Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-28

winch are but overcome Dy nlBnt.
But in that section of the world which
is called Society, the laws of politeness
are more stringent than those of morale
ty /; mud when the first impulse subsidized,
Cecil knew perfectly we'll that he could
not be guilty Of the fragrant and gratuit-
GUS rudeness of running away from
lady who had come by her husbands de-
sire to keep his appointment
One of the hardest things in life is
that cruelty of fate. which first deprives
us of choice, and then makes lis liable
for consequences.
Many eyes watched them with admir-
ing glance, as Chesterton, with the Coun.
tess on his arm, entered the theatre and
assembled the stairs.
"Jove they are handsome young
couple ~ remarked one gentleman to an
othsr, to whom the lady had bowed as
she passed. "Who are they?"
"She is the loveliest woman in London
Countess Silvestrelli !"
the Count? He has got a fine expressive
face but not of the Italian type"
"He is the young Orientalist. whose
| book made such furOrs n few months
ago. His name is Chesterton. The Count
|
least, and twice as untitled, l should say,
Countess is ~
ellis name is Chcsterton, is ~ re-
peated the friend, not noticing the subse-
quent remarks. "Dcuced odd thing !!
There were two Indians iabbering like
mad at Gattis last night, and that was
the only word / could make out. They
| 1nznn q
at least, so there was no installing it.
"Ah p! some acquaintance Of his,
daresay He only returned from India
lately" was the quiet response. "Shall
we go in now? The overture is begin
ming"
Lucia was surprised to find her hus-
bands servant waiting in the circular
corridor behind the boxes. He had been
sent on in handsom, he said, to arrange
matters with the box-keepcr, who had
made the singular mistake of insisting
that the Count engaged two private boxes.
He was o servile, sleek man, who occu.
pied himself with II thousand minute SER
vices, such as placing chairs, procuring
footstools, adjusting curtains, laying out
lorgnettes, opening programmes, and eff
fectually preventing the young people
from making any iuconvenicnt investiga.
tions.
As soon as he was gone the lights were
lowered, and the curtain went up for the
first scene.
The reader will know what panied re-
membrance made the stage and all its ac-
compartments hateful to Cecil. He could
not fix his attention either on the unfold.
ing of the plot or the skill of the popu-
lar actor.
Instinctively his eyes shrank from the
tinsel and glitter, and as Lucia's figure iu-
terposed, his gaze stopped short there.
The Countess seemed absorbed in the
play, sitting with her elbow on the velvet
cushion, and her cheek on her hand, and
for the first time he thought of contrast
ing her with Estelle.
The wilderness OF her garments, the
grave purity of her face, the natural
thoughtfulness of the attitude in which
she had been placed herself, told of 9
mind at once serious and chaste.-a di-
rect contrast to the gay, witty French
woman, whose charm lay III those light
and serio- csmic touches which were con.
spicuously absent from Lucias character
Hers was that essential, inetfable purity
which commands only the loftiest love o
noble men, and which the base take TO
insipidity.
Cecil felt as if he could look at her TO
ever without firing, and also without
t thought that was not revcrent and tender
The fascination which the Countess ex
erted over him from the first might neve
have become the infatuation which it no,
was, but for that strange, accidental refer
ence to gems, which gave all her after
q speech new Significance to the owner G
e the Black Pearl
: What mystery underlay her preference
She had not told him, and he never mean
Y to ask but lie spent many solitary hour
L bordering the matter over
o Chesterton had made mistake in SUI
/, posing that the Countess was absorbed
the play. She saw rs little Of it nc h
: did. Her eyes were turned that way trul.
II but her mental vision was concentrate
:, on the Judas part she suspected her hu
IS band was playing towards the youn
o Euglshman, whose presence was as vivi
l. a picture to her as hers was to him. 81
IS meant to pat him on his guard, but no
n to do 80 without infringing her wife
reserve and womanly dignity WAS the iii
II iicult question,
W II will not be the mute accessory
ID treachery," vas her resolve and her fe
was lest she should forfeit the respect
lie the man she meant to benefit.
L. Personal honor was the only thing ST
e. had to cling to and she Thought bite
III ly that if abe remained pure she mi
initiate the lotus. which lifts snow
Il, head above the slime it grows in.
H. Cecil hal detected what he thought
new reserve in Lucia's manner towar
IL him, and though it hurt him, he honor
w her for il So it was n startling surpri
for him when at the end of the first al
he she leaned forward, and speaking nlmc
IL abruptly, said, "Mr. Chesterton, ! hav'
question to AK, the strangeness OF viii
ms l cannot explain away, and can only
ID, cuso by saying that my motive is to Az
p. II possible danger VIII you answer it
lie With those clear gray eyes fixed up
,m his face, waiting for his reply, it won
re have been difficult for Inn to give any
re spouse other than Affirmative.
II want You to tell me if your re
err tions with Count Eilvcstrelli'' (she hey
nd called him her husband) 'are those
sc, social acquaintance only, or if they la
any political or pecuniary aspect 2
mo they are purely social, was
nd amazed reply.
"Have you been asked to render h
!. any service, and refused q was the II
w query.
y. "Certainly not. All the obligation
nI been on my side !" Cecil said, with
-" cision.
. oh The Countess became silent, eviden
al rejecting,
c n Then she said, auxiously, "llavo =,
, is any friends who ale his enemies, or !
ust enemies WHO nre his friends ?"
II don't know can't say" he rcpli
cd, bIcathless and pcrplcxe1. "Why do
e ask p
nS- His eyes searched her face with en-
'ur suspicion. He hadsbecn deceived b
beautiful woman once he meant to
my on his guard now.