Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-17

Nat"ka sAsCats htusVu kuVWo-tho III ~
| ever sat down TO alone. All the tim,
] was thinking Georges handsome fac'
ought to be opposite me, and that \
should have been the pleAsantest din
ner ever had in my life, and lump
rose in my throat and nearly choket
me and prevented me from eating.
/ was looking out Of the window,
when the neat waiting-maid came in
with telegram. had never had one
in my life. 1t set my heart beating vio'
lently. felt il contained some dread
ful news. My fingers trembled so that
/ could not open it. Some instinct made
me put il down and wait until the
woman had left the room then | tore il
open and read " Your husband is
spending his wedding evening with me.
He always promised that he would"
/ read it over half dozen times did
not seem to grasp the sense or meaning
Of it. Then ! looked at the top to see
from whom 1t came" Nina vane,
Chapel street, London, to Lady Chal-
ford, Rose Inn, R."
Minna Vane--Minna Vane A wo-
man There had been no accident. He
had gone voluntarily of his own free
will to spend this day Of all others with
another woman! l remembered his
face in the train. i remembered it when
he bade me good-by. This was why he
had proposed coming to a place where
we were not known!
A sensation came across me as
though | had been struck violent
blow on the head, and for time--I
know not how long--I felt nothing but
a strange deafness and apathy. Then
slowly there came quickening in my
heart, growing and growing until it
reached an intolerable agony, and smote
me with a sense of overwhelming burn
ing disgrace. Where should / 60 ?
Where hide my misery, my
shame? must return home
to the home which l left in
triumphsl state seven hours ago !;
sink back disgraced, to be a shaft
for pity, wonder, scorn. / have never
been anywhere alone in my life. can
not face strangers, above all under these
terrible circumstances but oh, let me
fly from him who has treated me so cru
ely let me never, never set eyes on
him again Why, o! my God, has he
used me thus? What have | done to
him? IL q man wanted a terrible re-
yenge on a woman. he might think Of
some devilish way of wreaking it But
what have ever been but loving and
humble, and glad to do all he wished
or babe?
My maid has just been in under pre-
tense Of asking if | wanted anything.
She looked curiously at me, as if she
longed to question me. dare say
every one in the house knows or sur
misses that there is something wrong
and strange. | hardly dare to meet
their eyes. Oh, if could but hide my
self was never used to be revenge
full, / could always forgive any one who
vexed or offended me: but now my
sense of injury seems to suffocate me.
/ could almost pray God to avenge me.
What shall | do? What shall | do? To-
night it is too late, but tomorrow
morning early l willgo. He returns at
IL. He shall not find his wretched vic
tim. Oh, new book new book in
which thought to chronicle so much
happiness, what CHASTITY tale for your
first pages! And what will be the
end?
1t is month since l wrote those last
words, and have hesitsted and changed
my mind hundred times before finally
deciding to 60 on with my story. My
memory serves me well enough. / re-
member every hour Of that terrible
time. | can recall almost every pang
that helped to change me in so short a
time from child to woman.
When l closed my book ! went to
the window and stood there leaning out
for a long, long time. Thee was a
glorious mOon--so bright, it brought
out every tree and shrub wildly. You
could even see the color Of the flowers.
What a night to gaze at with ones
lover, his arm about one, ones head
upon his breast! And my lover is
looking at it, perchance, with another
woman's head pillowed on his heart,
his arm about another woman. And,
at the intolerable agony Of the thought,
l clinched my hands until my nails
pressed into my palms, and tears forced
themselves between my closed eyelids.
80 God, punish him let him not be
happy! !" | muttered between my
tight.shut teeth Unable to bear my
misery longer, turned away and rang
for my maid.
81 will 60 to bed now" said to her,
forcing myself with superhuman effort
10 speak calmly, even cheerfully, and |
retained my composure while she I'M
dressed me, tortured my hair, and per-
formed various Offices for me which |
could have well dispensed with. | had
never in my life been waited upon by a
maid, and hated it intensely. | felt
that her manner was intended to convey
sympathy. She was dying for me to
make some little confidence or explana-
ton to her. | almost wondered that
she did not ask me a point blank ques-
tion-such a child | was but, merci-
fully, she was too well educated in her
profession to forget so far what was due
to herself. The effort at composure was
nearly too much for me, and the mo-
ment she left me | flew to the door,
bolted it, and flung myself on the floor
by my bedside in paroxysm of weep
ing.
Midnight chimed from my clock, and
still / sat with my head pressed hard
against my hands; still l sobbed and
cried over my lost illusions. Halfpast
l2--l! | rose and threw open the
window and stared into the night. The
moon was more respondent than ever
the hush of the night was perfect.
alone Of all creatures seemed alive and
awake with my intolerable woe.
Then lay down on my bed, but
not to sleep. A dozen plans for
the morrow chased each other
through my excited brain but through
all Of them ran the horror oil
that hnme-yoinp tn he n iest and n