New-York tribune., 1881-12-26
THE UNLOVED WIFE.
BY MRS r. d. Il. N. sOUTHwORTn.
CHAPTER /.
Sir Knight, OF thy fair courtesie.
Tell me whether dark or bright
Or little loved, Or loved Alright,
Is the face of thy ladie.


| A great war had ended
| renowned military commander was at the head OF
Government with council selected from among the
most eminent statesmen Of the Nation and diplomatic
corps Of the most distinguished ministers from foreign
| countries.
Certain Iustrous personages OF royal rank or lineage
| "A Brazilian Emperor, a Russian Grand Duko aud a
Bourbon Prnce-wcre among the transient and honored
guests OF the city.
Besides these there were gathered the capital the
usual winter multitude ofnOted politicians nanciers, au-
thors artists, beux beauties, leaders of fashion and
queens Of society.
Conspicuous among these bright lights Of the world
were two who were tcrmed-one the lion and the
other the &" belle" Of the season.
They both young, handsome, gifted, and one was
wealthy.
The name Of the first mentioned was Tudor Hereward
He was an accomplished scholar eloquent orator,
rising statesman and although but twentyseven years
OF age. he was already on able party leader in the
National of Representatives. In person he was
tall fair and stately.
His dress always faultessy neat and even ias-
tidiOusly dainty.
His manners were reserved and cold, except when he
was warmed up debate the floor Of the House OF
Representatives when he would often seem to be trans
figured and inspired with a splendid and burning elo
qnence. Men predicted for him an iustrious future
He WAS nOw as has been said, the lion Of the season
The belle Of the winter was Leda Won Klrscnberg,
the only child and heess OF Jacob Won Klschberg head
of the great banking house of that name, - ,
She was a beautiful, stately blonde. with brilliantly
blooming complexion. sparkling purpish blue ewes, a
small aquline rosc poutng, ruby lips and shining, rip
Her drr sses we're the happiest "inspirahons" of
worth and Of Pngen, and the envy and despair OF her
rivals Her manners were at dnihed and gracious
for the fOcial status and personal appearance
saasoh Sl 5aG non anu '''s Oi 'ui' f'''''D' ''''''
10 say that nearly oil the young ladies' were more or
less infatuated ith the "UOn" and that quite All tAe
Young men were i'm love with the belle" would be but
a faint statement Of the situation.
And that these utterly devoted To eacu Othcr
too apparent to all
Bu ah Tor tie course OF true love there was an
nsurmOuntabc obstacle Ia the way of It's happy teihh
alton IN marriage.
The fact not generally known, for it had not been
oscntatiousy announced in the society column 0 tGc
newspapers, hut Miss Won Kirschbcrg was really en-
gagged TO be married Mr. NchOlLs Bruyin million
irc, much richer and very much older than her own
fatLCr
80 you see .--,.,
The ancient brleqroom-e xpectant had not come with
the widowed father and daughter 10 Washing
ton 50 that few i'm the city great mans
stcnrc and oi bis relations to The beauty ana
Las, " all did Tudor Hercward her devoted knight,
the truth For II lie had done So be sure tbat
trc-pass on the rights of tine berothed over by
too marked attentions to tie bcrotned maiden.
So Tudor Icrcward was Ignorant IN SEEKING ana IN
uoceut In winning the impass.OEeJ heart Of Lcda Won
Krschberg.
glgiucut and why she lad encouraged and invited
The exclusive attentions of ME Hercward is, perhaps
not dIucuit 10 understand.
In tDc r,t Instance It was probably nothing than
caiIy pTirrci her 70 seek 10 attract and monopolze
tie OF the most brilliant society man at the
capital Possibly she meant harm AT all and had no
u,rnAo object In view. But who plays hirung"
play, with ire.
Before she was well aware Of The truth, she had not
only captiyard the famous Young statesman. but she
had irrnyOcaJiy lost, 70 hiu. her own heart!
But thar she hal no Intention Of aying him her hand
WAC soon quite apparent.
The nnt " tue last day in the old year. the night Of
the lucraCC bal, gwen by senator y, IN MS splendid
mansion Ia tie northwest quarter OF The city was
d, iutd to decide tncir fate
Miss Won Krschberg ana sir. Tudor Hercward were,
o. course, auuug the invited guests.
lie took no character II would not haze been in har
mouy with bis proud, asudious nature 70 play any part
or lcIsr. any pcuous part IN such hareQulnAde
lie merely covered his usual evening dress with an
.uscrutaOe black domino ot Tine cashmere, and his
sle-ny some subtle sympathy divning his thoughts
and sujcctalso eschewcd the queens,
Eps,0, peasants, nuns iHu nAAlS uu iIoih!hET, IntO
which ia, ladies would try 70 transform themselves or
on. evening odly nnd over her dress sne white
silk domino and over Der iair iace "hlte MASK OF slin
and lace. o.,
guIsr Yet the same subtle sympathy which had directed
their costume 10. the evening brought them together
rou the immense crowd OF maskers that filed all the
reception rooms daAclg iOOhiH supper lOVh' anu con
s.Naiurivs and OyCriOWtd INTO tho Nails, balconies
plzzn- and even into The wintergaiden on
balzlps light and Gcafening music were streaming
rou- every window OF the crowded mansion when the
Bca DonO, hero, passed out OF tue conservatory
entered tine wIn.er garden and ooacd about hin
u turIuEh glass roof flooded the wonderful beautiful
sccae with SOFT, bright radiance. ,,
walks bortcrd with ev"rsrGenr ami hardy roses IN fuu
bloom. eyes we're searching Tor tue swan, a he
mentally called lovely. white form whom he had been
Watching all the evening and whom De had seen glide
through Tie crowded room 1ut Oh tho mouse, ana III the
direction Of the winter gard ~.
i.e mad ollowcl her slowly and with dlhcuty for he
could not slip through jam ds easily as she had
Now in this frcer space and purer air. he hoped to find
But she was nowhere to be seen There seemed to be
no one in the garden.
Ncy, r.hccss he walked down between the hedges Of
a. until ne saw, III corner OF TIC rear
hr r arhur ut ru oin- roses, m te midst OI Whch
lie Lst-u dirccjy 70 the spot, ana found her there
Size was reclining the rustic seat and had taken Oh
her mask for revealing the Iair proud lace OF Leda
Won kirschbCrg.
and Lc felt tha his presence at This nomen, might he
considered ncAcusahc intrusion upon the privacy Oi
la he said dcprceatingy, as he stood before her
and removed lis own mask please To pardon my indls
erection, put have "rtn irynS 90 iLHe ,n orpotmt4iy m ny
for speaking with !ou All me evening iltt al the
dlyUut have not succeeded even IN seeing y0a until
Tniof. .it down here for a little while. The rooms
were and the crowds so dense that felt IKE
suiI IJcatug; 40 came here 10 unnask 0nd inhale
breath OF fresh air. she said, rs sac hnhusy III dc
room for him beside hcr
.' am ycrJ glad you did SO! I presumed 10 follow
YOU. DO YOU forgive me for my prcsumptoui" he in
Gured, ~ he bowed and took the offered seat
Won know me- To- olow mcl Or were you perhaps, fol-
lowing unknown white domino that had caught your
II6w could know you Z" he repeated, gravciy, taking
her maud nnd hNng his eyes on ner lovely lace How
could know yuul By the same simple, universal law
of nature through which know mysef-lOr you are my
awertcr purer, higher self! Leda, my queen do you
a line that any disguise could hide you from my know
lrI-cl Nj heart would always recognize you, Leda!'
"Oh Mr. HercwurdV she murmuIed IN a. low dis
tres,cd tone. whose meaning he could not have per
ceived or he went ON 10 plead.
have been seeking Won many hours my love, my
ouecni Not 10 tell YOU in set speech that which my
whole lie your dear presence naS been telling you
ever since we first met, aud In that meeting
r,cognizcd each otheri All, lady mine Ever since
that sacred of meeting and mutual reoog-
ntiou been tempted TO believe IN the old heathoa
myth, that man and woman originally one being;
but that Jove. in rage, cleft them in two, leaving the
ives seek each other wing through oil the
TO seek In yain-as by all the mismatchcd
couples in this lower wOrld-except such happy
as ours fOr, lady, have found ay completion IN
Ann anl Won Nnnrs ln me. And we KNOW lt now J,