Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-24
THE UNLOVED WIFE.
By MRS. Z. d. L. n. SOUTHwORrH.
CHAPTER I.
Sir Knight, OF thy fair courtesie,
Tell me whether dark or bright,
Or little loved, or loved Alright,
Is the face of fhy ladie


querade ball, which was given as the valedic-
tory of the old and the sautatory of the new
year, at the opening of one of the most brilliant
seasons our national capital had ever seen.
great war had ended.
renowned military commander was at the
head OF our government. with council selected
from among the most eminent statesmen Of the
nation and diplomatic corps of the most dis
tnguished ministers from foreign countries.
Certain ilustrious persOnages of royal rank or
iineage-a Brazilian emperor, Russian grand
duke. and Bourbon Prince-were among the
transient and hOnOred guests of the city.
Besides these, there were gathered at the
capital the usual winter multitude of noted poll
tcians. financers. authors. artists. beaux. beau
ties. leaders of fashion and queens of society.
Conspicuous among these bright lights of the
world. were two who were termed-One the
Lion" and the other the belle of the season
They were both young, handsome, gifted, and
one was wealthy.
The name of the first mentioned was Tudor
Hereward. He was an accomplished scholar
an eloquent orator. rising statesman, and al
though but twenty-seyen years of age he was
already an able party leader in the national
House OF Representatives. In person 1le was
tall fair and stately.
His dress was always fautlessIy neat. and
even fastidiously dainty.
His manners were reserved and cold, except
when he was warmed up i'm debate on the floor
often seem to be sfgured. and inspired with
a splendid and burning elOguence. Men pre-
dicted for him an illustriOus future. He was
now. as has been said. the lion" of the season.
The "belle" Ofthe winter was Leda Won Kirsch-
berg. the only child and heress of Jacob Won
kirschberg. head Of the great banking house of
that name
She was beautiful. stately blonde. with
brilliantly blooming complexion. sparkling pur-
pllsh blue eyes. small aquiline nose, pOuting
1hy-I CHI Univ ri,, lo;r
Her dresses were the happiest ''inspirations"
OF Worth and of Pingen, and the envy and de-
spar of her rivals. Her manners were at once
dignifed and gracious.
So much for the social status and personal ap-
pearance of the ''lion' and the belle" of that
respondent scene and season.
To say that nearly all the young ladies were
more or less infatuated with the 'lOn" and
that quite all the young men were in love with
the 'belle." would be but faint statement of
the situation.
And that these two were utterly devoted to
each other was too apparent to all.
But alb! for 1.-The course of true lOve"-there
was an insurmOuntable obstacle in the way of
its happy termination in marriage.
The belle Of the season was q betrOthed
maden
The fact was not generally known. for it had
not been OstentatiOusly announced in the
society column of the newspapers but Miss
Won kirschberg was really engaged to be
W MI. NlcHOldS DFuNtn, Il mliiOOalre,
much richer and very much older than her own
father.
So you seei
The ancient bridegroom expectant had not
come with the widowed father and mOtherless
daughter to Washington. so that few in the
city knew of the great mans existence. and
none knew of his relations to the beauty and
heiress.
Least of all did Tudor Hereward her devoted
knight, suspect the truth. For if he had done
so. be sure that his fine sense of honor would
have forbidden him to trespass on the sacred
rights of the bethrothed lover by too marked
attentions to the betrOthed maiden.
No. Tudor Hereward was ignorant in seeking
and innocent in winning the impassiOned heart
of Leila Won kirschberg.
Why she had concealed the fact of her mar
rage engagement and why she had encouraged
and even invited the exclusive attentions of Mr.
Hereward, is. perhaps, not difficult to under
stand.
In the first instance it was probably nothing
more than vanity prompted her to seek to at
tract and mOnOpolize the attentions of the mo
brilliant society man at the capital. Possibly
she meant no harm 81 all. and had no
ultimate object in view. But she who plays at
flirting" plays with fire.
Before she was well aware of the truth she
had not only captivatcd the famous young
statesman, but she had irrevOcably lost, to him.
her own heart
But that she had no intention of giving him
her hand was soon quite apparent.
The night of the last day of the old year. the
night of the masquerade ball. given by Senator
s., in his splendid new mansion in the north
west quarter of the city, was destined to decide
their fate.
Miss Won Kirschberg and Mr.. Tudor Here
nard were, OF course, among the invited
guests.
He took no character It would not have been
in harmony with his proud fastidious nature to
play any part. or. at least, any conspicuous part
in such harlequinade.
He merely covered his usual evening dress
with an inscrutab:e black domino of fine CASH
mere. and his handsome face with black mask
Of fine velvet.
Shelby some subtle sympathy divining his
thoughts and intentions on the subject-alsO
eschewed the queens. gipsies peasants. nuns
and nights and mornings. into which the ladies
would try to transform themselves for one eve
ming only, and over her dress she wore a white
silk domino. and over her fair face q white mask
of satin and lace.
Neither had received any intimation of the
others disguise. yet the same subtle sympathy
which had directed their costume for the eve
ming brought them together through the i'm
mense crowd Of maskers that TILED all the recep-
ton rooms. dancing-roOms. supper rooms, and
Conservatives. and OverfOwed into the halls
balconies. piazzas. and even into the glass
rooted winter garden on the grounds.
Dazzling light and deafcning music were
mansion when the Black Domino. our hero.
passed out Of the conservatory. entered the
winter garden and looked about him.
Here were no lighted lamps for the moon
shine pouring through the glass roof flooded the
beautiful scene with soft. bright
radiance.
The Black Domino stood peering down the
lovely walks. bordcred with eyergreens and
hardy roses in full bloom. His eyes were search
ing for the ''swan." as he mentally called alOvely
white form whom he had been watching all the
evening. and whom he had seen glide through
the crowded room out of the house, and in the
direction of the winter garden.
He had followed her slowly and with difficulty,
for he could not slip through Jam" as easily
as she had done
Now. in this freer space and purer air, he
hoped to find her.
But she nowhere to be seen. There
seemed to be no one in the garden.
Nevertheless he walked down between the
hedges Of blooming roses until he saw i'm a cor
her OF the rear hedge. an arbOr of climbing roses
in the ladst of which his eyes caught CLEAN of
silyery raiHent.
He fastened directly to the spot, and found
her there.
She was reclining on the rustic seat, and had
taken off her mask for air. revealing the fair
proud face Of Lcda Won kiIschbcrg.
He had not expected this revelation of her
identity. and he felt that his presence at this mo-
ment might be considered an ineXcusable intru-