Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-05-08
Y elm as 4 husband d,
BY EDITH EvERLIE.


You must not mourn 81, Arthur
your brother has suffered 30 much
1t Ia surely better for him TO be q,
rest"
You don't know all Roy; am no,
grieving for poor Ned, solely; but lie,
me toll you my trouble, and then advise
me. My poor brain is fairly whirl
ing" The speaker sinks YEARLY into
An easy chair, and motions his compan.
ion to seat.
1t is a luxurious library in which
these words are spoken. A crimson
velvet carpet covers the floor, well.fill.
ed book cases line the walls. and In the
center OF the room is a massive oak
writing.tablea at which the gentlemen are
now seated.
GAS you know, Roy" begins Arthur
neivously toying with a golden da zRer
ly ing before him. 81 left England in
answer to cablegram from our phi ysi.
clan, saying that my brother Ned was
dying. l arrived here four days ago
Ned was still alive, and in my inter
view with him / learned why he was
30 anxious to see me before he died. II
seems that, just after my departure,
ANtu Who opPpihtOA buo kudLuibu vi Il
girl named Velma Browning, whose
rather had been his dearest friend In
India. By foolish speculation Ned had
lost the large fortune the child had In
berited, and he insisted that / marry
the girl and share my fortune with her
well, Roy, it was his dying request
and l married her"
GOOD Heaven, Arthur, yon surely
did not q Uirl hal
seen - gasps Roy.
81 married her" replies Arthur, with
Rrnan. What else could ] do? Allow
my only brother TO die with wish |
could grant ungratifed? A clergyman
was summoned, the girl awakened-for
1t was just dawn-and at Ned's com.
mand she turned TO me, gave me one
searching look, placed her cold hand in
mine, and standing by his death bed
We were married." With a bitter laugh
Arthur Earle plunges the slender dag.
ger deep in the oaken desk.
But Is she pretty-retiDed Can
you learn to love her in time"
Love that creature! The idea if
ridiculous. had only one glimpse oil
her IN the dimly lighted room, hut that
was enough The future has haunted
me ever since. She WAS very small, and
thin, and was dressed-or rather un.
dressed-in white petticoat, ard a
very small wrinkled sack her HAIR IL
dirty brown in hue, IL was uucombed
and stood in n every conceivable direc.
tion; her eyes were very sw Len should
think them dull gray her complexion
looked coarse and uncertain. How my
heart sank at the sight! | haven't even
spoken to her. AT the funeral yester-
day, she was closely veiled, aud to tell
the truth dread TO Deet her. Now
Roy, do help me out of this horrible di
lemma."
Roy Chester looks at his frierd't
blonde, naughty face at the well made
figure in the dark plush robe, and then,
thinking Of the woman Arthur has &c
wildly pictured, sits speechless, vaiply
trying to soften this cruel edict of fate.
But, Arthur, you do not consider
who could look pretty dragged in no,
haste out of bed at such an hour? She
may be very talented. Why not take
her abroad for a year ? Time works
wonders, you know. You might learn
to love her in time"
Arthur Earle looks across at his
friend, an angry flush risinR in his
cheeks.
Is this your advice ? Acknowledge
that girl AZ my wife |. who have
never yet met woman whom ! could
love, live with her? Never. I'll die
first - bringing his hard down fiercely
on the table, he springs to his feet and
begins to walk excitedly across the
room.
"Stop a moment-let me advise you. "
Like one turned to stone Arthur
Earle stands.
The crimson curtains which conceal a
doorway just before him part, and a
girl stands before them robed in dead
black, her head thrown detiantly back,
her small hands clutching the heavy
curtains.
For moment not a word IL spoke en-.
With wild thrill Arthur realizes that
he il face to face with his wife. He can
hardly believe his senses. Seen in the
clear light of day, her skin is soft and
creamy, save where two crimson spots
of excitement burn on the rounded
checks the dull gray eyes" are a
beautiful violet gray the "dirty
brown hair" with the suns rays shin
ing full upon 1t, il cleaning with gold.
en-red tints her lips are set in one
scarlet line ~ she looks at her husband,
every curve of the small graceful figure
breathing scorn and hatred.
In that moment Arthur Earle would
have given his immense fortune TO bt
assured that she had not heard his has.
ty words.
have heard ALL" she says at last,
her voice intense with passion. Be
lieve me, regret even more than you
| the unfortunate circumstances which
| led to our union. l was willing TO sac.
| rifice myself to ease the last moments
of my only friend, for, 10 be
as frank with you az you have been
with your friend, don't think any
woman would marry you except fol
some such motive"
" Forgive me !" he stammers. 81 did
not know"
That was listening 2" she laughs
doubtingly, showing two rows of small
white teeth. Possibly !; but tn.
dreaded interview with that creaturS
is almost over now ,anl rest assured yor
| will never be subjected to another sucl
fearful ordeal. will leave your house
at once"
"Oh, Miss VelDa - he cries, at last
d" forgive me. You are 80 different
mean-I must have been mad. will
try so hard to-"
| /" To tolerate me ? How kind -
You misunders' and me; let me try Il
undo my thoughtless words DO no
| 60 away-at least not how; let me Low,
You and try to win your love-"
FOR a second she waits, her lovely
faoe flushing IN she looks in his hand
some. eager eyer; then she turns to &c
parts the Curtains, and standing there
the warm sun shining full upon he