Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-05-19

Win sGiAeu cry HunS mysell
passionately on the rug before the fire
and buried my face in the tiger-skin
covering pile of soft yielding hassocks.
"Lost lost to me !" ] moaned in my
fierce agony. And then starting up
right. I painted with yengeful breath.
"But what meant that unfinished SEN
tence ? Can they -"
And then I paused and stared breath
lessly at the glowing Goals.
"Ah! l will watch l will watch p
| muttered later.
And l shivered at the sound of my
own low, and relentless voice.
did watch.
Madame Viele never dreamed of the
task tlat engaged me; nor did the VIC
tins O. my pride and love. I took care
to be always gay and charming, SO how
could tley suspect?
But Smetime | marvelled that my
keen eyd step-mother failed to observe
Peri's palor and evident sadness.
"Ah, vell," I laughed, harshly, to
myself, she will see it all in good time,
and then let them look to themselves I"
So silertly Swallowed the pair.
Night after night they stole an hour
of blissfu peace in the ante.room of the
dim. old library, and night after night
| was ruthlessly on the track. But in
vain listened to their fond speech.
The unfinished sentence | had heard in
the hall above remained unfinished.
But one wild. bleak night, a month
later, my task was ended. With stihed
breath | noiselessly crept from the libra
~ to my step-motber's chamber.
She sat in her dressing gown before
tie 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.
"Are you ill, Vi?"
laughed harsh, short laugh.
"Only transformed into a Nemesis,
mamma 2"
"A Nemesis p echoed my step-mother
in slow tones of profound amazement,
the next instant added impetuously, "you
look like beautiful spirit from Hades l''
l shrugged my shoulders with another
harsh laugh.
''Come u said imperiouslY. "Come
and | will show you my hades !''
She stared at me wonderingly, and
half shrunk as my icy little hands clasp
ed hers.
'.Softly, madame p l whispered, as
we left her room.
Directly she was standing at the
slightly open door, at which l had often
stood.
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 flung back
the door and swept into the dimly. light
ed 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 tender.
ness.
But his lips were white and his eyes
glowing
"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.
alt means this, my mother" replied
Albert unfalteringly, as he stepped a
pace forward and circled more closely
the slender form of the pallid girl beside
him. at means that for three months
Peri has been my wife"
"Wifel" gasped my step-mother,
staggering back as if she had received a
blow. And then she screamed, plead.
ingly: "Not your wife. Alberto"
"Yes, my mother. my wife," he re-
turned sadly and firmly. while great
tears rolled over Peri's white face. "We
grieved to do it secretly, mother, but
My step-mother 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, go! Leave
this house now and forever. Go, and
may my curse follow you to the last
hour of you 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 bless
ing my bitterest curse !"
'Mother-"
"Silence !' again commanded my
step-mother in fearfullY concentrated
tones. "Go Not word Put that
creature forth at once p pointing hel
white finger at Peri's bowed head.
"Say you forgive, mother" pleaded