Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-04-18
4 WIFE'S CHARM.

The fancy ball OF the season, a
grand and fashionable assemblage,
was to take place during his absence,
and he HAD said that he should prefer
she would not attend.
She was only 20. Let this much
be said in cxtenuation Of the two
great tears that rose to the brown
ewes and slowly trickled down the
pretty face, splashlng on to The dainty
morning dress, which, cllnGlng to the
dainty form, revealed so perfectly It's
graceful outlines.
Certainly, NioSc had no reason to
feel ashamed Of this one of her chill
dren. But Gerald Sinclair had only
stopped and kissed away the glisten'
ing drops in half hurried manner,
perhaps to hide his awakening re
morse.
"Never mind, little wife. I'll make
il up To you another time"
Then he was gone; but she sat still
turning and returning her wedding
ring, with eyes bent upon 1t. 1t was
a curious ring-a solid band, set with
five large diamonds.
Il had been her charm, her tails
man, not to be taken from her finger
until soul and body had parted; but
this morning it had lost It's charm.
If it failed to scatter the clouds, 1t
failed to bring back the sunshine.
Even when the hour came round
for Gerald's home coming, he missed
his usual warm welcome; but he
thought that he might trust his wife's
heart, and said nothing. The next
day h. started on his journey.
you're not going, my dear" ex.
claimed Mrs. Martin bursting IN upon
her friend on the morning of the ball.
"And why not2'
Gerald is away replied Mrs. Sin
clair, with some little show of wifely
dignity, us though the fact were in it
self sufficient explanation.
"And why need that make any diff
ference" pursued Mrs. Martin, a be
wtching little widow some few years
her friends senior. Il will share
my escort with you-Count Belzo-
nil"
Sophia Sinclair looked up amazed.
She knew that the man mentioned
had but lately gained an entree in
to society, and knew also that her
husband disIiked and mistruSted
him.
Once or twice she had seen his eye
fixed admringly upon herself, and
had felt somewhat Us the bird might
feel beneath the basilsk glare of a
serpent.
"Well, why don't you anSwerG7
continued Mrs Martin. "Will YOU
go2"
"Oh, no." she replied trying to
speak with firm decision. Besides |
do not think that Gerald admires the
count
"Preiudicc, my dear, all prejudice.
The count is one Of the most charm
ing and agreeable men | know. In
deed, | think | should be clnonized
for my willingness to share his at
tcntiouS, especially US | have heard
him say all manner of pretty things
about you"
Nonsense, Ellen retortcd Mrs.
Sinclair
But she felt the ground slipping be-
meath her feet as she spoke
After all Gerald had not said pos
itively no. Had he though it neces
sarv after he had openly expressed
his dnapprobation of her going3
He had not known that she would
be so Sorcly tempted. Besides she
would wcara mask. No one would
know her, and when she told Gerald
lie would forgive her. 4 sudden
thought came to her.
Il will go, she said at last, after
continued urging, and looking at the
picture in all its brightest lights, Ion
the condition, and that is that no one
is to know me-uot even the count.
Say that you have persuaded friend
to accompany you, who wishes to re
main unknown. | viii come to your
house, where he will find me, and thus
gain no clue
So it was decided; but. in spite of
her exquisite costume of fairy as she
concealed it and herself beneath a
large domino, rs the clock on her
mantel Chimed ten, it seemed 10 So
phie that every stroke said: Stay
stay"
She was almost tempted to obey it.
but she had promised Ellen; and, af- |
ter all, she had heard that it was well
for young wives to assert themselves.
An hour later and, ON the Count |
Belzoni's arm, she entered upon the
brilliant scene. So far he had not
even seemed curious to ascertain her
identity. She experienced at this a
singular sense Of relief.
The ball was at its height as the |
clock rang out the hour of midnight. |
but for the first time in her life light |
and gayety were diStasteful. 4 hun |
bred times She wished 10 herself she |
was ut home.
Il will tell Gerald. ] have already |
been punished, she whispered to her |
self. us she stood for moment alone
i'll quiet corner
You look moro like nun than a
fairy-rather Ike one who had fore
sworn the vanities of the world, than
a siren 10 tempt men 10 their destruc-
ton, said u voice close to her.
though to the latter know no one
more fitted.
Sri" she exclaimed Indignantly.
recognizing, as she spoke, the count
standing at her elbow.
"Ah, you thought l did not know
you. should penetrate any disguise
you wore. Besides you have for
gotten to remove a badge of recogni-
ton"
She followed with her eyes his
downward glance, and saw that it rest
cd on her hand; ungloved, as in better
accord with the exigencieS of her cos
tune.
nvoluntarily she drew it away.
with the ring which had BETRAYED
her.
Denial was useless.
"Since you know me, then" she
said, 1--WE will not further play part.
To the others we are masks; TO our
selves we are ourselves"
"Ah, madame" he whispered,
''let us rather say to the world we are
ourselves, TO each other we are q
mask. Can men, think you, look
coldly on such beauty as you possessi
Can "
Indignant and alarmed, she checked
his further speech by starting forward
to escape him. His hands closed on
hers as in vice. She wrenched it
from him, sprang among a crowd of
maskers, and so made her way to the
door.