The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-01-03
4 VICTIM OF HEREDITY.
The sad Ease Of Estnernitia w. Pcrk .ns.

ITO tail, uSSOmc form OIL LDMerAlQa
w. Perkins was sharply outlined
against Vivian McNn1ty's left ear ~ he
/ stood that beautiful June evening In
the doorway Of Brierton Villa hoping
against hope, and praying that some
thing he knew or cared not what
might occur to sweep from the hoiiz'm
of his life the awful sorrow that was
hanging over it like a pall--a sorrow
that would make every day an con OF
misery, every word Of Joy that others
might utter knell Of despair.
They had quarrcled, these two-they
| who in the beautiful days Of autumn,
when the leaves were turning golden,
when the hills were crowned with en-
Der light and the valleys seemed like
huge cups trimming over with pur-
pie haze, and when the trotting record
was lowered to 2:0S1, had pliglltel
their troth SO willingly and yet SO
solcmnly, thinking, and rightly, too,
that this blending forever of two hearts
was solemn, holy act, one that should
ever be looked back upon in silent
gratitude now they were TO part
forever, take separate paths on the
eventful journey Of life--that journey
which they had hoped by constant COM
partnership and enduring love to make
one of ceaselcss JOY and sweet content.
But now all was changed, and the rose
tinted future which they had often
pictured to themselves and talked about
in the calm hopcinlncss that only a
young man on SO month and pure,
passionless girl who can eat the bot
tom crust of pie without culver
con assume, had passed away forever,
and in its place there was a yawning
chasm of despair and grief.
i cannot marry v0u," Esmeralda
had said to him that night as he en-
tered the house, and then, having ut
tered the cruel words which she had
been schooling herself all the day to
say, and seeing how they had pierced
like dagger that brave, manly heart,
she had thrown herself into his arms,
and as her white face, down which the
tears were streaming. lay upon his
heart Vivian McNnlty knew that the
words which Esmeralda had spoken
did not come from her heart-knew
that some terrible mystery was en-
sliouding their lives in its darksome
folds. And rs he held her sobbing in
his arms the light from the chandelier
above them streamed down in golden
radiance upon the broad, white brow
from which the fair hair waved away,
fell across the long, strangely dark
eyelashes, giving just a CLEAN of the
beautiful blue eyes beneath, across the
sweet red mouth auivering like o
grieved child's. And then, as he bent
forward tenderly to kiss away the
tears, the girl had drawn back-not in
anger, but with an expression Of unut-
terable pain on her face, and spoken
the three words with which this chapter
opens:
"Good-by, McNulty."
For nh instant the man could not re-
ply. He had not felt such a shock
since meeting his father in the giddy
whirl of poker game and going home
with nothing but a contrite heart and .
lead pencil to show for his months
wages. He still held Esmeralda's
hands in his, and the girl was looking
up to h m with eyes that were fearless
now, but in their depths there was q
look of frozen horror, my-bustle-has-
got-loose expression, that pierced his
very soul. And when lie had asked
for an explanation of her words-not
demanded it as right, but pleaded for
it as favor-she had only shifted UNI
EARLY onto the other foot and burst
into storm of sobs.
Il can only tell you," she MUIR
INJURED, when finally his agonized en-
treaties had moved her to speech, that
our marriage would render your life
one of constant misery that it is better
we should part now than commit an
error which eternity alone could efface.
You will never know how ! love you,
Vivian--never know the dreadful agony
that this separation is causing me. God
knows | would greet death with smiling
face and outstretched arms tomorrow
now that Won are lost to me forever, for
wha. is life without your love, and pres
ence, and kisses, but all unceasing
torture? If l loved You less, if your
lave were not enshrined in my heart as
something to he worshiped evermore, I
would not take this step. It was wrong,
NIeiSs hIoNs w NkAoW lAAS AoNc
to overmaster my whole being, but it is
better to wreck one life than two, and
to again say 'Good-by'-" and, lifting
her pure, sweet face to his, Esmeralda
kissed him gently on the lips and turned
30 go.
Stop exclaimed Vivian in an i'm
perious, whoa Emma manner. II plead
ed with. You for an explanation, but
now demand it. 1t is my right" and,
drawing himself up proudly, he broke
his left suspendcr.
"You speak truly" replied the girl.
AN explanation of my action is due
you. Know, then, that am q victim
of heredity."
"Of what?" asks Vivian.
"Of heredity," repeats the girl.
I'm what respeet?" he demands, his
voice hoarse with agony.
Il have" says the girl, steadying her.
self against the piano, inherited my
fathers snore. "-CHicago Tribune,