The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-10-21

and took not the slightest notice Of
anything or anybody around her.
I could not make it cut at ell, and
hardly dared to look at her for very
sympathy. Her magnificent dress of
violet velvet and creamy old lace be-
came her perfectly, and never did a
queen carry herself more royalty, OF
seem more unconscious Of her grand
eur and beauty.
Diamonds fortunes worth of
them--dashed on arms, neck and
bosom, and cleaned like drops Of
liquid Light amid the rich abundance
of her dusIsy hair; but she was not
happy.
There was much too heavy a sor,
row lying unrestfplly at her heart for
that-too much Of a nameless dread
and anxiety to allow Enjoyment Of
any sort.
At the end OF the second act q gen
tleman made his way to our box. and
asked, in the usual conventional man
ner, after tho customary greetings
were gone through with, how we
liked the music.
Mr.. Chester, who had been COM
fortably Doing in his chair the whole
time, declared he was never more
charmed-an innocent fabrication
which none of lis cared to question.
"And where did you leave Mr..
Tremaine?" inquired Mrs. Chester, in
some surprise. ''He was with you.
think, Mr.. Richland?"
eyes, and 1 left him with the
others at Delmonico's. l don't care
for that sort of thing, you know" low
ering his voice, and glancing furtively
at Mrs. Tremaine. cit makes one
feel so confoundedIy wretched the
next day"
Althea was a well-schooled woman
of the world, and full and nnAinch-
ingIy she met his meaning glance.
| She was very pale, and the hand
that held her bouquet trembled
slightly, but otherwise she was her
own calm, proud, lovely self, and
neither Mr.. Richland nor any one else
could see beneath the mask.
can't tell just how the evening
passed l only know 1 was intensely
glad when it was all over with, and
we were at home again.
Gir. and Mrs. Chester went at once
to their apartments, but I fingered .
moment in the ParIor with Althea
who seemed in no hurry to go to hel
room, though it was late and the
whole house as still as death.
But as she did not appear inclined
to talk, kissed her, said goodnight
and went up to my chamber, leaving
he there alone, like another Ariadne
sad and hcart-broken, in the midst O
princely splendor and untold wealth
I had barely left the room befor,
the jingle of bells and the clatter O
flying hoofs in the now almost siIen
street arrested my footsteps.
A sleigh dashed past, and stopped
at the door. ag if driven bv a wi1irI
wind.
The night was intensely cold, bu
the tired horses were smoking, an,
: their quivering fanks white wit
frost and foam.
: Not caring to see more, I droppe
5 the curtain, and turned to look &
AIthea. She stood like a statue i
the middle of the room, one ham
, pressed hard against her breast, an
! the other holding close about her tn
0 rich white opera-cloak she stlI wore
j, with It's soft, snowy fringes and swan:
: down trimmings, shimmering in tn
J faint, uncertain freight like a siIke
i cloud, for only one dim gasjot vi
). burning ii the deserted parlor whe
e we entered ii, and even thia Althe
t had turned down so low that it WI
!. now no more than glimpse Of ligh
r Unsteady steps sounded on Il
4 stairs, then came the sound of mu
J fed fall, and something like a hal
e uttered oath, mingled with the 10
: cry of unutterable anguish that bur
II involuntariIy from Althea's pa
d lips.
ie Il knew how it would bel" 81
IA moancd Il knew how these unfee
p ing creatures he calls his frien
would bring him home"
d And swiftly and noiseIessly az
i spirit, unmindful of her elegant toiIC
ID and the strangely beautiful pictu
lg she made, Althea hurried to the ;
er sistance of her helplessly intoxicat
husband.
at It was not the first time she h
ut waited his coming in q pale agony
is fear and dread, not the first time s
ng had heard that dull, soul-sickeni
e. fall, not the first time she had Gid
re down the great oaken staircase to Fl
he her Observation-Disclosures Howe
nd Tremaine-lying prone upon
nd foor, a sight to stir the pity Of
ar coolest heart, and cause the very G