Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-11-30
IovEs VICTORY.

LoVEs VICTORY.
The clouds were massed in crimson
glory in the west, and on them were fix.
ed the large. beautiful eyes of Lady
Florence Hammersley, who stood look.
ing from one of the many windows oi
her new home.
1t was the eve of her wedding-day.
Scarce eight hours previously she had
sworn to love, honor, and obey Hugh
Hammersley. the wealthy manufactures,
until death did them part.
He it was who now occupied her
thoughts, and shut out the splendid
landscape, glinted with the glory of the
dying day. Natural enough for the
husband to fill heart and mind alike o1
his bride, yet frown contracts the low,
white brow, an ominous glitter shines in
the wonderful grey eyes, and scorn.
full smile plays about the exquisitely-
curved lips, while the little hand, grasp
ing the curtain, is tightly clenched.
A sound breaks her reverie. She
quickly turns, as the door of the room is
softly opened, and the figure of a tall,
powerful man darkens the threshold.
'You find all to your liking, Flor.
ence?" he asks; and voice and eyes
alike are tender as he puts the ques-
tion.
"a moment ago-yes," she replies. 81
was alone" EtE
Ashade darkened his face. rza,.s -
'Alone, Florence? Is my presence re-
ally so distasteful to youp''
She shrugged her shoulders, and turn.
ed her face once more toward the open
window.
With one stride he had reached her
side, and laid his hand upon her arm.
I Answer me!'' he said; and his tone
was command. To-day. you swore
to make my happiness. I knew our
knew that the daughter of one of Eng
lands proudest, if poorest, peers would
not have stopped to the plebeian hand
OF the rich manufacturers son, had it
not been that the fortunes of her house
had sadly fallen; I knew she was no
hypocrite, to feign q love she did not
feel. But did not know she gave scorn
for love, or hatred for courtesy. She
was woman, a man. She bridged the
social gulf between us when she became
my wife. Florence, do you already re-
gret the step?''
Bitterly! madlyr' she cried, raising
her eyes to his, and letting him see all
the scorn and anger in their depths.-
''You say / was no hypocrite. was,
but l will be so no longer. You need
not toll- a1ona Of INV ,l.;t:o,, WI. 4
of yours? You had money, not rank
not social position. The latter Civ
you in exchange for your wealth. Th'
bargain is an even one-let us cry quit
but let us have no talk of love, or heart
or sentiment; let US bury these in .
martial grave, and on it uprear monu
ment of distant courtesy. Do not max,
me hate you by forcing upon me tb'
rights you have assumed. Leave me m,
solitude, unless when the world demand
it otherwise. / will not intrude upol
yours
The young mans face was of an al
most ghastly .pallor as she finishet
speaking. His hand dropped from he
arm.
Though / may boast no title, my la
dy." he said, very slowly, 81 claim no
bility's truest rank-the rank cf gen
tleman, to whom the wishes of the wo
man he has made his wife are law. Yo,
have not spared me in expressing yours
Allow me to offer you my deepest sym
pathy for the cruel fate which temple.
you to make the sacrifice on which thu
church this morning set its seal, ant
which l, for the first time appreci
ate. Happily, madame, the home, II
which l have brought you is not 1
cottage. When you wish for me, com
mand me. Otherwise beg you viii
consider your apartments your castle
at whose gates Hugh Hammersley viii
never knock, either as suppliant or in
truder,"
He bowed low as he ceased speaking
and slowly recrossed the room. On it
threshold he paused.
Did he expect her to call him back
or at least to soften her cruel words? I
SO, he was wrong His hesitation wa
scarcely perceptible. The door closee
behind him-the young and beautifu
woman was again alone. ..-.....-..-.--..
An expression of surprise, of almos
admiration, swept over her face, thel
the old scorn blazoned there.
eat least he understands me now,'
she murmured, "but, for q plebeian, b,
did it well.''
Rank for money. It had been fai
exchange, the world decreed; and many
a house, hitherto an unknown land {,
the young inheritor both Of his father
fortune and the great workshops which
covered acres of space in the very hear
of the great city, now welcomed him t.
its fetes and its tables. Fair womeI
smiled upon him, and men who ono,
would have turned their backs, listened
grew into respect.
II the young bride had expected to b,
ashamed of her husband, the expects
ton was destined todisappointment. Ol
every side she heard bis praise, and tn,
frown vanished from her brow and tn,
scorn from her lip. s,. So .a.@. So, syas
Never did he fail IN courtesy towart
her; never did she express q wish lef
unfulflled. A cheque-book, with blanl
cheques signed by his signature, to b,
filed up as she wished lay on her toilet
table.
Hitherto her life had been one of al
most penury, spite Of her exalted rank
A marriage de cOHUesa0sace had been tn
sole resort left her and she..had unhesi
tatibgly availed herself Of it.
! Her beauty unrivalled even with th,
old shabby setting, was now enhanced
BY exquisite toilettes and priceless Jew
efs. She had all that her fondest dreams
had pictured, yet day by day q restless
unsatisfied longing was gnawing at he
heart, and she looked about in vain fol
the unknown something which shoult
satisfy it. q q
Once. as she and her husband wers
driving home together from some bril-
liant fete, remembering some remarkl
concerning him which had reached hel
ear, she glanced towards him.
"a wonderful handsome mansAwo