The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-09
THE DAILY STAR
THE HIDDEN SORROW.

New York were alive with dense mass
of crowding humanity, over-coated, muf-
fed and yeled as became those who JOY
ousiy braved the penetrating wind and
sharp atmosphere, in the merry-making
time between the death Of the old and
the birth Of the New Year.
Notwithstanding tine frosty weather,
the Empire City was never in a gayer
mood, and up and down, and across the
threnged thoroughfares, stylish turnouts
dashed swiftly by to the tinkllng music
of silyer-tongued bells, and low, happy
laughter, speeding away to the open
roads and snow-clad country, lying
white And still beyond the hurry and
turmoil of the great city.
Though so cold without, it was warm
enough in the elegant room where we
were sittiGg-my cousin Althea, her half
sister, Mrs. Irene Chester, and l. My
cousin Al5kea was not yaun s-pastt 80 n
fact; but she was the most beautifMl
woman ever saw, and as she sat in the
large crimson damask chSir at the win
dow, dreamily looking out at the hurry
ing passers by, I thought / had never
seen any one SO charmingly and irresist-
ibly lovely. Her lustrous black eyes,
clear olive complexion and glossy wealth
of purple-back hair. were so perfectly
perfect that one did not know which to
admire the most, and her voice and smile
were as sweet and wianing as her form
was graceful and her face matchlessly
beautiful.
Howard Tremaine loved her as few
men love their wives; and Althea, as
everybody knew, idolized her handsome
husband, and yet somewhere there was a
hidden sorrow, the nature of which |
could not for my life divine. | had seen
the shadow more than once, but the sub
stance kept itself well out Of view, and,
but for the sad, anxious, restless look
that often of late crept into Althea' $
great, soulful eyes, I'd not have thought
sorrow could exist in her luxurious
home, much less fix itself permanently
there. g..
.Wess were going to the opera in the
evening, Mr.. Chester was to attend us
in the absence Of Howard, who had gone
away two or three hours before with
three or four friends, who had, very
much to his wife's regret, called for him
to accompany them OH little half-hour
or so sleigh-ride out on the Blooming
dale road.
As the short winter afternoon wore on,
Althea grow every moment more and
more uneasy; her faith in that "iittle
half hour or So" never having been very
strong, died utterly, long before the
SUMS last cold, golden rays faded in the
west, and when Mrs. Chester rang for
lights, and carelessly remarked that it
was I'm Time to dress, she Was n6tt.ceably ill
at ease. and would do nothing but walk
10 and fro between the window and the
xarg,.., rossy fre!!!sAt; in that nervous lis
tening, expectaEt way, which is 5, pain
fully suggestive of secret dread and anx-
lety too deep and wretched for words.
Whatever Howard Tremaine touched
turned to gold, and all that money could
buy bis wife possessed. Her wardrobe,
Jewels, house and carriage, were among
the most superb in New York, yet hel
closet evidently had its skeleton, and to-
night, more than ever before, it seemed
determined to rattle its dry bones in oul
very ears. and make itself felt and seer
in every nook and corner Of the million
aires sumptuous home, in spite of al
Althea could do to keep the unpleasan
thing out Of sight.
For the twentieth time, she walked t.
the window, and, with half-suppresset
sigh on her lips, stood watching tn
sleishs fly PAST 50 long that Mrs. Cheste
quite lost her patience, and exclaimed
rather petulantly:
Nonsense, Althea! Why is it tina
you always will be worrying about How
ard? He is not baby, and is no doub
quite as capable Of finding his way HON
slone as most men are. Mr.. Tremain
knows that we are going to the opera thi
evening, and he will be sure and drop il
before the end of the first act, you ma
depend. And now we must dress, if W
wish tu hear the opening air in Faust
which certainly do, however it may b
with you"
Mrs Chester was one of those positiv
characters who Immediately act upo
what they say, and in less than an hou
We were on our way to the opera.
The house when we entered was Ii
orally packed with most brilliant an
fashionable audience, but Althea SCENE
to move like one in dream and took NJ
the slightest notice of anything or an.
body around her.
could not makap it out at all an
hardly dared to look at her for very syn
pathy. Her magnificent dress Of viol-
velvet and creamy old lace became hi
perfectly and never did queen carl
herself more royalty or seem more uncol
scious Of her beauty and grandeur.
Diamonds fortunes worth of the
flashed on arms, neck and bosoms, ar
cleaned like drops of liquid light am
The rich abundance Of her dusky hal
but she was not happy. ..........
There was much too heavy sorro
lying unrestfully in her heart for that
JrooJ on1 ony;at