The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-07-01
PEROIVAL'S MASK.

| Cleveland Penny Press.
At an early nge l was left an orphan.
but l had the good fortune to be adopt
ed by my uncle and aunt, Mr.. and Mrs.
Carlan. When / had become nearly Of
age. / spent n certain winter with them
in Florence. l had the reputation OF
being a belle and q beauty. and l had q
rival in an intimate friend, n Russian
Countess, who was one OF the most fas-
cinating persons l ever knew, and yet
was largely devoid of sincerity. We
were both In love with o graceful Eng
lishman, Leon Mayhem. I believed his
heart was surrendered to the Countess
Nadine, until one evening he told ms
that / was the object Of his affection
My aunt was a very queer character.
She vas possessed Of o prudish virtue.
She starved not her sin. but she starved
something elsa sort Of heather burnt
offering went up Unfortunately from hor
affairs, but she remained o se~lf-satisfied
and very selfish woman. For some
reason or other she hated Leon May
hew. My uncle, an easy-going man.
was her slave. He left his fortune 70
the care of his agent, and his happi-
ness to tho care Of his wife; they both
lost for him.
A superb fancy ball came of. and my
uncle expressed himself proud Of me.
As l look back at the occasion, through
years of chilling sorrow and disAppoint-
ment. ! wonder at the cruelty Of fats
that can takeA woman fromkuch IL
umphs a. these TO u condition who'll
disproportioned to her strength and ex
~periencc. But / must not murmur.
Nadine was there. glowingly beauti
fnl and magnificcntly attired. The frs
stab l received was to see Leon bend
ing over her with an adoring smile
while he gave me n cold and forma
bow. Still, l dwelt in an atmosphere
Of compliments. and my silly it'll
head was turned. Leon came tardil'
10 ask me to dance, and 1 refused him
For that piece of folly l was to suffel
twenty years. 1t was bnt a few mo
ments alter that my hcs,ess introduced
me to q man with II Noung face ant
perfectly white Lair Mr.. Pcrcivai. Hi
face gave me- tic feeling that it was .
mask, so contradictory were its express
sious of eye and month, the former Xix,
a basilisS. aui the latter. firm ant
cruel. He wa, lavish in compliments.
When we got luine N.Y. aunt was in
.bad humor. and my uncle endeavoret
to propitia,c l-r.
..Onr little Annette has had a brill
liant success. my dear. l think she Ina
captivated the rich Mr.. Percival, OF III.
South"
a hope my niece will marry foi
something better than money said my
unit.
1t was years before I found that sl,
had dismissed Leon, and bTourit ahoi'
my interview with lrrCiv.,i. un,icr he.
mask. In q few days my unclr b'"ngh
mo a formal proposal OF MARRIAGE from
him. ! married him. | told him | Iii.
not love him. but he said he would luv,
me enough for 10th. lirto!d mc of ii
estates, aud The position | woull hsv'
as a Southern lady. We were Marie,
in Paris, and look a tour tlnou"l
Switzerland. Then | first made the 1t:
auaintance of his co'oraI servants =
Cesar, his valet, and Batavia, Cesar
wife, whom he wished me to take 10.
my attendant ..Bai,'' MS she wa
called. was an ugly, repulsive yellow
woman, but she was clevor and attract.
i've.
On our trip being ended. we took GU
journey to my new home. 1t was ex
ternally handsome, but within torn anc
damp hangings, alternate squalor ant
magnificence, dirt and disorder an,
splendor contended for the mastery.
had a heartache at the thought of m,
condition. 1t was but q few moment'
before my husband introduced mo t,
his sister, q tall, stiff, severe, unhappy
looking woman, who formally wei.