Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-13
The Talisman.

Sdlu III eXUenudulOn OF Jne TWO YEARS Una
rose to the brown eyes, and slowly trckle
down the pretty face, splashing on the daint
morning dress, which, clinging to the daint
form, revealed SO perfectly its graceful GU
lines.
Certainly Niobe had no reason to fet
ashamed Of this one of her children. Blu
Gerald Sinclair had only stopped to kis
away the glistening drops, in half-hurrie
manner, perhaps to hide his awakening re
morse.
"Never mind, little wife, I'll make it u
to you another time"
Then he was gone; but she sat still, turn
ing and turning her wedding ring, with eye
bent upon it. 1t was curious ring-a soil,
band, set with five large diamonds.
1t had been her charm, her talisman, no
to be taken from her finger until soul ant
body had parted but this morning it hat
lost its charm. If it failed to scatter tn,
clouds, it failed to bring back the sunshine
Even when the hour came around fol-
Gerald's homecoming he missed his usua
warm welcome but he thought that he
might trust his wife's heart, and said moth
ing. The next day he started on his journey
You're not going, my dear ?" exclaimed
Mrs Martin, bursting in upon her friend on
the morning of the ball "And why not p
"Gerald is away" replied Mrs. Sinclair
with some little show of wifely dignity, as
though the fact were in itself sufficient ex.
PLANTATION.
"And why need that make any differ.
ence 2" pursued Mrs. Martin, bewitching
little widow some few years her friends
senior. al will share my escort with you
Count Belzonil"
Sophie Sinclair looked amazed. She knew
that the man mentioned had but lately
gained entree into society, and knew also
that her husband disliked and distrusted him.
Once or twice she had seen his eye fixed
admiringly upon herself, and had felt some
what as the bird might feel beneath the
basilisk glare of the serpent.
"Well, why don't you answer 2" con.
tinued Mrs. Martin. "Will you 60 2"
"No, no." she replied, trying to speak with
firm decision. Besides, do not think
that Gerald admires the count"
"Prejudices. The count is one of the
most charming and agreeable men know.
Indeed, think | should be canonized for
my willingness to share his attentions, es-
pecially as have heard him say all manner
OF pretty things about you"
"Nonsense, Ellen " retorted Mrs. Sim
clair.
But she felt the ground slipping beneath
her feet as she spoke.
After all Gerald had not said positively
no. Had he thought it necessary after he
had openly expressed his disapprobation of
her going2
He had not known that she would be so
sorely tempted. Besides, she would wear
mask. No one would know her, and when
she told Gerald all he would forgive her. A
sudden thought came to her.
1 will CO." she said at last, after consid-
cradle urging, and looking at the picture in
all its brightest lights, con one condition,
and that is, that no one is to know me, not
even the count. Say that you have per-
suaded friend to accompany you who
wishes to remain unknown. | will come to
your house, where he will find me, and thus
give no clew."
So it was decided. But, spite of her ex-
quisite costume of fairy, as she concealed
it and herself beneath large domino, as
the clock on the mantel chimed ten it
seemed to Sophie every stroke said, "Stay !
stay"
She was almost tempted to stay, but she
had promised Ellen; and, after all, she had
heard that it was well for young wives to
assert themselves.
An hour later, and, on the Count Belzoni's
arm, she entered upon the brilliant scene.
SO far, he had not even seemed curious to
ascertain her identity. She experienced at
this singular sense of relief.
The ball was at its height as the clock
rang out the hour of midnight; but, for the
first time in her life, light and gayety were
distasteful. A hundred times she wished
herself at home.
~ will tell Gerald. | have already been
punished" she whispered to herself, as she
stood for moment alone in quiet corner.
"You look more like nun than fairy
rather like one who had foresworn the van
tiles of the world than a siren to tempt men
to their destruction" said voice close to
her, Though to the latter | know no one
more fitted"
"Sirl" she exclaimed Indignantly, recog-
MIXING as she spoke the count standing al
her elbow.
"Ah, you thought did not know you. |
should penetrate any disguise you wore
Besides, you have forgotten to remove a
badge of recognition"
She followed with her eyes his downward
glance, and saw that it rested on her hand,
ungloved, as in better accord with the ext
gencies of her costume.
lnvoluntarily she drew it away, with the
ring which had betrayed her.
Denial was useless.
Since you know me, them" she said,
" we will no further play part. To others
we are masks; to ourselves we are our
selves"
"Ah, madame" he whispered, "let us
rather say to the world we are ourselves, to
each other we are a mask. Can men, think
you' iook coldly on such beauty as you pos
Indignant and alarmed, she checked his
iurther speech by starting forward to es-
cape him. His hand closed on hers as in a
wise. She wrenched il from him, sprang
among a crowd of maskers, and so made her
way to the door,
"Call carriage for me-" she directed.
len minutes later she was within her own
house. Her first impulse was to tear off the
hated costume which had caused her such
trouble; her next to throw herself on the
bed and sob out her excitement and contri-
ton. The morning sun, streaming in her
room awoke her.
With shudder she remembered the
events OF the past night She looked down
at her hand-the hand which had been pol-
luted by another's touch-as though in some
way she expected to find the Contamination
branded on the soft, white surface. IL was
all unmarried; but-she looked again-she
looked away and back-she rubbed her ewes
and looked-the color meanwhile futtering
out OF her cheeks and her pale lips culver.
ing, as II her heart seemed to stand still in
sudden agony OF fear for from the third
finger was missing the talismanic ring.
When and where had she lost it. and how
could she now find the courage TO confess ali
to Gerald? She rose and dressed revolving
and re-revolving this problem in her mind.
AT any hour her husband might return.
For the first time she dreaded TO meet him
dreaded to look into the kindly, handsome
eyes and read there all his incredulous re-
proach' mingled, perhaps, with scorn and
anger.
!, The day wore on. Her friend, Mrs. Mar
TN, ran in to scold her for desertion but
her pale face and trembling tones made
good her plea of sudden illness
AT nighttall Gerald arrived. She threw
herself in his arms. in burst of nervous
weeping; but when he wonderinglv asked
its cause, her courage failed her.
Why was it she had never imao;nad that
he might look sternly until today" "'