River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-06-02

SH6 llleTpOScu an lIlSuIiiOuiitdDic udI
rier. She avoided even the touch of
his hand when he would have assisted
her with that assistance a man so
spontaneously extends 10 a woman.
She shivered and turned pale when
metimes occasion made it necessary.
Why did it trouble him so? Was it
only the cease ess sting ofself-reproach
and his Inundated manhood?
Again and again he found himself
looking at the beautiful woman who
presided so gracefully at the head of
his table. Everywhere her name was
spoken in tones of admiration and
respect Men wed to gain one of her
smiles, but always as the smile ola wo-
man to whom they gave highest honor
What did she do with the hours when,
in her own suit of apartments, and
she and her past were alone together?
He could not tell Behind those closed
doors he might not look.
1t was lust year since the marriage
of Mr.. and Mrs. Pierce Curtin, when a
guest came to visit their near neighbOrs,
the Randolps, in the person of Miss
Maude Carlton. Cards were issued for
dinner party to be given i'll honor.
ave will not CO." decided Pierce,
when his wife quietly handed theirs to
him. at the breakfast-table.
you have an engagement for that
evening"" she asked, in clear, calm
tones.
''No; but, surley, Elsa, you do not
care to meet Miss Carlton?"
A surprise nature was in her answ-
81 certainly do not regard Miss Carl
ton but with indifference, and, as feel
most kindly toward the Randolphs, if
you have no serious objections, l pre-
fer sending in my acceptance.
Gas you will" he replied, hastily;
and, leaving his unfinished breakfast
rose and went out from the room.
How she hates me, said he, to him
self, "and vet | dreaded once her dem
onstrations, her exactions, her caress-
es. She is ice, she has petrified, whilst
I-can it be that this keen pain guawing
at my heart is because know that the
Jewel lost to me was indeed rare and
precious, while / believed it glass
bauble?'
"Inever sent you any written congrat-
ulations upon your marriage, Pierce;
but now that | have seen your wife, you
will, am sure, accept them by word
of mouth, at this late day"
Thus Miss Carlton addressed the man
who so short a time ago had been her low
er. She darted a quick look into his face
as she spoke A halt-regreted crept in
the tone of her words. He had met her
an hour since with an Indifference that,
it acting, was so well-feigned that it al
most deceived her.
Could it be that she had not read
the secret of his marriage Alright? that
it was, indeed, love which had prOmOt-
ed it, and not the mere feelings of
pique to which she, in her conscious
vanity; had ascribed it?
Power was Maud Cartoons god. To
feel that, having once possessed, she
had lost it, both shame and misery
combined She had meant only to play
with Pierce, not to let him slip from
her tolls. That he had done so had
been at any time cruel suffering; now
she must win him back, to infict in
turn that which he had given.
So once more the long lashes dropped
over the great black eyes; the rich, red
| lips half parted in q tremulous sigh; the
little hand fingered in his, at meeting
and at parting. But he was blind to it
all-blind, and dumb and deaf.
But Elsa saw it all, and the heart she
had thought dead beat suffocatingly
with the cruel torture, even while she
smiled and welcomed this woman to
| her hOme-welcomed her, it is true,
with cold, frigid courtesy-even in her
presence in a measure dropping her
mask, which covered her domestic
misery, as though she would say, See
your work! glory in it,
But all the time this dull, dead pain
was weighing down her spirit, until she
felt that she must break her letters
must free herself from the man whom,
spite of his baseness and her own self
scOrn, she still loved.
The time of Miss Cartoons visit was
drawing to close Pierce had grown
strangely moody of late. Was the old
regret still so keen within him? she
wondered
Entering her house, late one after
noon, her butler respectfully detained
her as she was about to pass up the
! stairs
Pardon, madame, but Miss Carlton
called to bid madame good-by, and is
awaiting her in the library"
Retracing her steps, Elsa drew aside
the portiere of the drawing-room, and
walked slowly toward the room beyond.
On its Threshold, voices arrested
her. For the second time in her life
she was an involuntary evesdropper.
Miss Carlton was speaking, and the
tone was low and subtle, and danger
ously sweet.
Pierce" she said, you misunder-
stood me then. Do not misunderstood
me now. Pity rather than blame me.
Think what have lost in losing you.
And you-you are not happy. | see
i'll know IT. All, Pierce, say to me
just once that YOU share my regret"
| She would turn away, thought Elsa
she would not hear his answer, the
recital of his unavailing regret and the
wretchedness of his life; but her
/ strength failed her. With pallid face.
and hand tight pressed to ner heart, as
she had pressed it on that awful day of
/ 06T awakening, sue Wailtu iOE tilc Coii-
| firmation of that which in her own
mind was already certainty. But was
she dreaming? What was he saying?
You say, Miss Carlton, that | am not
| happy. Ii is too true. Unsuitable in
your desire for triumph, you wish once
again to place my name upon the list;
| then YOU will turn away content. You
are right give you your triumph. |
am not happy. No more wretched
man exists. All, your eye brightens-
your cheek flushes Wait-I have not
| finished. l am miserable, because l
have bartered substance for dross, gold
for tinsel, honor for contempt. A year
ago l married-married (shall | confess
it?) without, as l supposed, love-mar-
ried child that, through this marriage,