The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-09-27
ished sentence I had caught in the hall
q bove reA ri n al IpfpisbeJ

above remained unfinished.
But one wild, bleak night, month later,
my task was ended. With stifled breath |
noiselessly crept from the library to my
| step-nother's chamber.
She sat in her dressing gown before the
fire, lost in xn enchanting book. At my
stsalthy and uncercmonieus entrance she
glanced up.
Great heaven" she cried, dropping her
book and staring at Inc in alarm. care you
i'll, VIZ"
/ laughed harsh, short laugh.
Only transformed into = Nemesis, MAN.
ma"
"a Nemesis" schsed my step mother in
slow tones OF profound amazement the next
| instant added i'm petuouSly, You look like
a beautiful spirit from TIades."
l shrugged my shoulders with another
harsh laugh.
Come said inperiously. "Come and
| will show you my Hade.!''
She stared at me wsnderingly, and half
shrunk as my icy little hand cla.ped hers.
"Softly, madame | whispered, AZ We
left her room.
Directly she was standing at the slightly
open door, at which had 50 often stood
| felt her nails sink deep in the palm Of
nay hand rs her blazing eyes rested on the
scene beyond. i heard her breath come in
swift, angry gusts
OIL = lull minute Sde SISOO UnuS. lESn,
dropping my hand she flung back the door
and swept into the dnly lighted room.
The pair sitting 50 lovingly before the fro
started to their feet, Peri with y sharp cry
Of anguish. Albert's first words were given
to her:
"Bc brave, my love-" he smiled down
upon her in accents Of melting tenderness.
But his lips wero white and his eyes glow
"What means all this >" dem anded Mad
anne Niele, in awfully- flushed tones, gazing
from one to the other with an anger before
which even my fierce spirit quailed.
at means this, my mother" replied AL
bert, unfalterinsly, as he paced forward and
circled more closely the slender form of the
pallid girl beside him. alt means that fer
three months Peri has been my wife,
"Wifel gasped my step-mother, staggsr-
| ing back as if she had received y blow.
And then she screamed, rlcadingly: Not
your wife, Alberto"
Eyes, mother, my wife," he returned,
| sadly and firmly, while great tears rolled
over Psri's white face. 1--WE grieved to do
it secretly, mother, but >
My step-mothsr lifted her hand. She had
quite recovered herself now.
Silence" she commanded in those aw-
fully hushed tones. "Ask no forgiveness?
Ask no blessing! Peri, 70! Leave this
house, now and forever. Go or stay, as you
| will; but know that from this hour | never
speak to you again. From this heur know
your blessing my bitterest CURSE
Mother
"silsnce. again commanded my step
mother, in fearfully concentrated tones
"Go! Not word. Put that creature
forth at once"' pointing her white finger at
PERKS bowed head.
Say you forgive, mother" pleaded AL
bert. Say
"silencc!' almost Numbered Madame
Viele, her face CHASTITY as tho dead.
He turned away then.
"Come, my darling, We will TO-" he 1ur-
INJURED with infinite tenderness to Peri.
And catching up a cloak and hood she
had cast there only few hours bsforo, he
wrapped her tenderly in them and led her
to the door.
There they paused and lsoked back at
Madame Nisle.
Farewell, mother" they said, softly,
land heaven forgive US and you!''
Madame Nielc gazed stonily at them with
cut word or gesture, and they sighed and
turned away.
Directly the hall door changed heavily
after them. As it did so my step-mother
turned calmly to me:
81 am sorry for you, Vi" she said briefly,
in stern, even tones, g Let us 60 to bed
And with firm step and erect form she
led Inc up to my room. There she kissed
me good night, saying calmly as she closed
the door:
"From this moment they are dead to US.
Never mention their names again.
1t was all over now. l had stated my
vengeance.
at is vell! 1 said, as my head touched
my pillow.
The days came and went My step
mother was erect, cold and i,nperious as
ever. Not by word lsok or tone did she
betray her secret suffering But at the end
of y year she had lost every vestige of youth
and health. A pale, gaunt old woman, she
sat in her chair now.
One n1srnnc she called me to hor. 1t was
on my nineteenth birth day.
wi" she said, CURLY, it's ali Dead Sea
fruit"
l gazsd at her, dimly comprehending her
meaning. Then she said
"Thsy have = little daughter, vi, and
thoy have named her after me-Ray Lalsr,
vi.
"Shall we have them back, Vi?'
She looked at me wistfully. There was
brief strife between the good and the evil,
and then | replied
alt is Dead SEA- fruit, mamma We will
have them back. l can look upon Albert
as my brother now
"Thank heaven" exclaimed Madame
Viele.
And three days later Albert, Peri, and the
little Ray were established at Gray Fell.