The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-08-14
ICANHOT TELL You.

"Will you marry me, Violet, as you,
father wished?"
The girl turned and laid her hand il
the questioner's with the simple answer
confidingly uttered:
II will"
And then Violet Allyn was betrothed
to Carol Danton, just one day aftes the
cruel stroke that had left her fatherless
She was but sixteen, and love as she
was to know it in later years, was 6
sealed page to her as yet; but her whole
respect and esteem had been long since
won by the noble man whom her father
had loved during the last years of his
life as son.
Carol Danton was twice her age and
had seen much of the world, but surely
never in any cline could his eyes have
rested upon a lovelinoss more perfect
than that of his betrothed.
In her deep mourning garb, her sweet
face, surrounded with its aureole of pale
gold, seemed to him as fair as an
angels.
They were married, and a brief happy
year fitted by. Though outwardly the
same, Violet was child no longer.
With her now life and duties new
thoughts and capabilities had sprung
into immediate being, and an emotion,
overmastering and absorbing, had taken
it's dominion within her heart.
Her love for her husband in its inten.
sity almost frightened herself, and il
served to render her shy of expressing
herself through actions or words, lest
she should appear ridiculous; and thus;
though he recognized the affection that
was so thoughtful for his every comfort
Carol little dreamed of the real depth
of the tenderness that filed his young
wife's heart for him.
Although it occupied a large portion OF
his time to attend to the extensive estate
which his wife had brought him, Car
rolls own business interests, which he
had retained, Notwithstanding his
wealthy marriage, compelled his occas-
ional absences from home.
At such times, at his desire, his
cousin Maria Danton, about his own age,
and therefore much older than Violet,
Installed herself at Allyn Hall as com:
panion for his young wife.
Could Carol have looked into the
future, he would as soon have placed a
viper amid the bouquet of fragrant
flowers which was his daily Offering to
his wife, as to have introduced into his
happy home one who came there with
the intention fully formed of working
if it came within her power, no good
but deadliest harm.
ALI her life, despite entire lack Of
encouragement, Maria Danton had
loved her cousin. She was very plain.
and keenly sensitive to the fact, and
aroused demon of jealous hatred with.
in her breart. But she had managed tc
conceal so we'll her real feelings under 6
garb of cousinly affection and interest
that Violet, as Carol, had been lie.
ceived.
She had been at the Hall three
weeks, during which Carol had beer
away from home. His return wat
expected at the expiration Of another
week, but, unexpectedly, he came sew.
eral days sooner:
Late one evening, full of eagernes!
to see once more the dear little wifi.
from whom he had been separated 81
much longer than ever before, and tx
enjoy her surprise, he entered til,
drawing room unannounced, to fint
Maria there alone.
An hour passed. Satan had PLACED
at last the coveted opportunity within
Maria Danton's reach, and she used il
so skillfully, vailing her malice under
an aspect of grave and sorrowful con
Germ, that when Violet entered tn,
room, her fair hair clinging, wet will
dew, about her forehead, and a shaw
enveloped her slender form, it was t.
shrink back in startled surprise at the
expression upon the two faces that met
her eyes.
Her train laid, with an evil smile
Maria made her exit from the room.
Time passed, and no sound of alter.
cation penetrated the closed doors.
But the traitor without smiled still
more evllly as, half hour later, she
heard the hall door close with q re.
sounding olang, and few moments af-
ter light football go falteringly, with
many pauses, up the stairs.
To her husbands natural query as
to where she had been thus alone al
such late hour, Violet had replied
that she was unable to give him an an.
swer.
When she realized the suspicious
that were filling his mind, terror had
seized her, and she had vowed to him
that there was no occasion for them.
"Then give ME the explanation
ask" he said. II will brook no secrets
1 can give my trust either IN all, or not
ct all. Violet, as your husband, com.
mand you to tell me who it is you have
met clandestinely every night for 8
week."
At the conclusion of his sentence an
indignant light famed in Violet's face
II see now who it is that has poisoned
your mind against me-" she cried. :'Nc
one but Maria could have known &c
much concerning my movements. Car.
rol, If you choose to believe and trust
her before your wife, I have nothing
further to say or plead"
"Then you refuse to tell me what
ask? Violet, have given you a hus.
bands affection; it surely calls fol
something better than reserve and du.
plicity. For the sake of your own hap.
piness and mine, I implore you to be
frank. Innocence has no fear; it il
only guilt that covers and trembles."
But though tears drenched he,
cheeks, II cannot tell you what you ask,
was all the answer Violet gave to he1
husbands moving appeal.
More words passed, angry and bitter
upon one side, passively heard upon the
other; and then the husband and wife
parted, and Violet was left alone in hel
girlhood's home, a child in years, with
more than a woman's heritage of suffer.
ing.
The next morning, without WAITING