The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-10-24
Wednesday, Oct. "a, 1888.
A DOUBLE TREACHERY.
CHAPTER XIV.
CONTINUED.

end could not be very distant: that she
must soon sink from the surface II ihe
whirlpool IN which she had been epgnlfe3
to the dark depths below. dragging VITA
her, her husband : h0aioai sind perhaps the
name and fortunes 81 his iitun.
Her present surroundings hastenad her
ruin. In London She WAS compelled 30
pay some respect To sTlpaiaranrk.s tut lrl this
retreat, she YVES as II we1qs 1tter'lg alone
A pistol shot in . house near, tho uuctam-
choly ending OF an intrigue as silly as d
was disgraeefnl. only cansed her to smile
and to long for .adyenfnres The days
on which she was not to be seen going or
coming from London, she passed in abso-
lutte Incidence, wrapped in a white dress
ing-gown, never occupying herself in the
least with the management of her house.
The servants robbed her, but she knew
nothing Of ii. Little by little she lost all
ambition, she descended to her former
shop-girl level and even below it. From
the respectable mercantile circle 10 which
her marriage had raised her. she fell to
the position of the women she saw about
her. She initiated them in her dress and
her manners, cut her hair short over her
forehead like sky terrier. and for two
months fiourished as a decided blonde.
greatly to Florence's establishment, who
These freaks amused George, and IL
was he who was the real master Of the
house.
To amuse Sylvia he had procured for
her some semblance of society, some bach
elor friends, but no women; women have
too quick eyes. Madame lola was the only
lady who crossed Sylvia's threshold
Picnics dinners, and water parties were
arranged. Every day Florenees position
became more ridiculous, more humiliating.
When he came home at night, tired, heat
ed, badly dressed, he must go at once and
dress for dinner.
make haste!p his wife would say" He
obeyed her injunctions, coming in gener-
ally after the soup had been sent away.
The guests he hardly knew; they were
Georges friends, who had come TO talk
business. This magic word cuisines"
explained and justified everything in
Florence's eyes, Georges constant pres
ence, the choice Of the guests, and Syl-
Was exquisite toiettes, were all in the in
terests Of the great firm with which it was
his pride and Joy TO he connected.
George, however. watched Sylvia's in
creasing coquetry and recklessness with
growing distlust and uneasiness. He
made his appearance almost daily Mt her
house, fearing to leave this ariful and I'M
principled nature too much to her own de-
vices.
sfWhere is your husband, Amie?' her
grandfather would say. sWhy does he
not come here oftenerW
Annie made excuses fer George, but she
herself, had at last begun 10 grow very
uneasy. The tears would come into her
eyes when she received the short notes
with which her husband announced his
detention in town.
sDo not expect me tonight or to-mor-
row. Perhaps the day after. i can get
away"
She dined sadly, opposite vacant chair,
and felt, without knowing the worst, that
her husband was drifting away from her.
He was absent and out Of spirits when he
was compelled to appear at 0aklands. As
Annie now hardly saw or heard anything
of Sylvia, she was perfectly ignorant Of
what went on at Richmond; and when
George hurried away, her eyes followed
MIN, vainly trying TO discover the secret
that drew him so constantly from herself
and her child.
Her husband was no happier than 'she,
for Sylvia, seemed to take a perverse
pleasure in tormenting him. She hirted
right and left. One Benedict, an Italian
tenor, introduced by madame lola, went
TO sing with her every day. George be-
gan to think that Florence did not take
sufficient care Of his wife.
If Sylvia had been Mrs. Speed. George
thought he could have kept her in better
order. As il was, he had no right to con-
troll her, and she would not hear word
from him. Sometimes, too, with that in
vincible logic that makes itself felt even
by fools, he argued that as she deceived
h,,ph a,, mil hf hn
his turn.
He spent his time in going from jeweller
to jeweller, to procure some novelty, some
surprise. How well he knew her, after
all. He realized that he could only retain
her affection. such as it was, SO long as lie
could amuse her.
AS yet, however, that day had not ar
rived. She was living the life that exact
ly suited her, enjoying all the happiness
she was capable of feeling. In her love
for George there fingered no element Of
passion or romance. He was merely n
second husband, younger, and above all,
richer than the other. Just before Franks
arrival, startled by some whispers that
reached her ear, she established her pa
rents at Richmond, near to her; and, with
father willfully blind, and n mother ten
derby unsuspicious, she gave herself an
which she was beginning to be conscious.
Everything was thus arranged TO her
satisfaction when Frank Florence sudden
ly appeared upon the scene, and she saw
at once that her repose was threatened
and that war was TO be declared between
them. Her plan was formed instantly,
and the time had now arrived to put it in
to action.
The summer-house they entered was a
circular room with windows on four sides.
1t was furnished for those sultry days
when the heat of the garden would be UNI
endurable. A large divan ran round the
whole wall, and small Japanese table oc-
cupied the center, covered with novels
and papers,
The walls We're delicately frescoed, and
the design, birds among pink and white
roses, looked like dream of summer;
The windows were shaded with masses of
jessamine and Virginia creeper, so that
the interior was delightfully."- cool and dark
the sound of water, the river caressing
the shores with gentle ripple added 10
the charm.
Sylvia threw herself carelessly ON the
divan, the soft folds of her white drapery
floating like sea-foam about her. Hen
head was slightly bent forward. and she
looked up at Frank with eyes that were
openly rebellious, almost threatening il
expression.
Frank stood erect and very pale.
"Accept my congratulations, madame
he said as he looked about him. "Youl
taste is indeed irreproachable." Then h,
added quickly, as if afraid to allow tn,
conversation to wander from the point t
which he wished to lead it .To whom arr
you indebted for all this luxury; to you
husband or your lover"
Without moving, and without evel
turning her eyes away Sylvia answered;
ITO both"
He was utterly disconnected by this un
expected GOODNESS.
aYou admit, then, that George Speed!
II admit nothing"
Frank looked at her; and notwithstand
ing her calmness she was frightfully pale
and her eternal little smile no longer hov
cred about her lips.
"Listen to me Sylvia. My brother
name, the name he gave TO his wife, !
mine also. William is blind and indulgen
and Just for that reason it becomes m,
dufv IL def.and him from the consequence,