Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-09-29


you know. is the Towards ball-the first
of the season. 1t will not do for the Deiie
to be weary.
An instant's shadow crossed the lovely
face, then she stretched her hand ana let
it barely touch Helen Mather's fair young
cheek ere it fell again.
"You are too good to me, dear; but !
promise my WEAKNESS will not be apparent
at the ball. Who could imagine Mauoe
Rivington weary when music and dancing
were on the taps? Besides, Ma chere, l
have had tonic administered since le1G,
my room. and one that can hardly fail to
take effect.'
| Before Helen could ask the nature OF
the stimulant, the butler announced din
ner, and the conversation dropped.
X X \ X
"Ask Maude to dance, Horace She Is
my guest, dear. It is the merest courtesy.
Do it for my sake.
These were the hurried words Miss Ma
theirs found moment to whisper in her
lovers ears, a half hour after they had en-
tered Mrs. Fowler's brilliantly illumina-
ted drawing. rooms.
The man glanced across them now to a
distant corner, where stood the woman
surf ounded by little crowd of men. Con-
scious always of Mauds Rivington's beau
ty, tonight it dazzled him. She was
dressed all in white. unreiieved by any
spot of color, save a bright crimson stain
upon her cheek, and the rich ruby Of her
lips. The violet eyes had darkened almost
to blackness; but, though she bad laughed
at her WEAKNESS as jest, something still
| suggested it in the shadows about the
sweeping lashes and the dropping corners
Of the exquisite mouth.
With shrug of his handsome shoulders
group made way for him to make one OF
themselves.
MAY claim one waltz, Miss Riving-
ton. or is your card already full?"
she glanced up, hesitated an instant,
then handed him her card. Every space
was filed save one-a waltz, half way
down the programme. How happened that
one coveted dance not to be disposed of?
81 am Fortunate he said, with ring
of quiet and unconscious sarcasm in his
voice: and hastily scribbling his name, he
handed back the now completed card.
bowed and retired.
'Thank you dear'' whispered Helen,
when he found his way back to her.
But somehow the words Jared on his
ear. Now and then he knew that Helen
Mathers did nbf HYFite fill his heart as
another might ha4dflled it. It was the
case of the man adored rather than man
adoring.
He had known her for many years. he
| knew her to be pure. and sweet, and wo
/ manly. The betrayal Of her hearts secret
unconscious to herself, caused his generos-
Isy to respond and ask her to be his wife
The question had well-nigh stunned her.
She had sometimes felt she was living In
some dream whose awakening must soon
follow. In her sight her loyer was unlike
all other men, and stood a prince among
them. His manhood. his strength, were
in her eyes infnite-only equaled by his
intense and unselfsh tenderness
The evening was half at an end, when,
from its hidden recesses, the band clashed
forth It's harmonious summons to the
| waltz against which the name was in
scribed upon Miss Rivington's card Be.
fore its introduction was finished he was
prompt to claim his promise
She spoke no word as she arose and per-
mitted him to encircle the slender waist
with his arm. Together they foated round
the room. She danced most exq uisitely.-
He scarcely felt her weight as she leaned
upon him.
He looked down upon the perfect beauty
of her face. and recognized it's wonderful
potent charms. A su bile perfume of violet
was waited to his senses; his heart beat
heavily.
Merciful heavens had he too gone mad
that this woman could move him thus !?
And yet neither had broken the silence,
but, with the waltz half ended, she
spoke:
cit is warm here" she said. "Will you
take me into the hall?"
Instantly he compiled. She knew the
house well.and led the way into ante-room
for the moment deserted. Then she turned
and faced him.
II want to ask you," she said, 'why you
will not be my friend?''
| >, He knew that his suspicion of the after
noon had been correct-th that she had heard
all that he had said Of her. Once again
the sense of almost cowardice smote him
Then he grew hard.
You have many Victims" he answer
ed. do you sigh still for another on your
list?"
"You forget that Helen is my friend
and I am her's,'' she said, reproach.
fully.
The long lashes swept her cheeks, but be
fancied that for an instant ere they had
fallen. he had detected the glimmer of un-
shed tears. The sight stirred his Utmost
pulses. He caught her bare white arm in
his grasp.
'Do not tempt me-" he murmured, in
low, intense tones. eff I loved you would
kill you did your glance but rest on others
as I have seen it rest.''
A moment before he would haye thought
himself Incapable, not only of such a
speech. but the motive to induce it; but
something within him, which through all
the thirty years of his existance had lain
dormant. suddenly Weakened into life.
TIE possibility of joy akin to ecstacy re-
vealed itself as twin to the possibility of
pain SO great that beside it all other suffer-
ing dwindled into nsignifcance.-nay more.
into nothingness.
lie had seen this woman daily for three
weeks, during which time she had been the
guest of his betrOthed. He had soon bor