Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-17


TO catch the girls replEs 1t is almost inaudlble,
even though the partition that divides us is very
slight. You know do not Dr.. Darlington"
Can YOU not see that It IS 70 you and You ONLY
that my heart is given? That other poor girl
heaven help her!-knew nothing OF what had
man man whose Mfe's love was given to another =
Poor child! She never guessed that repented
my raShneSs, directly the words that sealed
both our fates had left my lips. Mabel! have you
were all In all to each other?''
"Have you, darling?"
No answer.
mabel, you torture me! Say, have you for
gotten?" pleads the man In hoarse accents.
"HOw could I?'
"Then darling, BY the memory OF those BIZ
gone days when no one had come between US
by the love which has never, died, and can never
be inpl9 9ae you to end my misery
apart! 1t is not only for my sake, darling"
But Charlie, your wife"
"Charlie, your wife!" wait to hear no more:
but start to my feet, and one glance behind the
breakwater confirms my worst suspicious. Re-
Ginning beside the girl with whom had seen
him walking on the previous evening, is my
poor little friends fa1thless husband. His false
eyes are fixed on the dark face bending over
him, with hungry passionate love that quite
transforms his somewhat ap1t1et1c counte-
nance; and restraining an almost overpO yertng
impulse to lay him dead at the feet Of his gu y,
heartless love, stride wrathfu;lv away. with
great unutterable pity at my heart for the pre- ty
child who has been so ruthlessly betrayed. OF
one thing l am resolved-that is, she shall not
remain In ignorance of the Intimacy existing
between her wretched husband an her sup
but better-far far better that she sh )uld know
their true characters now, that in the tim to
come, when her love would perchaace have
taken deeper root, and have become part of
her life. Poor little wife! Poor loving little
heart! VIII you thank me for tearing the veil
from before your eyes, or will you rue the day
when first crossed your path? l know not;
but whichever it may be, my purpose is unal-
terably fixed.
At first 1 think I will send an anonymous
letter, to warn Mrs. Darlington of her husbands
treachery; then l remember that do not know
their exact address. Moreover, hate anything
underhand, and 1t seems such harsh coarse
way Of awakening her from her brief dream of
happy married life. l never doubt her love for
the man whose name she bears. "Charlie dear!''
l hear the sweet fond voice repeating, and a
strange mist rises to my eyes as think that in
with relentless hand. And yet why should 1?
am to them stranger, as they are strangers
to me. What right have to interfere in what
does not in any way concern me? All the re-
mainder of the morning and all the afternoon
racked my brain as to whether am justified In
disclosing the sad truth; and still undecided, 1
Wend my steps in the direction of Regency
Square. walk gloomily along, my eyes bent
on the ground, and my mind concentrated on
the one subject. SO engrossed am l, that when
silvely voice at my elbow bids me '.Good eve
mig" start as guiltily as though had been
planning a murder. Perhaps ! have; who
knows? Many women have died from broken
hearts, and am not about to break Charles
wife's? Hastily raised my eyes at the sound
of that sweet voice; and 1 feel the hot blood
rush to my shamed face when l lind myself side
by side with the object OF my unhappy thoughts.
gray dress and rose-wreathed hat! The wind is
blowing the soft yellow rings OF her hair all
about her lovely childish face, and her violet
hn d e., eyes dance with happy content Oh!
wonder you shudder when you take that
friendly little hand in yours.
81 thought at first that you had forgotten
me, for you stared at ME as though you were
spectre laughs Charles wife.
Ibid II" query in a voice that vainly strive
to make as gay as her own.
Yes; even now you don't appear to have
quite recovered from the Shock
How do you like Brighton" ask, anxious
to change the subject
"Oh, it is delightful! l am as happy as the
day is long, and as for Charlie, he is already
getting quite himself again. That fact alone is
sufficient to make me love Brighton. We were
anti clever that every one likes him; and his
practice is increasing so rapidly that he is liter
ally worked to DEATH" she answers her lovely
face aglow with fond pride.
You love him very dearly?" aWkWardly
stammef.
She looks up at me with such honest surprise
in her honest blue eyes!
Love Charlie! OF course do; better than
any one in the whole wide world What makes
you ask such question:"
There was no trace of anger in her tones only
wonder that / should doubt her affection for
him to whom She is bound by vows taken in the
sight Of heaven.
:.I-I didn't know. One is apt to make mis-
take. even In marriage" | burt out Hereby
tugging at the hirsute appendage ON my upper
lip In sheer desperation at the awkwardneS5 OF
the situation. No; can't do it! Better leave
her to find out the truth by degrees than let my
mouth speak the daggers that will pi erce her
very hearts core, AID yet
Did you think had made a mistake ~ asks
Mrs. Darlington iooEsg up a. Inc with half
mlSchieVous, hail triumphant and wholly capti-
waiting smile.
make one great. Departing eff to keep
back the cruel m5nosyllabie chat rises 20 ny
"You did! Why"
"Can you not guass?" 1 ask, yalnly hoping
that my task may be rendered easier by her
mo; unless it was because Charlie was rather
yeXed with me for talking to you in the train
the other day; and you set him down as an
he is not jealous, in the ordinary acceptation OF
the term; he is only very careful OF me, ana
did not like my talking so Familiarity to stran-
ger. Is that why you thought had made
mistaken" she interrogates eagerly.
Oh! why can she not understand?
can you think OF no other reason for my
thinking so? My opinion was not founded on
anything that occurred that day. l add.
''But we have met only one since.''
81 saw him last nignt,'I announce so SOL
EMMY lnat my companion breaks into merry.
mocking little laugh.
And what vas lie doing to me then-baating
me-" she saucily queries.
No; he was 100 much engaged other ways
than TO be paying his wife even that attention.
IS my angry retort / have taken the dreaded
plunge now, and my suppressed passion breaks
loose. regardless OF control.
- You mean that he WAS too busy flirting with
my friend Miss Fairfax to take any notice of
me, Is that ali?"
Can l believe my ears? Are those cool col
lected tones Charles wffe'S: / feel that have
made myself fool ana that she is amusing
herself at my expense.
Is that all?"I echo ScOrnfuliy. ..No; it is
not; and needless Of The pain may be-muSt
be If the girl has any heart at al-intlicting.
pour forth the story OF her husbands faithiess-
ness and her friend 5 tfeachery.
She hears me to the end without comment OF
any Kind, her eyes fixed on the ground, and her
lips tightly compressed. see no signs OF tears
on the thick, dropping lashes. no paling Of the
rose-tinted cheeks Even when my tale ceases
She maintains that unnatural silence. 1t alarms
me, this stony calm, far more than would any
violent outburst OF grief.
MRS. Darlington, for heafen'S sake speak if
only to reprOach me for opening your eyes 10
the sad truth !" exclaim, my voice wrung with
sorrow.
No answer save curious tWtching of the
pretty coral lips and a smothered inarticulate
sound. 1t cannot be laugh, unless in my cruel
awakening have driven her mad. l feel my
face banch deathly white at the horrible
thought, and cry in agony: For PHYS sake
speak! You brighten me-"
Slowly the long laSheS are lifted and a pair