Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-07-09

opE
IF you will.
aHow?"
aBy watching the window OF the room in
the wing where the light is from yonder
clump Of bushes"
You ask me to spy on my husband.
Neverl" cried Edith, turning to retrace her
As you will, replied Warren. You
defed me to sustain my words, and you are
afraid to prove them"
She turned like q fash.
NO she cried: Il will not retrent
cowardIy, as is the act or an eavesdropper.
will consent to give the lie to your heart
less claims.
"Then follow me.
Silently, cautiously, Warren led the way
toward the house, his hand guiding the
movements of the others. He led them to
thick growth of hlacs within five feet Of
the open window. which looked upon the
gravel path between them and it.
There was a bright light in the apart.
ment, and its rays showed room beauti-
fully furnished. Neatness and taste pre-
vailed in the decorations and arrangement
of the place; but it was tenantIess.
In the sigh of relief which involuntarily
escaped Edith's lips Warren read her emo
ton
Wait, he said, omiuously.
The eyes of the woman cleaned wildly.
and her heart beat unanimously as the uoof
Of the hall opened and woman entered
the room. She was of matronly, dignifed
mien, and her white hair and furrowed
face'and told Of age. She had scarcely
turned to a seat when two other persons
followed her. Hand in hand walked a
woman and a man, as if just returning from
quiet ramble through the grounds They
seemed chatting pleasantly, and proceeded
to q sofa directly facing the silent watchers
in the heavy shadows of the lilacs. Such a
start convulsed Edith's frame as she gazed
at the new comers, that her father caught
her arm as if to support her. A dim mis-
seemed to obscure her eyes. A single throh.
Of suppressed, excited pain racked her
heart, and she almost tainted. But she
strained her dazed vision to take in the
| picture before her. She noted the matron,
the woman who was seated by the man; but
| for the latter only had she the gaze which
eagerly scans for intense recognition. Then
every particle Of color faded from her face;
her white lips family verified the claims of
her triumphant companion as she mur
INJURED, my husband.
1t was indeed Percy Sherwood In the
| clear, sad eyes into whose depths she had
SO loved to gaze, in the proud, firm face
which had naught but tender smiles for
her, she traced the expression with which
she was SO familiar: but his features seemed
imbued with a rare gravity, his glance,
while tender and earnest, was full of sym
pathetic pity, rather than affection. for the
strange, beautiful creature by his side.
She was arrayed in pure white, her robe
falling to her feet, her unbound hair COM
ing to her waist. Her hands and face were
singularly white, and the absence of color
or ornament in her attire enhanced then
unnatural pallor. Her two hands held the
unresisting one of her companion in ten
! der clasp, and as her graceful form bent
slightly and her glance was fixed on the
! grave earnest face of Sherwood, fierce
! Jealous pang shot through the heart of the
| watcher.
The other occupant of the apartment had
taken up some knitting and sat silently en-
gagged in her work Only once in while
her glance would wander to the others.
1t seemed strange that while the young
| girl in white seemed infected with all the
playful vivacity of happiness, on the feat
f1res Of the matron there rested a nameless
shadow of somber gravity which the watch
er did not notice.
If Edith had gazed less with the glance
! of startled, jealous wife she could not
| have failed to notice an, unnatural bright
| ness in the eyes of the woman on the sofa,
| or have traced fantastic glee in her child
ish caresses. She had only eyes for Sher-
wood in a scene betraying her husband in
the company Of another woman, ears only
for the words which might at single utter
auce prove the truth of the claims of the
villain by her side.
So intence was her glance, SO absorbed
her heart ii the scene before her, that she
leaned forward, her lips parted, her eyes
scintillating like two orbs of fire.
A quiet, Intelligent look passed between
Sherwood and the matron. The latter laid
side her work; and, coming to the sofa
i touched his companion on the arm.
Beatrice, she said, gently.
The girl started. and turned, quick
glance upon her face.
1t is getting late, dear, she continued
"and the ring"
Yes, yes; forgot the ring. Must we
part, dear Percy9 Must you be gone again
for one long cruel month. And the mount.
aims of the moon SO faraway; so far, so farl'
She had arisen to her feet, and eyes anC
tone we're inexpressibly dreary as she drew
her hands apart and then together, as if *
measure the distance she had indicated
A spasm of pain seemed to contrac
Sherwoods face at her words, and hi
glance rested on her white, beautiful
face with look of inexpressiDle emotion
Ineffable sadness was there -ineffabl'
tenderness, too, not unmixed with sup.
pressed anger for his brow contracted
darkly as if remembering some cruel wrong
done the fair creature before him-as i
her utterances were those of darkened
] mind. and then, as he stood by her side
he leaned over and kissed her white fore
head reverentially.
"Yes, must go. Beatrice, he said, softly
and will not forget the ring.
A low moan broke from Edith's lips.
Take me away, she murmured to War
rem, or I shall forget myself.
aSilencel" he commanded, in low, imper
ative tones. Your promise.
She was quivering with emotion Ever,
! nerve and sense strained to compass tn
scene before her, violent trembling had al
most deprived her Of sensibility.
She saw the woman called Beatrice ht
her hand ruefully and point with the othe
to the third finger.
1T is gone" she said, sadly, and tn
ones you bring are not the one want.
8 50 far away. Are there no other mount
aims where the ring Isl"
The man shook his head gTavely.
None. Beatrice
you gave me the ring when you marie
me, did you not2"
Sherwood bowed assent, but seemed
be choking with suppressed emotion.
Yes, Beatrice, the ling was giysn yo'
then.
sand in q month"
@In a month will come again. You WI