The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-06-26

established one among the other girls
that DR.. lie Roy was Minna Storey's ex-
elusive property.
Eddie was wretched. Those women
are perhaps to be envied who, in similar
situations, cultivate a gayety which, if
| forced, at least serves as an escape-valve.
Eddie not only was wretched but looked
so. And George became irritated. He
actually was at last in the condition of
believing himself to be the aggrieved
party.
One evening, when Eddie hung over
the children until they were asleep,
grooming soft airs to them which always
lulled them to rest soonest, she wandered
down stairs with the vague intention of
finding George and trying to dispel the
miserable cloud which had hung between
them now for so long. A wish to do SO
had come into her heart rs she kissed her
babies goodnight She drifted down
the great sounding stairway, looking like
pale ghost with her sad eyes and her
flowing white dress. She glanced out
on the different piazzas on her way; the
boarders were apt to walk and sit about
on these during the long evenings. But
she did not see her husband. She drifted
through the parlors, where there were
card playing, dancing, music.
| LOOK dU NILS. LIE IOy. IlOW DeduUl-
fili she isl" one person remarked.
"And how intensely unhappy! Poor
thing! What pity that any one with
heart should have married George LIE
Roy!'
| She stood in the open doorway and
looked up and down the piazza on which
opened the parlors. All, at last! George
was seated with his back toward her, in
a lounging, negligent attitude. Facing
him, in an attitude equally negligent,
was Minna Storey, her dimpled Bac-
chante face upturned to his; her white
arms cleaning out of the falling rose
colored sleeves of her dress, and wreathed
with Roman pearls. Perhaps she was
posing for Lalla Rookh or some other
Oriental character to whom strands of
pearls are appropriated in tableaur
UiU0nts; at all events, her graceful head
was adorned to correspond with her
arms. She made a slight movement at
doorway, with which her little white hand
fell against DR.. lie Roy's knee, and lay
there carelessly. Eddie's face contracted
rs in pain. She came forward. Minna
slightly changed her attitude, but with
no visible show of embarrassment.
| George glanced up. "Will you join usPn
he asked, in an unsympathetic, super
fetal tone.
Eddie paused a moment, looking down
upon Minna. Then shessaid, icily, "No,
thank you," and moved away.
She was combing at the long hair
presently. when George knocked at the
door. Still that rigid look on her face,
that hurt look in her eyes. He closed
the door, and stood leaning with his
back against it. "I wieh, Edna" he
began, directly, that you would be Il
little more like other people. 1t is con-
foundedly unpleasant to have you going
about looking like mute at q funeral"
/ cannot look more unhappy than |
feel" she burst out, with gathering sobs.
why did l ever marry youp l wish I
had died instead. Why did you not
marry this Storey girl, whom you make
love to now before my faceP If you have
no feeling for me us Il woman, | should
think you might show at least common
respect for me as your wife"
Her tone, her words, stung George lie
Roy to the point of fury. my Wife,
he said. Heavens wish you had not
that claim upon my tolerance. A man
reaps fearful harvest from n youthful
mistake" Then he turned on his heel
and closed the door sharply behind him.
Eddie was only a trifle more miserable
Ulldn she Uau Deen before.
The next day was Sunday. Parties
for church were made up. Eddie found
herself listlessly included in one. 1t
might at least be more tolerable than
wandering aimlessly about the hotel
As she was handed into the stage she
noticed her husband gathering in
Minna Storey's draperies within the
compass of light wagon, in which he
was going to drive her. She was talking
and laughing as usual. There was not a
cloud ON Georges face. The sight cut
Eddie to the heart. She averted her face
hastily. Her fellow passengers saw
what she saw; they pitied her. 1t is
hard to young, proud nature to be
pitied. -..r
The stage clattered off amid gay
Babel of voices. A mile down the road
there was a hill. At the top of this hill
the horses took fright, one becoming
perfectly uncomfortable. Plunging and
rearing, they dragged the stage to the
edge of the mountain. The next mo-
ment the great numbering vehicle was
overturned and pitched down the noun
tain side. Then the horses, having done
their worst, stood still. The driver
picked himself up and surveyed the
scene of the disaster. The first object
that met his eyes was Mrs. LIE Roy, who
had been thrown against a heap of
stones. A messenger was dispatched to
the hotel, who met DR.. LIE Roy first of
all in his no-top wagon.
Hurry! hurry!", he cried. THE
stage has gone over the side of the noun
tain. Mrs. LIE Roy is dead"
George was off like the wind; but not
before Miss Storey had entreated, with
white lips, to be let out. He was alone
when he was confronted by Eddie's pitt
ful pale face.
They gathered her up and carried her
to the hotel for dead. The rest of the
party escaped unhurt, except for trifling
cuts and bruises; but when they laid
her on her bed they thought that life
was extinct.
might quote pages in support of the
assertion that the worth of a treasure is
emphasized by the dread of losing it.
Harshness, indifference, neglect, dogged
George lie Roy's steps like stern accusers,
now that Eddie lay speechless, uncon-
scious, for hopeless hours. 1t seemed to
him that he had killed her. If he had
been with her this might not have hap
pened. Surely he might have shielded
her. Shielded herp All! had he shielded
her from other dangers. other ills! The
bitter reproach haunted him THAT he had
betrayed his trust.
How utterly little and contemplate
their dissensions now seemed! Only the
one truth remained, that she was his, the
woman he loved, the only woman who
could fill his heart.
He sent for her father and mother,
Inn L. Il rCf N m