly on their track. But in vain
listened their fond speech. Tie unfnish-
ed sentence had caught in the hall above
remained unfinished. I'll sa \ rs q 3fsE
But one wild, bleak night, month
later, my task was ended. With 'stitletl
breath ! noiselessly crept from the library
to my stepmother's chamber, ;ss ,ss5
She sat in her dressing gown before
! the fire, lost in an enchanting book. At
my stealthy and unceremonious entrance
she glanced up.
"Great Heavens!'' she. cried, dropping
her book and staring at me in alarm. !.
s'Are you i'll, Vi9'
I laughed a harsh, short laugh.
"Only transformed into a Nemesis,
mamma
"a Nemesis!'' echoed my stepmother
in slow tenes of profound amazement, the
next instant adding impetuously, "You
look like a beautiful spirit from Hades!'
shrugged my shoulders with another
harsh laugh.
"Come!' | said imperiously. Come
and will show you my Hades!''
She stared at me wonderingly. and half
shrunk as my icy little hand clasped
hers.
Softly, Madame whispered as we
lett her room.
Directly she was standing at the slight
! ly open door, at which had SO often
stood
felt her nails sink deep 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 a few minutes she stood thus.
Then, dropping my hand. she flung back
the door and swept into the dimly. lighted
room.
The pair sitting SO lovingly before the
fire started to their feet, Peri with a
sharp cry of anguish Alberts first words
were given to her:
'sBe brave, my love!" he smiled down
upon her in accents Of melting tender
mess.
But his lips were white and his eyes
glowing. l.a
"What means all this?'' demanded
Madame Viele, in awfully hushed tones,
gazing from one to the other with an
anger before which even, my fierce
spirit quailed.
''Itmeans this, my mother" replied Al
bert, unfalteringly, as he stepped.a pace
forward and circled more closely the slen-
der form of the pallid girl beside him. ssIt
means that for three months Peri has been
my WIFE
'sWife!" gasped my stepmother, stag
gerlng back as if she had received blow
And then she screamed, pleadingly :"Not
your wife, Alberto
ssYes, mother, my wife, he returned,
sadly and firmly, while great tears rolled
over Peri's face eve grieved to do it
secretly. mother but
"My stepmother lifted her hand. She
had quite recovered herself now.
'Silence!" she commanded, in those
awfully hushed tones. Ask no forgive
ness Ask no blessing! Peri, 90 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
bittterest curse!"
'sMother'' ga
"Sllence!" again commanded my STEP
mother in fearfully concentrated tones.
eco! Not word! Put that creature
forth at once!" pointing her white finger
at Peri's bowed head +.
"Say you forgive, mother" pleaded Al
bert. 'sSay'
"Silence!' almost thundered Madame
| Viele, her face CHASTITY as the dead. u.
He turned away then.
s'Come, my darling, we will co." he
murmered with infinite tenderness to Peri.
And catching up cloak and hood she
had cast there only few hours before, he
wrapped her tenderly in them and led
her to the door.
t Madame Viele.
Farewell, mother,n they said, softly,
: ''and Heaven forgive us and you!'
Madame gazed stonily at them without
! word or gesture, and they sighed and
3 turned away.
E Directly the hall door changed heavily
+ after them. Aslit did SO my stepmothel
turned calmly to me-:
q II am sorry for you, VIZ She sale
. briefly, in stern, even tones. s.Let us &c
: to bed'' .
And with firm step and erect form sht
), led me to my room. There she kissed m.
, goodnight, saying calmly as she CLOSED
= the door:
= "From this moment they are dead t
= us! Never mention their names again =
It was all over now I had sated m,
vengeance.
1T as well!" said as my head touched
. the pillow.
: The days came and went Ny step
: mother was erect, cold and imperious a
e ever. Not by word, look or tone did sh,
. betraySher secret suffering. But at tn,
= end of year she had lost every vestig
of youth and health. A pale, gaunt olt
3 woman, she sat in her easy chair now.''
One morning she called me to her. 1
!. was on my nineteenth birthday.
vi, she said, curtly, "it's all Dead Sc,
), fruit!''
p I gazed at her, dimly comprehendins
q her meaning. Then she said
: : "They have a little daughter, vi, ane
they have named her after me!-Ra,
Lalor, vi! Shall we have them back
9 Vi?n
3 She looked at me wistfully. Their
was a brief strife between the good AM
: the evil, and then / replied:
sIt is Dead Sea fruit, mamma, W,
s will have them hack can lnnlc mo,