Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-22
SELECTIONS.
HER FAIR FALSE FACE.

It all comes back TO me now, the
utter misery and despair that came
to me when | knew my darling was
false to me--false to every vow.
When | think even now of that
one great sorrow of my life, and OF
the woe most bitter the woman
loved brought to me-the woman
whose false love made me what am
to-day, master of the stateliest home,
owner of almost countless wealth,
but, alas wifeless and childless-a
lonely, gloomy man.
l will tell you my story, and the
story of others as well, but / must
tell it in my own way, so l will begin
at the beginning.
l was only twenty-five when / first
met Arele Cameron, and she was
then beautiful girl of eighteeu-a
simple, gentle girl, | believed, who
knew nothing of vanity or ambition,
or anything that women Of the world
hold dear.
| was naturally romantic, aud,
like the Lord of Rosna," my great
est ambition was to be loved for my
self alone, not that had very much
to tempt a woman with, but l was
the youngest son of a wealthy fami-
ly, and my mothers fortune-a con.
siderale sum-had become mine at
her death.
| never told Arelie Cameron this
/ let her think me struggling law.
yer. and as such / weed and won
her.
/ made her my wife, and took her
to pretty rose-embowered cottage,
and our honeymoon was to me a
dream OF passionate delight; and if
any satisfaction was felt by Arelie,
she never gave the slightest sign of
it to me, but | know now that TEN
pest Of passion and bitterness was
rising within her towards me, and
why-whys
Because another had fallen in love
with her beautiful face another, to
whom she never mentioned my name
nor her own marriage.
This learned afterwards, and more
than this, for | learned Of stolen
meetings by moonlight, of kisses and
caresses between my wife and herse.
cret lover.
| believed | had tested her love
enough, and l went away for a few
days, my intention being to tell my
people of my marriage.
| did so, and received their assur-
ance of a welcome for my wife,
and then, with high-beating heart
and pulses throbbing as l pictured
how the glad light would leap to
Arelie's eyes when we met-pictured
her delight at the costly dresses and
jewels | had ordered, her child like
astouishment at the beauty and
elegance OF the new home to which
| would bring her.
1t was June; the red roses bloom
ed fragrant as they twined round
the columns of the rustic yernanda
and mixed their rich perfume with
the faint, sweet odor of hyacinth
and mignonette.
l almost ran up the garden-path
in my eagerness to clasp my darling
to my breast.
No thought came to me then, as
| stood at the door with sunshine
around me. OF the horror that await
ed me when 1t would open.
Almost lmpatiently | rang the bell
for the second time, and glanced up
at the windows to see ifmy darling's
face was smiling down upon me in
all its brightness.
Perhaps she had seen me. and was
coming to the door herself, but no
the footstep was slow aud heavy
slow and heavy even for Jane. /
thought.
Jane was an old servant of my
fathers family whom had brought
to the cottage, bidding her to keep
secret for while.
AS she opened the door, some
thing in her face-which was very
pale, | noticed-struck a chill like q
sudden forehod.ng to my heart.
"What is it Janefn l said anx,
iously. Where is your mistress
Is she ill., What is the matter, Jane
For Gods sake speak!r
81 went to pass her, but she
caught my arm and broke into tears
"Oh, Master Guy Master Gny p
she cried, "she is gone gone with
oct word to me, but she left this
for you"
Herhands trembled as she drew out
the note bearing my name. Poor
old soul she more than suspected
the fatal truth.