The Evening critic., 1881-12-23
THE UNL0VED WIFE.
BY Mrs. T.. d. T.. N. sOUTHwORTH.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER /.
Sir Knight, OF thy fair courlesic,
Tell me whether dark or bright,
Or little loved, or loved Alright,
Is the face ofthy ladic,

A renowned military commander was at the
head OF our Governments with council Sc.
lccted from among the most eminent statcs
mon OF the nation, and diplomatic corps of
the most distinguished ministers from foreign
countries.
Certain lllustrlous personagcs of royal rank
or lneage-a Brazilian emperor, II Russian
grand duke, and n Bourbon prlnco-wcrc among
the transient and honored guests of the city.
Besides those, there were gathered mt the
capital the usual winter multitude OF noted
politicians, fnanclers, authors, artists, bcaux,
beauties, leaders OF fashion mud queens OF so
ciety.
Consplcuous among these bright lights of
the world, were two who were tcrmed-one
the "lion," and the other the "bellc " OF the
season.
They were both young, handsome, gifted and
one was wealthy.
The name OF the first mentioned was Tudor
Hcreward. He was an accomplished scholar,
an eloquent orator, n rising statesman, and
although but twenty-scven years OF age, he
was already an able party leader In the ma
tlonal House Of Representatives. In person he
was tall, fair and stately
His dress was always faultlossly neat, and
even fastidiously dainty.
His manners were reserved and cold, except
when lac was warmed up In debate on the floer
OF the House OF Representatives, when he
would often seem to be TRANSPORTED, and In
splred with n splendid and burning eloqucncc.
Men predicted for him an illustrlous future.
He was now, as has been said, the " Hon OF
The "belle" Of the winter was Leda Won
jacob Won Kirschberg, head OF the great bank
Ing house OF that name.
She was beautiful stately blonde, with n
brilliantly blooming complexion sparkling
purplish blue eyes, small aquilinc nose,
pouting ruby lips, and shining, ripping au.
burn hair.
lions OF Worth and OF Plngen, and the envy
and despair of her rivals. Her manners were
at once dignined and gracious.
So much for the social status and personal
appearance of the 'lion" and the "belle" OF
that Respondent scene and season.
TO say that nearly all the young ladies' were
moro or less infatuated with the 'llon," and
that quite all the young men were in love with
the "bolle, would be but faint statement
of the situation.
And that these two were utterly devoted TO
each other was too apparent TO ALL
But ahl for "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 betrothod
maidenl
The fact was not generally known, for 1t had
not been ostentatiously announced In the so
ciety column Of the newspapers, but Miss Won
Kirschberg was really engaged TO be married
to Mr.. Nicholas Bruyin, n millionaire, much
richer and very much older than her own
father.
SO you sect
The ancient bridegroOm.e xpectant had not
come with the widowed father and motherless
daughter TO Washington, 80 that few In the
city knew OF the great mans existence, and
| none knew OF his relations 10 the beauty and
heiress.
Least OF all did Tudor Hereward, her de
voted knight, suspect the truth; for II he had
| done 80, be sure that his fine sense OF honor
would have forbidden him to trespass on the
| sacred rights OF the betrothed lover by too
marked attentions to the betrothed maiden.
mol Tudor Hercward was Ignorant In seek
Ing and innocent in winning the impassioned
heart of Leda Won Kirschberg.
Why she had concealed the fact OF her mar
rlage engagement and why she had en-.
couraged and even invited the exclusive at.
| tentions OF Mr.. Hereward, Is, perhaps, not
difficult to understand.
In the first instance II was probably nothing
more than. vanity prompted her to se6k TO
attract aud monOpolize the attentions OF the
most brilliant society man at the capital.
Possibly she meant no harm at all, and had no
ultimate object In view. But she who plays at
| "firting" plays with fire.
Before she was well aware of the truth, she
| had not only captivated the famous young
statesman, but she had irrev0cably lost, to
| him, her own heartl
But that she had no Intention of giving him
| her hand was soon quite apparent.
| The night of the last day In 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
ward We're, OF course, among the Invited
quests.
He took no character II would not hav,
been I'm harmony with his proud, fastidiou'
| nature TO play any part, or, at least, any con
spicuous part In such n harlequinade.
| He merely covered his usual evening dress
| with an inscrutable black domino OF fine cash
mere, and his handsome face with blacl
mask of fine velvet.
Shelby some subtle sympathy divining hi,
thoughts and intentions on the subject-alsc
eschewed the queens, gipsies, peasants, nuns
nights and mornings, into which the ladies
would try to transform themselves for on,
evening only, and over her dress she wore
white silk domino, and over her fair face
white mask OF satin and lace.
Neither had received any intimaton OF tht
others disguise, yet the same subtle sympath!
which had directed their costumes for tn,
| evening brought them together through tn,
I immense crowd OF maskers that filled all tn
reception rooms, dancing rooms, suppe
, rooms and conservatories and overlooked int
! the halls, balconies, piazzas and even into tn
81 ass.roofed winter gardens on the grounds.
Dazzling light and deafening music wer
streaming through every window OF tn
| crowded mansion when the Black Domino
our hero, passed out OF the conservatory, on
tered tho winter garden and looked abou
, | him.
: Here were no lighted lamps, for the moon
! shine pouring In through the glass roc
flooded the wonderful, beautiful scene with
. soft, bright radiance.
, | The Black Domino stood peering down tn
, lovely walks, bordered with evergroens an
hardy roses In full bloom. His eyes wer
searching for the "swan," ms he mental
called lovely, white form whom he had bee
Watching all the evening, and whom he ha
seen glide through the crowded room out
the house, and in the direction of the winte
He had followed her slowly and with ain
A, Guilty, for he could not slip through s. jam
, as easlly as she had done.
!, Now, In this freer space and purer air h
= hoped TO find her.
But she was nowhere to be seen. Their
seemed to be no one In the garden.
Nevertheless, he walked down between tn
q hedges OF blooming roses until he saw, In
4 corner Of the rear hedge, an arbor OF climl
n ing roses, In the midst OF which his eye
d caught CLEAN OF silvery raiment.
hnatpnpu lirpctly the md fniln
her there.
She was reclining on the rustic seat, and ha
taken of her mask for air, revealing the fai
proud face OF Leda Won Kirschberg.
y He had not expected this revelation Of hC
Identity, and he felt that his presence at thi
moment might be considered an ineXcusabl
y intrusion upon the privacy OF n lady.
- "Leda," he said deprecatingly, as he stoo
q before her and removed his own mask, ''pleat
to pardon my indiscretiOn, but | have bee
trying 10 make an opportunity for spea kin
with you all the eyening--in fact, all the da
but have not succeeded even In seeing yo
'. until tonight"
"rudor, sit down hero for n little Will
The rooms were 80 warm and the crowds !
Al dense that felt like sun coating; so l can
s. out here to unmask and inhale a breath
10 fresh air. she said, as she smllingly mao
Al room for him beside her.
s. ~ am very glad you did so | presumed
~ follow you. Do you forgive me for my pr,
took the offered scat.
"rhat depends" she answered archl
How could you know me, 10 follow me?
~ were you, perhaps, following an UnkiOu
~ white domino that had caught your hittin
~ fancy ?"