The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-10

riage. Now and again Of an evening he
would be absent without sufficient ex-
ouso, and, with smothered pang at her
heart, Daffodil had thought Of Olive
Dodworth, the brilliant young actress,
even then playing ut one Of the minor
city theaters.
"Does he care for her yet?" Daffodil
asked herself; and there came no salts
factory answer to the quory.
And SO it happened That tonight, as
she stood among the geraniums, looking
out ut the sunset, she was not quite
happy.
"In old times," said this bride of six
months to herself, "John WAS always
home to take me for walk in the
twilight. He never thinks of it now.
We're Aunt Jocastn and Mrs. Nudge
right, after all? Was man delusion,
and life dreary series of disappoint-
ments?
AS these dispiriting reflections pass
ed through her mind, she was startled
by the unexpected sound Of a footstep
OH the foor-a footstep too light and
elastic to be that of her husband.
She turned, md was amazed to sec,
i'll the indistinct light, tho tall figure Of
beautiful young lady, richly dressed,
and wearing suoh Partisan bonnet rs
poor DaffodiI had mover seen before
''Partlon me for intruding," said the
lady, with n royal cir, "but are these
Mr. Groy's rooms?"
'"They are," said Dnffodil, summon
ing all the dignity Mt hor control, and
secretly wondering if this might not be
the bctc noi,'c of her thoughts and fam
cies-Miss Dodworth. "But T did not
hear you knock"
ct did not knock" said the anony-
nous fair ono, with hauteur.
Daffodil colored:
'T am Mrs Grey" said she quickly.
'Pardon me-" snid the lady, "I am
Mrs. Grey. I suspected something of
this nc,o order of things" with a con-
tcmptuous curl Of her lip, "nnd I have
came on from Chicago to counteract it. 1"
"Madame," said Daffodil, standing
very erect, although she could feel her
self trembling all over, 'syou must be
insane! I was married to Mr.. Grey OH
the first day of last January"
The lady laughed-a hard, mirthless
laugh"
'Indeed!" said she. And was mar
ried to him Oh the 9th of October, two
years ago. Poor child" rs the pallor
overspread Daffodils countenance, "I
don't suppose you are to blame, but in
this hard world we have to suffer for one
another's crimes. Where is he?"
'I-don't know" family admitted
the bride.
"Humph!" said the lady compressing
her lips. "He is ut his old tricks, I see.
We'll L can wait. You don't ask me to
be seated, but I shall take that liberty
without your permission"
And she sat down, flinging back the
folds of her rich India shawl, while DAT
fodil watched her with silent dismay.
Was this true? Had John Grey really
deceived her? He whom she had loved
so entirely, trusted so infinitely? If this
was really so, there was no truth in all
the world!
The shadows gradually decpened; the
clock on the mantel ticl1ed rs busily as
if it were running race against time
and still the two sat there, silent, speech
less, each dreading, yet longing, to hear
John Grey's footsteps Oh the stairs.
At last he came.
Sitting in the dark, pet?" he cried,
merrily, as he crossed to the mantel and
lighted the gas-jet. IL must sec your
dear little face, for I have something to
tell you which,"
He checked himself abruptly, for at
that moment he caught sight of the pale
beautiful stranger in the Parisian hat
and glistening Indian shawl He turned
to Daffodil.
"Who is this lady" he asked.
'I do not know her." she answered.
'Do not y0u?"
''Never saw her before in all my lifo!"
said Grey, in unfeigned amazement.
The lady rose little nervously.
'Ts-this gentleman your husband?"
she snid, the color varying OH her cheek
"He is" Daffodil mechanically re-
piled.
'"Therc is some mistake" said the
stranger, with visible embarrassment.
This is not the Mr.. Grey T mean. My
Mr. Grey is short and dark, with heavy
beard Richard Richardson Grey-and
The young huslcnd struck his hand
on the table, as if an ilea had suddenly
occurred to him.
"With slight cast in one eye?" said
he. can artist, is he not?"
.'Exactly?' cried tho India-shawled
beauty.
"He occupies the suite of rooms di-
rectly above lis, said he. "He moved
III last month";"
"Then, said the lady, 81 have mis-
taken the flint. Pray, pray"-to Daffo-
dil-"forgive mel"
But Daffodil could only laugh hysteri-
cally, and hide her head on her hus-
bands shoulder.
And not until the door had been closed
behind the stranger, did John Grey ex-
claim:
"Poor fellow! 1 have heard some
thing Of this. She torments the life out
of him, with petty exactions and I'M
founded jcalousies. She follows him
around the world like Nemesis. I'm
glad you are not like her, my pretty
Daffodil!''
And then he went OH to tell his wife
how he had been working busily all this
time to earn enough, by extra labor at
his profession to buy little one-storied
cottage, in the suburbs Of the city, with
4. L.