Middletown transcript., 1883-01-19
CARL sIGMUND's WIFE.

The clouds were massed in crimson
glory in the west, and on them were
fixed the large, beautiful eyes of the
young Countess Hester, who stood
looking from one Of the many windows
of her new home. 1t was the eve of
her wedding day. Scarce eight hours
previously she had sworn to love, honor
and obey Carl Sigmund until death did
them part. He it was who 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 of
the bride, yet frown contracts the
low, white brow, an ominous glitter
shines in the wonderful gray eyes, and
a scornful smile plays about the exqui-
sitely curved lips, while the little hand,
grasping the curtain, is tightly clenched.
A sound breaks upon her reverie. She
quickly turns, as the door of the room
is softly opened, and the figure of a
tall, powerful man darkens the thresh-
old.
You find all to your liking, Flor
ence 20 he asks, and voice and eyes
alike are tender as he asks the ques-
tion.
"a moment ago-yes," she replies.
" l was then alone"
A shade darkened his face.
" Alone, Florence ? Is my presence
really so distasteful to you ?''
Sheshrugged her shoulders and turned
her face toward the open window
With one stride he had reached her
side, and laid his hand on her arm.
Answer me ~ he said; and his
tone now was a command. "To-day
you swore to make my happiness. l
knew our marriage was one Of conve-
nience l knew that the Countess
Hester would not have stopped to the
plebeian hand of the rich manufacture
er's son, had it not been that the for
tunes of her house had sadly fallen.
1 knew she was no hypocrite, to feign
love she did not feel. But l did not
know she gave scorn for love, or hatred
for courtesy. She was woman, a
man. She bridged the social gulf be-
tween us when she became my wife.
Florence, do you already repent the
step p
Bitterly madly - she replied,
raising her eyes to his and letting him
see the scorn and anger in their depths.
You say was no hypocrite. was
but l will be so no longer. You need
not talk alone of my ambition. What
Of yours ? You had money-not rank,
not social position. These latter I give
you in exchange for your wealth. The
bargain is an even one-let us CRY
quits but let us have no talk of love,
or heart, or sentiment. Let us bury
these in a marital grave, and on it up
rear monument Of distant courtesy
Do not make me hate you by forcing
upon me the rights you have assumed
Leave me my solitude, unless when the
world demands it otherwise. l viii
not intrude upon yours.
The young mans face was of an al
most CHASTITY pallOr as she finished
speaking. His hand dropped from hel
arm.
"Though may boast no title, Count
ess," he said, very slowly, 81 claim
nobility's truest rank-the rank Of gen
tlemaI, to whom the wishes of thu
woman he has made his wife are law
You have not spared me in expressing
yours. Allow me to offer you my deep
est sympathy for the cruel fate which
tempted you to make the sacrifice OIL
which the church this morning set it
seal, and which for the first time ap
preeiate. Happily, madame, the hom
to which l have brought you is not I
cottage. When you wish for me, com
mand me. Otherwise l beg that yol
will consider your apartments your cas-
4 tie, at whose gates Carl Sigmund vii
never knock, either as supplicant o
intruder. =
He bowed low as he ceased speaking
and slowly recrossed the room. On it
threshold he paused. Did he expec
her to call him back, or at least t
soften her cruel words If SO, he wa
wrong. His hesitation was scalcel
pereeptible. The door closed behint