New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-08-03
A TRUE WOMAN.

jealousy. 1t is the scapegoat on whose
shoulders man throws the burden of his
illtempers-his Indigestion, or his out
side disappointments. No true man
can be jealous of true woman. To be
jealous is to doubt-to doubt is to cease
to respect; and, for myself, were to
see respect floating down the fair
stream on which had hoped to steer
my frail barque, that instant I would
toss my love after it and cry, 1t is fin
ishedr"
The above sentence was Cyril Har-
courts part in a discussion among q
group of men assembled in the smoking
room of the Idlers' Club.
He was an engaged man, but all
present understood that there was moth
ing personal in his remarks. He had
won tho beauty of the season, admired
enough, perhaps, to turn the heads Of
a dozen men with tho insiduous
draughts administered by the green
eyed monster; hut Cyril was not of
such calibre. He had accorded to this
mistress of his heart such genuine ad-
miration-ho had won his prize from so
many rivals-that he did not expect
deafness and blindness from those
whose senses short while ago had
been preternaturally quickened; but
jealousy, in its lowest sense, its debas-
ing influence, he deemed himself so far
beyond, that as as he spoke, warmly,
impassionedly, Ethel Rivers fair vision
never once crossed the horizon of his
thoughts, nor perhaps that of any of
the little group of men by whom he was
surrounded; but one there was, sitting
q little apart, about the thin lines of
whose lips there crept q smile, and into
whose light eyes an evil CLEAN. although
he held his paper persistently before
his face and seemed to read.
It was q handsome face the paper
hid, though upon its surface was writ
ten neither frankness, candor, nor
truth. It was face weak for good,
strong for evil-such an one as has
lured many Faust and Marguerite to
their destruction.
In this case he had little hope of
Faust, but in his eyes all women were
Marguerites. and he had loved-aye, he
did 1ove-Ethel Rivers so we'll, that to
lose her was to lose that on which he
had staked his hopes, his ambition, his
pride.
Six months before he had been or
dered on active service with his regi-
ment. He had returned successful, and
covered with glory-returned to find
that. like the hare, he had lain down to
rest, and someone had outrun him in
the race.
He well knew his own power of fas-
cination. Hc had dreamed. that there
was that in Ethcl's farewell glance and
lingering hand-pressurc, which but
waited open avowal on his part to
elicit answering response, and yester-
day, the first news which greeted him,
as he wended his way for the first time
to his club, was the announced betroth-
al of Miss Rivers to Cyril Harcourt, who,
uttering the sentence which begins our
story, little dreamed that he was plac-
ing the first wedge in the hands Of his
enemy to insert between him and his
new-found happiness.
Il can read him like an open page"
unused Hubert Daryl. proud and SEN
sitive, once let him feel the pang of
suspicion, he will ask no questions
AS his faith is now. so will its undoing
be then, and this is for me to accom-
plish. l do not fear the result"
Good evening, Miss Rivcrsp You
kindly babe me bon uoyage when left
for the Gold Coast. Have erred in pre-
Stunning you might as kindly bid mc
welcome homc?"
Handsome as the arcll-fiend himself,
rose Major Daryl from his chair, to ad-
vance with this greeting to meet the
beautiful girl whose coming he awaited
in her own drawing-room.
''1ndeed, you would have treated me
most shabbily had you not come," she
answered, frankly. II heard yesterday
of your safe return, and should have
felt hurt indeed if had not been
among the first whom you honored by
its corporeal evidence"
The first-the very first! Ethel,
could you doubt it?''
The first touch of embarrassment
crept into her manner, with tho color
into her cheek, at something in his
tone and the seemingly unconscious
dropping the prefix of her name.
''NO-l-' she began.
But he stopped her.
'.Hushr' he said with gentle imperi-
BUSINESS. Il went away, six months
ago, with story unfinished on nv lips.
have come back to finish it. did not
intend its feeling should be in the first
hour, almost tho first moment, of our
meeting; but the sight of you has un-
locked the flood gates. and I cannot
control the pentrup torrent. Ethel,
must put my hearts secret into words?
Must tell you that"
mo, no." she interrupted-''a thou
sand times no! Tell me nothing. lis
I who have the telling" with o little
forced laugh of lightness. II want you,
my friend, to congratulate me. l am
engaged to Mr.. Harcourt.'
'sEngaged?' he uttered the word as
though her enunciation of it had been
his first knowledge of tho fact. His
voice sounded strange and hoarse, his
face grew haggard. "Oh,' he said,
half to himself, sis it for this / have
crossed the seas?'
Had you not heard it?'' she asked,
very gently.
What woman is not softened at sight
of mans misery for love of her2
Heard it?" he echoed. II returned
but yesterday-returned for this!"
81 am so sorry" she whispered
very sorry! But indeed had no idea
that you cared for me.''
Ethel, if I had spoken before I
sailed, would it have made any differ
ence?''
II think not, but cannot tell. NV
heart was free then. Once then, for q
little while, I fancied you liked me; but
afterward I put the thought aside.''
''Were you so blind? I adored you
then as I adore you now. But do not
turn pale; am o man, not coward.
I am going to prove my alteration by
becoming your friend; yours and, if he
will let me, his. In return, ask but
one favor at your hands. Do not let
even him know of what has passed be-
tween us here to-night-never let him
guess my secret. Promise me this.''
Gwen shall forget it," she answer
ed. ''Does this content your
Eyes; you will keep your word. Now
,,o,,ck 1on~1o ~,o,, n~,,l,A1o..