The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-11-11


uprising Of her guests awakened her from her
stupefaction. Then "a horrible. couvulsiye
Tightening seized her breast with violent pain.
While her husband blushimsly received the
congratulations and other marks of approba-
ton FROM, the audience, Hortensc sat aside in
the drawing room. her hands living in her lap
and strove to recover herself.
The evening slowly dragged by, like a
fearful dinam, and although she was usually
silent, every one present noticed the peculiar
conduct Of the hostess except Emil, who was
absorbed in the wants of his guests and the
triumph Of his dramatic performance The
inspectors wife sought TO engage her in
cheerful conversation, but in place Of an
swering, Hortense looked at her with 50 dis
NAL and afflicted a face that she drew back
frightened and wondering.
As soon as the last guest had left the house
Frau Hortense, usually Il model of self-con-
mand, sank upon a sofa, and sObbing bitterly
buried her face in the cushions. Herr Emil
could scarcely trust his senses; he could not
have been more surprised if the earth Lad
opened at his feet He was convinced that
he had played very well, but to see his sober,
imperturhablc wife 50 overcome by excessive
emotion caused 10y his dramatic powcr-this
he had never imagined.
Compose yourself dear one" said he
soothIngly; we can give the piece again,
and then you viii have more control over
your feelings. Now, now. BE quiet, dear
| hal never dreamed Of such enthusiasm
from You. VIII you not bring my pipe and
slippers In lieu of answering, Hortcnse
rose hastily, and. still sobbing aloud, rushed
out of the room This action, even moro
than her weeping, startled my grandfather
w hat Is the matter with the woman" he
asked himself, as h" pacoi up ami down the
room. The slippers did not come as usual.
nor the pipe, nor the dressing gown. 1t IS
something of no Importance" was his final
reflection, and with careful steps lie went 10
see Hortrllse.
The door Of her room was closed and
would not open after repeated knocks from
him.
Il have been married ten years. hut such
thing has never happened I.cforc, murIuurcsI
grandfather, amazed and thoroughly fright
cncd. At last the door opened, and IIur-
tense showed past him into the sitting room;
grandpapa followed her presently, and found
her, rs before, on the sofa, but she was rigid
and motionlcSs, like an image of stone,
though regarding him with dreadful gaze.
Are You ilI:' he beginning to say, in
his Good-naturcoi manner; however, he camc
only To "Are-"
Shame on You, in your soul, shame on
you" interrupted Hortcnsc, with the voice
of Il judge. is that your love for me: You
have played the hyporrite for ten years.
With others you can he gallant, play the
lover; but me you have deceived from the
beginning, and the deceit has lasted for ten
years. You have never loved me- am only
your servant. Never have you vouchsafed
me such glanccs, never had such tones for
me, as for this cnchantrcsS and her bevitcl-
ing cousins. You hay" always been iudiifcr-
ent to me. We are marricd-that is mfor-
tunate; but | know now how | have to con
duct myself.
Before my grandfather could recover from
his aStoni,hTent, She had risen, AMI with
slow measured steps she had passed 10y the
pcrplcXei husband into tho guest chamber.
i'll which she locked herself and then retired.
The next morning IIortga~c appeared at
breakfast, pale and sorrowful, like the stony
guest in the legend OF Don Juan.
This behavior disturbed graudrathcrs
comfort in the highest degree: also it PANEL
him to know that HortynSc was suffering
He tried Ia explain away her Illusion 10y jest
ing as usual, hut when that failed he cN-
ercised superior powers OF reason. Il wis in
vain. Hor;-use listened 70 him iii silence,
and was not shaken in her conviction, that
for others her husband had the most cngas-
ing manners, that he did not regard her wiki
such feelings of gallantry, and therefore was
not true TO her
he could command, with all the ingenuity lie
could employ, that between art and nature
there i a difference. Will" Is heaven i
from earth; that in the play, H. hal been
only creation of tn poet. Al tlis pro-
duced no effect on Hortcuse
Why can not So inspire YOU answered
She. why do YOU nj once excel III this man
ncr: Probably YOU had practirrI these
graccs before YOU made mo Your servant,
talent i'll private with the Inspector aW.ahls
wife and her cousins
My grandfather shook his head, and aI,-
peared To hc thoroughly angry: frame If
mind which dill not invest the short. stout
man with much dignity. lie cried. What
have l practi-eI: What inspectors wife,
That i Il talent to hc able to do -. Do Yen
think, if could play the part Of "a murderer,
that | must indeed have murdered, and even
now so about secretly robhinS AMI murder
ing
why have You that talent for others. and
not for me replied Hortcusc mistaken in
her belief.
Then acted part; my feeling for YOU !
sincere. il Is truth AMI no play chafcI my
grandfather. But You may bc assured |
would rather live in VcppcrianI than IL with
YOU" and iuwarlly raging, he placed his
pipe in the corner and went out Of the room;
she could hear his steps cchuiu- ON the stairs
leading to his study. This time he was angry,
indeed
Hortcilrs. uuaiIcct,i 10y his rage. bcjool
herself To the dining room where. with house
wifely zeal, she spread upon paper some dried
apples that seemed To hey 10 bc too moist.
GrandfatacE'~ domestic life wa far from
pleasant hereafter. With Il stern air ut ,Hu-
iemnation AMI aS silent rs the grave. iiur-
tense met him; neither his most humorous Te-
marks nor his forced gravity ever dispersed
the clouds from her brow, even fora moment.
He cursed ko;.ehuv, together with the whole
dramatic art, from the bottom Of his heart
he did not relish his coffee; the milk and rice
at noon was diStaStcful, and his pip. would
not burT well il tn, evening.
Ny grandmother put bacl. tho youthful
curls from her fcrhcad and wore her hair
smoothly parted beneath cap, which added
10 hcr apparent age; also, the girJlle which