The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-08-09
A Darkso,ne Fate.

"Glvc me the bandOllne.
The soft, mellow tinkle of bells came
floating over the hills and dales to the
Lady Cecil Mulcahey that June evening
as she stood before the glass in her
boudoir, beautiful articles of rirtu,
choice bits of fancy work, and all tho
new corn remedies that were scattered
around in graceful confusion giving to
the room an air of refined beauty that
one so seldom sees outside the precincts
of Naples or Kokomo.
"Yes, Madame" replied Nannette
Stiggins, the French femme dc chansbre.
handing her mistress the required article.
"And does Madame wish her vinaigretP"
NO" replies Lady Cecil. cold,
cynical smile passing over her features
as she speaks. :.Lord Reginald de
Courcey Short will get rue the day on
which he laughed my apple-pie to
scorn." she continued, speaking softly
to herself, ''and told me, with cruel
sneer on his lips. that he would, ere the
ruddy glow of autumn faded into the
snowy whiteness of winter, wed simple
Ruth Redingote, the humble cotters
daughter He may think that l have
forgotten his words, that have choked
been gnawing at my heart, but time
to him with terrible, crushing force, the
truth that hell hath no fury like wom-
ans corns-like woman scorned, l
mean'-and with twirl of her taper
fingers she chucked the powder-puff
deity into its box and began a long,
weary search for the hair-brush.
n
Summer in Chicago. Up from the
pebbly beach thatis Kissed by the laugh
ing waters of the great lake come the
sensuous zephyrs of perfect June
night The merry shouts of the children
as they start out. skates in hand, for an
evening of riotous fun, mingle with the
low, sad sough of the wind as it sighs
among the deserted ice-wagons, and
over all there is a brooding silence that
sometimes awes even the lightest heart
ed of the merry crowd that throngs the
streets.
Ruth Redingote and Reginald Short
are walking arm in arm down the princi-
pal thoroughfare, and as the gaslight
falls with titful flicker upon the pure
young face of the girl her companion
looks down to her with a smile. She
has come in from her happy country
home in St. Louis, and sees for the first
time the strange, new sights of great
city. Reginald thinks, as he gazes fond
ly upon her, that there is none so fair
rs this woman, none that could so Sc
curely bind his heart in the silken fet-
tiers of a pure, holy affection. He feels
that without the sunshine of her love
life would be an evil waste whereon
would lie the whited skeletons of Hope
and Ambition. And so, feeling thus, it
seems to him that he cannot do too much
for her, cannot make his yielding to her
every wish too plain. And so. bending
over her, his bright young face aglow
with the kindly light of deep affec-
ton, he asks her if there is anything she
would like-any delicacy in the bril-
liantly-lighted windows that environ
them on every side.
Yes" answers Ruth, pleased look
in her deep luminous eyes. 81 would
like something"
"What is it. darlingp" and as he
speaks the last word bright crimson
blush sutfuses the girls Checks.
She hesitates an instant, and then, in
clear, ringing tones, come forth the
words:
.Lemon pier'
A low, fiendish laugh breaks upon the
night air. Reginald turns hastily, and
there before him, more beautiful than
ever, stands the. Lady Mulcahey.
Lemon pie!'' she hisses fiercely. ''And
this is your chosen bride-you who are
so cultured and refined. My vengeance
is satisfied and with another mo:king
laugh she fees away into the darkness
Chicago Tribune.