Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-12-15
viIIiany Unmasked.

The nature Of my profession brings
me in contact with every description OF
person. l have formed through it,
agency MANY pleasant acquaiutaucc-
ships, to which my memory often re-
verts with pleasure. Some years ago |
became acquainted with o Mr.. Norval,
a wealthy merchant, who resided in Wesl
Fortieth street. He was a widower.
and the only persons living with him
were Two in number, a niece and an on
ll son.
May Norval, bis niece, was beau
lul girl, about 20 years Of age wien |
first became acquainted with her. She
vas tall, and gracefully formed. Her
hair was dark brown. and her eyes
hcayenly blue shrodded with long eye
lashes, which gave a dreamy expression
TO her lovely, oval face. Her complex
ION was wble as the driven snow, aud
her torn was gracefully rounded. Hel
mech aud shoulders might have served
trr mcdel Tor a sculptor. they were so
tXQuisilivcly chisel,d. When she moy-
I'd it was With that uudulating grace so
charming in The other sex.
Such was Mary Norval when FRS
knew her. Had I not been married
and possessed Of the best wife in the
world, she would have been just The
woman l would have chosen Tor a wife
or her natural dsposnion, The culIiva-
lion OF Der mind, end the amlabllity oi
her character. fully equalled her pbIsi-
cal beauty. She bad so won upon her
uucle's leart that lie loved her better
Than lie did his own son. THIS, how
ever, might be accounted for from the
fact ltat Charles Norval was a most
diss'paled young man. He had long
ago exhausted his fathers affection for
him by a desoluie lie and was only per-
mitted by sufrerance to be an inmate OF
his house.
One day Mr.. George Norval invited
me 10 dine with BIN, 1 accepted the in.
Wtation. and We passed 4 very aGreea-
bic hour together at the social meal.
After dinncr, being someN{lat ofau 10
valid, my host excused himself for an
hour while he went TO lie down. l
amused myself in the mean time exam
ming some illustrated works placed on
the drawing-roOm table. The apart
ment in which l was seated was only
separated from an adjoining one b'
folding doors. l should have stated
that Miss NOrval had also excused her
self. under the plea cf having some let,
t,rs to write. Left alone to my refec.
liOns, l fell into a reverie, which, |
suppose ended in a doze, for l was sud
denly awakened 10 consciousness by the
sound of voices in the adjoining apart
ment. The evening Was somewhat ad
vanced, and cons quently the noise in
the street lad almost entirely ceased.
Owing 10 this fact l heard distinctly
every word that was said. Ii was Mr..
Norval's son Charles voice that awaA-
ened me.
Mary, listen to me- he exclaimed
with n peculiar thick utterance which
showed that he had been drinking ::
you know love you. Yes. dear girl.
| adore the very ground you walk on.
Your beauty is go tranecendent that you
appear more like fairy creature Of the
brain than a human being
Have done with your senseless COM
pllmen,s, Charles returned Mary.
why do you persecnte me so? l haze
a lready made known my decision to you.
Ii is irrevccable.'
Dear girl. do not say that. Oh. i
YOU did but know how deeply your
i'm age is engraven on my heart! My
yer y thoughts for you; every pulse oi
my heart beats for you-angel-smile
on oe!
{ ,harles, you are intoxicated. How
dare you express yourself to me in this
mann er?'
DE Arrest cousin, adore you, and By
Heay, n. you shall be mlue!.
'Ipity your condition, andI beg
sir, you will leave my presence
Never. my charming cousin, until
you say that you love me. l would sell
my soul for one kiss from those ruby
lips. 1 could SIT all day and gaze
wonderiD0ly into those glorious orbs
Drarest-darlins-lovely Mary, b(
mine-be mlne!'
II Was evident the young man wa;
working himself into passion of lren-
BY.
Mr.. NorvaI, unless you leave The
room I will call for assistance
No, you shall not. 1t Is true tha
YOU have supplauted me in my fathers
love. It's true that he has left yoI
the bulk Of his fortune, while he hat
bestowed miserable pittauce on me
Not content with baving effected al
his, you despise my love-but BY tb'
great heavens above Us, you shall b
minei,