The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-12-03
MaIES DECEPTION.

Outside, on the moonllt piazza
tive men strolled up and down,
smoking and chatting in a leisurely
way; within, a woman sat concealed
by the half-drawn draperies, white
and misty as her own pale robes.
glitter Of jewels at her throat and
in her yellow hair.
Leaning indolently back in a vii
low chair. with hslf-clesed eyes. she
was weaving pleasant fancies, until
the men without, pausing in their
walk. stood so close 10 the open
window that, had she extended her
hand. she could have touched them.
"Have you hesrd of Barry Len
don's n1arriage?" asked Hugh Bel
croft. mo Why, it occurred last
week. The bride was Nile Celeste.
You remember, she played Faus-
tina in-"
@What-he married that woman g
The accent Of genuine surprise
and scorn in Philip Carsdale's tones
made his companion look at him
in slight wonder.
"Why-or rather why not, Cars
dale2 She is a pretty little woman
and as good as gold, they say"
"But she was sn opera singer"
NO objection in that returned
Hugh Belcroft- Il rather admire
her independence. She has rich
relatives, but rather than accept IA
vor from them she put TO use the
gift bestowed upon her, her musical
voice. And she was q singer, Cars
dale"
Philip Carsdale shrugged bis
shoulders
"0ur ideas on the subject differ, y
he said, slowly, vet deliberately;
as the words were spoken the white
robed woman leaned forward with
clasped hands and bated breath, as
though fearing TO lose one syllable.
You view with one light. / with
another Perhaps you are right.
| only know that nv nature could
never be shared by such as MAIDEN
oiselle Celeste. Good they NAV be;
as you say, honest. perhaps honor
able in their place: but at home, Bel
croft, it needs tender, modest We
man to preside there, not one used
TO the glare of the footlights, the
applause of the people, the fame OF
newspapers and placards. Let
them bow TO the caprices of the
public ifthey wiz, admire them, ap-
plaud them, but never call them by
the name of wife"
why, Carsdale, your ideas are
singular; more, they are unjust,
but / see there is no use in argu-
ment. But surely, if you youself
should find q woman good and true,
should love her
II should not love her"
II. J said, Carsdaie; would you
make her miserable as well as your
self because she had trod the boards
OF theatre ?-nonsensem y
81 would" answered Philip
Carsdaie firmly. Better the mis-
cry of parting than that of life
time. / would tear her image
from my heart, though it cost me
nv very life. What was that ?
Listen I"
They stood in silence, bnt all
was still. What had Philip Cars
dale heard? Only low, smothered
cry from the pale lips of Male Dem
we're, as she fell back on her seat,
white and senseless.
They turned and walked away,
and when her wandering senses re-
turned she was quite alone
She thrust back her yellow
hair and wrung her hands despair
ingly. Then she bent and kissed
the sparkling rii,g on one slender
finger.
@Philip,n she murmured, you
are unjust, cruel. But we shall not
part-you shall never know. Some
time, perhaps. I shall tell you, when
you are kinder. and then you will
forgive noe"
Philip Carsdale and Maie Den
we're were betrothed. Meeting fol-
the FIRST time at this cottage in the
mountains, they had briefly learned
the lesson Of love, and now she
wore bis ring.
He was handsome. wealthy and
aristocratic; she, beauty and an
heiress. withal dainty, winsome
lady,
Alb, they were well mated. these
two; yet, as they stood together at
the altar . few weeks later, q shad-
ow of coming evil seemed hovering