The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-06-09
the world. and full and unfinchingly she
met his meaning ufanee


otherwise she was her own calm, proud
lovely self, and neither Mr.. Riehlaud
nor any one else should see beneath the
mask.
can't tell Just how the evening
passed. / only know / was intensely
tglad when it was ail over with, and we
were at home again.
Mr. and Mrs. Chester went at once to
their apartments, but l fingered mo-
ment in the parlor with .Althea, who
seemed in 10 hurry to 90 to her 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 good night, and
went up to my chamber, leaving her
there alone, like another Ariadne, sad
and broken-hearted, in the midst of
princely splendor and untold wealth.
l had barely left thereon before the
jingle Of bells and the clatter of flying
hoofs in the now almest silent street, ar
rested my footsteps.
A sleigh dashed past. and stopped at
the door, as if driven by a whirlwind.
The night was intensely cold, but the
tired horses were smoking, and their
quivering laanks white with frost and
foam.
Not caring to see more, t'aropped the
curtain and turned to look at Althea.
She stood like statue in the middle of
che room, one hand pressed hard against
her breast, and the other holding close
about her the rich white opera cloak she
stil wore. with its soft, snowy fringes
and swansdown trsmmingsshimmeting in
the faint, uncertaia freight like a silken
cloud, for one dlm gas jet was burning in
the deserted parlor when we entered it,
and even this Althea had turned down
so low that it was no more than glimpse
Eof light. ,.
| Unsteady steps sounded on the stairs,
then came the sound of g muffied fall,
and something like a half.uttered oath,
mingled with the low cry of uncontrol-
able anguish that burst inyoluntarily
from Aitnea's pale lips.
| "I knew how it would bel" she moaned,
IL knew how those unfeeling creatures
he calls his friends would bring him
home"
And swiftly and noiselessly as a spirit,
unmindful of her elegant toilet, and the
strangely beautiful picture she made,
Althea hurried to the assistance of her
helpessly-intoxicated husband.
1t was not the first time she had waited
his coming in pale agony of fear and
dread, not the first time she had heard
THAT dull, soul-sickening fall, not the
first time she had glided down the great
oaken stair-clse to find her hds5and--
handsome Howard Tremaine-lying
prone on the floor, sight to stir the pity
OF the coldest heart, and cause the very
angels in heaven to weep.
could have cried aloud in my unut-
terable surprise and grief, and on my
knees have begged him for Gods sake to
desist from further breaking the heart
of the wife who loved him so dearly
aye, so dearly!
l saw her through rush of binding
tears help him somehow to regain his
feet, ana even in his pitiable weakness
he looked like fallen god; the noble
head, the clear-cut features, the some
thing indescribable that stamped him a
man of wealth and intellectual force,
was still apparent, though so completely
had the man been gotten the better OF
the demon that turks in the wine-cup.
! And she-Althca-the look in her
eyes I'll never forget to my dying day.
She did not say word; kind Of dumb
despair seemed to settle upon her counte.
nance-a despair that paled her cheek tc
the hue of ashes, and chilled the very
life-blood in her veins.
had seen enough. heaven knows, o1
, Althea's hidden sorrow, and stole away
to my room, wishing ! could believe thu
, whole miserable scene but troubled
r dream, that would vanish with the com
ing Of the morrow's sun.
Howard did not make his appearance
at breakfast the next morning.
: Althea explained, in tone of apology
that Mr.. Tremaine came in late, and
g twas tired" e....
g Mrs. Chester did not guess that any
8 thing was wrong, and really though
! Howard ill---taken cold the day previous
Y perhaps--and advised Althea to send fo
e the family physician.
, Althea, however, did not follow he
Q sisters advice, but sat all day beside th'
sofa where her husband lay, sufferin'
e miserably from the combined tortures o
n headache and remorse. ...-, Is
r Toward evening he began to "feel bet
Eter," and good resolutions commenced t.
+ shape themselves in his mind, as is ofte
d the case when ones head and conscienc
d have been for some little time on tn
It rack.
r. "Althea," he said, drawing her ovel
face down to his and kissing the swee
d mouth, that trembled beneath his lip
T. in a way that betokened the near az
It proach of tears-"A Althea, saw loo
n in your eyes last night, which l can nc
y quite forget, and which hope never
4 see in them again; and promise yor
here and now, that / will never, so Ion
n as live, touch a drop of wine agair
d It's the devils own and never-failin
d well-spring Of sin and misery, and m