Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-08-22
NO. 2O2.
Gales ano Skettbes.
4 WOMAN'S STORY.
BY Doctor SCoTT PARR.
Continued from vesterday.)

\ voice | we'll knew murmured in
hushed tones. Don't grieve, my darling,
it will come right. Only be patient. my
own
And felt more than heard the soft kiss
that finished the sentence.
II was Peri's voice that answered:
"Oh. Albert Albelt.' she breathed.
fateringly. Where is it all to end? We
have done very, very wrong. dearest
And oh, Albert, she loves You. saw ii in
those great passionate, dusky eys Of hers
tonight, and in a vague terror of the
future | stared almost wildly at her as
Aunt Ray presented me-
Nonsense Do vou want to make me
vain ?H laughed my step brother, softly.
And then he murmured in graver accent:
"ion say we have done wrong. darling.
Remember that we had 10 choose between
two evils. Remember that my mother
possesses an iron will. She would have
ground lis both into powder rather than
consent TO what we--''
''les, yes, know" sighed Peri, be-
fore | could catch the sentence was pant
ing Ia hear.
Then cease to grieve. darling" he
whispered. "And now once more, good
night
And knew he folded her close to his
heart for n brief moment.
As the door closed noiselessly. upon
their retiring ferns, crept weakly back
to my chamber. pride, anger and despair
elutching at my hear. strings.
With a stiiled cry flung myself pas
sionately on the rug before the fire and
buried my face in the tiger skin covering
L., q .ntt 4. l..
Lost lost to met | moaned in nv
fierce agony. And then startiug upright.
painted with vengcfnl breath. ..But
what meant that unfinished sentence ?
Can they
And then paused and stared breath
lesslv ut the glowing Goals.
"Ah! will watch. will watch"
muttered later #HtHN ~
And | shivered at the sound Of my own
low and and relentless voice
did watch.
Madame Neile never dreamed Of the
task that engaged me nor did the victims
of my pride and love. took care to be
always gay and charming. 90 how could
they suspect?
But sometimes | marveled that nv keen
eyed step-mother failed to observe Peri's
pall0r and evident sadness.
"Ah, WELL" laughed. harshlv, to my
self, ''she will see it all in good time, and
then let them look to themselvesr' so !
silently shadowed the pair.
Night after night they stole All hour of
blissful peace in the ante room of the dim.
old library. and night after night | was
ruthlessly on the track. But in vain list
ened to their fond speech. The unfinished
sentence had heard in the hall above re-
NAMED unfinished
But one wild. bleak night. a month later,
my task was ended. With stified breath
noiselessly crept from the library to my
step-mother's chamber
She sat in her dressing gown before the
fire. lost in an enchanting book. At my
stealthy and unceremoli0us entrance she
glanced up.
Great heavens she cried, dropping
her book and staring at me in alarm.
d" Are You i'll. vi o'
laughed a harsh. short laugh.
"Only transformed into II Nemesis,
mamma
"A Nemesis = echoed my step-mother
in slow tones of profound amazement, the
next instant. added impetuously, "You
look like beautiful spirit from Hades''
shrugged my shoulders with anoAher
harsh laugh.
Come I 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
left the room.
Directly she was standing at the slight
lV opened door, at which | 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 full minute she stood thus. Then,
dropping my hands, 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 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 Niele. in awfullv hushed tones,
gazing from one to the other with an an
ger before which even my fierce spirit
qualed.
at means this, my MOTHER replied
Albert unialterngly. as he stepped pace
forward and circled more closely the slen-
der form of the palld girl before him.
1T means that for three months Peri has
been my wife"
Wife," gasped my step-mother. stag
gering back as if she had received blow.
And then she screamed, pleadingly: Not
your wife, Alberto?
''Yes. my mother, my wife," he re-
turned sadly and firmly, while great tears
rolled over Peri's white face. I'VE
grieved to do it secretly, mother. but"
NV step-mother lifted her hand. She
had quite recovered herself now.
"Slence :" she commanded in those
awfullv husled 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 honr OF
your life
albert. you are my son. Go or stay,
81 4