The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-09-19
ICANNOT TELL YOU.

CANNOT TELL YOU.
"Will you marry me, Violet, as your
father wishedp"
The girl turned and laid her hand in
the questioner's with the simple an
swer, confidingly uttered:
II will"
And then Violet Allyn was betrothed
to Carol Danton, just one day after
the cruel stroke that had left her ia
therless.
She was but sixteen, and love, as she
was to know it in after years, was a
sealed page as yet; but her whole re-
spect and esteem had been won long
ago 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 loneliness more perfect
than that of his betrothed.
In her deep mourning garb. her
sweet face surrounded by its aureole
of pale gold, seemed to him as fair as
an angels.
They were married and brief happy
year fitted by.
Though outwardly the same. Violet
was child no longer.
With her new life and duties, new
thoughts and capabilities had sprung
into Immediate being, and an emotion,
overmastering and absorbing, had taken
possession of her heart.
Her love for her husband in its in
tensity almost frightened herself, and
served to make 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 COM
fort, Carol little dreamed of the real
tenderness that filled his young wife's
heart for him.
Although it occupied large portion
of his time to attend to the extensive
estates his wife had brought to him,
Carols own business interests, which
he had retained, Notwithstanding his
wealthy marriage, compelled his occa-
sional absence from home.
At such times, at his desire, his cou-
sin, Maria Danton, about his own age,
and therefore much older than Violet,
installed herself ut Allyn Hall as COM
panion to his young wife.
Could Carol have looked into the fu-
ture, he would as soon have placed q
viper amid the boquct of fragrant flow
ers 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, not good,
but deadliest harm.
All her life, despite an entire lack of
encouragement. Maria Danton had
loved her cousin. She was very plain,
and keenly sensitive to the fact, and
from the first Violet's beauty had
aroused ademon of jealous hatred with
in her breast But she had managed
to conceal so we'll her real feelings I'M
der garb of cousinly affection and in
terest, that Violet, as well as Carol,
had been deceived.
She had been at the Hall three weeks
during which time Carol had been
away from home. His return was ex-
pected at the expiration of another
week. but, unexpectedly. no came sew
eral days sooner.
Late one evening, full of eagerness
to see once more the dear little wife
from whom he had been separated
so much longer than ever before.
and to enjoy her surprise. he entered
the drawing room unannounced,t to find
Maria there alone.
An hour passed. Satan had at last
placed the coveted opportunity within
Maria Danton's reach. and she used il
so skillfully, yelling her malice under
an aspect Of grave and sorrowful con-
Germ, that when Violet entered the
room, her fair hair cling;ng. wet with
dew. and shawl enveloping her slen-
der form. it was to shrink back in star
tied surprise at the expression upon the
two faces thai met her eyes.
Her train laid, with an evil smile Ma
ria left the room.
Time passed and no sound of alter
cation peiletrated the closed doors, but
thestraitor without smiled still more
evilly as, half an hour later, she heard
the hall door close with a resounding
clang, and few minutes later, light
football go falteringly. with many paus-
es, up stairs. ...... -.....
To her husbands natural query as to
where she had been thus alone at such
late hour, Violet had replied that she
was unable to give him an answer.
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 Sc
crets. I can either give my trust all in
all or not at all. Violet, as your hus.
band, command you to tell me who II
is you have been meeting clandestinely
every night for week.
At the conclusion of this sentence an
indignant light famed into Violet's
face. t.... o@
81 see now who it is that has poi
soned your mind against me" she
cried. mo one but Maria could have
known SO much concerning my move
ments. Carroll if you choose to be-
lieve and trust her before your wife,
have nothing further to say or plead. "
Then you refuse to tell me what ]
askP Violet, have given you hus-
bands affection; it surely calls for
something better than reserve and du.
plicity. For the sake of your own hap
piness and mine, / implore you to be
frank. Innocence has no fear; 1t is
only guilt that covers and trembles. u
But though tears drenched hel
cheeks, al cannot tell you what you
ask" was all the answer Violet gave to
her husbands moving appeal.
More words passed, angry and bitter
upon one side, passively heard on the
other; and then the husband and wife
had parted. and Violet had been left
alone in her girlhood's home, a child in
years, with more than woman's her.
itage of suffering.
The next morning. without waiting
to bid farewell to the hostess whose
happiness her secret spite had blasted,
ii 4 IL - Ill .