Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1879-08-28
Bn! fho ne1t moment NIadame Voc

wi, dearest my grea.-niece, PEN
Holbroob. She smiled.
turned my eyes from Alberts lacs
10 meet the eager half-aflrighted gaze of
the golden haired girl l could not but
admire.
bowed, and somewhat coldiy accept
cd the pre- ffered hand, and answered the
few musical words of gentle welcome.
Then / involuntarily flashed swift
glance at Albert.
ll~..Ah.. how. the blood leaped through nay
graceful and sweet. Yes, hated her
Tor there could be no mistaking the
broodlu8 tenderness and passion with
which my stepbrother was regarding
her
But only for an instant did his eyes
betray him; aud as the pleasant hours Of
the evening few by, i grew half dis
posed 10 laugh at my Jealous pnin.
Nevertheless, when my stepmother fol-
lowed me to my room / smiled lightly.
Pen ID very lovely, mamma, aud Al
bert seems to admire her.
Madame Viele turned o glance upon
me that covered my face with food Of
color.
Nay, nay, she laughed aoftly the
next instant, winding her arm caress.
lngy about me. You have no cause
Tor Jealousy, my love. Albert is heart
whole, and knows well that it is my
wish to see him your husband. Know
ing this, she added with haughty stern
ness, lie would not dare brave me by
loving another. Then, with swift re-
turn to her former tenderness, che con-
tlnued: My dear child, trust Won can |
make mo happy by loving my handsome
Don't rush into jealousy, vi. Peri is a
good and beautiful girl, but Albert gives
her only a cousinly affection. Though
she is in no way dependent upon me
pecunlarily, promised her dying moth
er to give her a home al Gray Fell, as
you know; and you can see, my love,
how very unpleasant it would make it
Tor you to brood over foolish jealousy.
80, dear, put all that nonsense ont of
Your charming head and rest assured
that am right. Ny eyes are keen, and
in the eighteen months she has been at
Gray Fell Dlust inevitably have pene-
trated a secret of that kind
or course, mamma is right, / muir
INJURED as the door closed ON her impe.
rlal form, and | summoned Manton.
But, my maid dismissed, l sat down
IN my dressing gown and stared at the
glowing Goals, my thoughts and feelings
IN az anxious whirl. After time rose, ,
signing impatiently.
! can't sleep; l will go down and get
I bC Ok"
With the words crept ont inio the
hall. | had traversed half It's length .
1
hind tue heavy damask curtains OF q
window near me.
Burglars were in my mind, but made d
no outcry. The next minute the steps (
passed a few feet from me, and | was
quickly undeceiyed.
A voice / we'll knew murmured in |
hushed tones, Don't grieve, my darling,
t will all come right. Only be patient, !
my own
And felt more than heard the soft
kiss that finished the sentence.
twas Peri's voice that answered.
'Oh. Albertl Albertl she breathed,
falteringly. Where is it all to end9
We have done very, very wrong. dear
est. And oh, Albert, she loves youl i
saw it in those great, passionate, dusky
eyes Of hers to night, aud in vague
terror of the future | stared almost
wildly ut her as Auut Ray presented
me-
'Nonsensel Do You want to make me
vain?' laughed my stepbrother softly.
And then he murmured in graver ac-
cents 'You say we have done wrong,
darling. Remember that we had to
choose between two evils. Remember
that my mother possesses an iron will.
She would have ground us both to pow
der rather than consent to what We
yes, yes, l know sighed Peri, be-
fore he could finish the sentence j was
painting to hear.
Then cease to grieye, darling,' he
whispered. And now, once more, good
night.
And l knew he folded her close to his
heart for a brief moment.
As their doors closed noiselessly upon
their retiring forms l crept weakly back
to my chamber, pride, anger and des-
pair clutching at my heart-strings.
With a stihed cry flung myself pas
sionately on the rng before the fire and
buried my face in the tiger skin cover
ing-a pile of soft, yielding hassocks.
'Losti lost to mel l moaned in my
right, ] painted with vengeful breath. |
But what meant that unfinished sem
tencel Can they
And then paused and stared breath
lessly at the glowing Goals.
'Ah / will watchl l will watchl [ |
muttered later.
Ard / shivered at the sound of my
own low, relentless voice. -
did watch.
Night after night they stole an hour
of blissful peace in the ante-room of the
dim, old library, and night after night
| was ruthlesslY on their track. But in
vain l listened to their fond speech.
The unfinished sentence | had caught
in the hall above remained unfinished.
s. But one wild, bleak night, month
later, my task was ended. With stified
breath l noiselessly crept from the Ii.
brary to my stepmother's chamber.
She sat in her dressing gown before
the fire, lost in an enchanting book.
At my stealthy and unceremonious en-
trance she glanced up.
Great Heavenp she cried, dropping
her book and staring at me in alarm.
Are you i'll, Viz
I laughed a harsh, short laugh.
'Only transformed into Nemesis,
mamma.
"A Nemesisr echoed my stepmother
in slow tones of profound amazement,
the next instant adding impetuously,
You look like beautiful spirit from
Hadesr