The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-06
LOVES VICTORY.

The clouds were massed in crimson glory
in the west, and on them were fixed the
lar ge, beautiful eyes of Lady Florence
Hammersiey, who stood looking from one of
the many windows of her new home.
1t was the eve of her wedding day. -
Scarcely eight hours previously she had
sworn to love, honor and obey Hugh Ham
mersley, the wealthy msbufacturer until
death did them part.
He it was who now occupied her thoughts
and shut out the splendid landscape, glinted
with the glory of the dying day. Natural
enough for the husband to fill heart and
mind alike of his bride. yet frown con-
tracts the low, white brow, an omInous gilt
ter shines in the wonderful gray eyes. and a
ScOrnful smile plays about the exquis:tely
curved lips, while the little and. grasping
the curtain, is tightly clenched. sound
breaks her reveTy, She quietly turns, as the
door of the room is softly opened, aud the
figure Of a tall, powerful man darkens the
threshold.
You find all to your liking. Florence p
he asks, aud voice and eyes alike are tender
as he pute the question.
"A moment sgo-yes,' she replied. L was
alone
A shade darkened his face.
Alone, Florence Is my presence really
so distatetul to you?'
She shrugged her shoulder and turned
her face once more toward the open window.
With one stride he had reached her side.
and laid his haHd upon her arm.
Answer me 7 be said and his tone was
a command. To-day you swore to make
my happiness. knew that the daughter of
enc of Engiand's proudest, if poorest, peers
would not have stopped to the plebeian
hand of the rich manufacturers son, had 1t
not been that the fortunes of her house had
sadly fallen ; / knew she was no hyeocrite,
to feign love she did not feel. But l did
not know she gave scoTn for love, or hatred
for courtesy. She was a woman, | a man.
She bfidged the social gulf between us when
she became my wife. Florence, do you al
ready regret the step?'
Bitterly madly 7 she cried, raising her
eyes to his. and letting him see all the scorn
and anger in their depths. You say 1 was
no hypocrite. 1 was, but 1 will be 80 no
Longer. You need not talk alone of my am
bitiOn. What of yours? You had money
not rank, social position. The latter l give
you 10 exchange for your wealth. The bar
gain is an even one-let us cry quits, but let
US have no talk of love or heart or senti-
ment; let US bury these In q mutual grave,
and on it uprear q monument OF distant
courtesy. Do not make me bate you by
forcing upon me the rights you have as
suTued. Leave me my solitude. unless when
the world demands il otherwise. l will not
intrude upon yours
The young mans face was OF an almost
CHASTITY pallor as she finished speaking. His
hand dropped from her arm.
Though ! may boast no title. my lady, he
said very slowly, i claim nobility's truest
rank the rank OF a Rentleman n, to whom the
wishes of the woman be has made bis wife
are law. You have net spared me in ex-
pressing yours. Allow me to offer you my
deepest sympathy for the cruel fate which
tempted you to make the sacrifice on which
the church this morning set its seal, and
which 1, for the first time appreciate. Hap
rily, madam, the home to which l have
brought you is not cottage. When you
wish for me, command me. Otherwise
beg you will consider your partments = cas-
tie. at whose gate Hugh Hammersley will
never knock, either as supplisnt or intru
der
He bowed low as he ceased speaking and
slowly recrossed the room. On is threshold
he paused. Did he expect her to call hin
back, or at least to soften her cruel words
If so. he was wrong. His hesitation wa
scarcely perceptible. The door closed be
hind him the young and beautiful woman
was again alone.
An expression of surprise, Of almost ad-
miration swept over her face, then the ole
scorn blazoped there.