Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-13

| On dear, my lady, am so glad you ar
awake - she said: Sir George has beer
fidgetting about the last two hours. / mus
go and tell him.
My headache was gone, but / still fel
drowsy and apathetic, utterly incapable o
forming my plans; and when l tried t
! rise was as weak as baby, and staggered
about. | ate my breakfast, and Seator
appareled me as she thought fit, choosing
the loveliest tea gown from my wardrobe
and was too Indifferent to oppose her. Ny
| face was very white my eyes looked un.
naturally large / had TO lean ON her anc
even to crawl as far as the sitting-room
George was there he uttered cry OF de
light. Unresrrained by the presence of thu
sympathetic Seaton, he embraced ME ano
led me to the sofa. Ny heart was beatins
| wildly. but / had a strange confused feeling
IN my head, as though if / spoke should
swoon. l said nothing, made no resist
ance, but lay on the sofa as he placed me
and closed my eyes.
| He uttered thousand endearing words
10 which made no sort Of response anC
| yet my heart thrilled in answer to them
shame smote me that loved him.
What made you i'll, my darling" he
asked and then, with a sudden instinct.
Enclosed my eyes and looked ixedly al
him. II was his turn to vince and redden
he had to avert his face. Then my hear
| hardened.
Some news 1 had upset me, said in q
measured voice and he did not dare to ask
me any further questions.
| VIII you be well enough to drive this
afternoon ?h he inquired presently; "the air
would do you good And / assented.
After this he seemed 70 have lost his
tongue. Every now and then he looked at
me in a humble, half-frightened sort OF
may, and as he grew weak / grew strong,
and desire to be cruel to him came over
me.
! He drove me in his phaeton through
| lovely hedge-bound lanes, under avenues
of trees across breezy hills Very few
words were exchanged between u.s. now
and then | cast side-long glance at his
| handsome face, which looked SO care worn
and miserable. My heart melted toward
| him; but then would recall my wrongs.
and II grew cold and bitter again How
| careful he was of my comfort There was
! such love and tenderness i'll every line OF
his face when he looked at me, could not
bat believe, in spite of what had happened.
| that his heart was mine.
| All through dinner scarcely spoke, and
remarked that he, who had usually such
fine healthy appetite, ate scarcely any
thing. Afterward, he lighted cigar and
went out, and / could hear his footsteps
! crunching the gravel as he paced UP and
down. The influence OF the narcotic was
still upon me, and l dozed off, When /
! awoke he was sitting beside me.
What time is it?" asked, affecting to
yawn.
Balfpast 8, he answered. You are
| tired, are you not, my love2n
Yes, said rising. viii go to bed.
Good nightp'
Not good nightr he uttered, in low
voice.
Good night I repeated resolutely.
Then, looking up at him, and speaking
with GOODNESS that astoniShed me, | add.
ed, = viii you make'arrangements to take
me home tomorrow ~
Take you home2H he echoed. his face
growing deathly white. What do you
mean ~
/ mean that wish to 20 home an
swered, in the same cool. cruel tone.
And-and what is to become Of me ?p
he said.
" dare say your sick friend still needs
your care, | replied, and with that | left
him like one stunned.
! awoke perfectly well next morning.
What would happen to-day? / wondered.
loved him. did not mean TO leave him.
but still / had desire to punish him-a
cruel eagerness 10 exercise my eW-found
power. When went into break fast l saw
that be looked haggered and pale greeted
MN cneerluiiy, ate an excellent breakfast
and made remark now ana then.
/" Have you found out about the trains ?p
l inquired when had finished.
3" How cruel you are?n be cried rising
and coming toward me- q" can not stand
this any longer. What in Gods name do
you mean ~
/ rose, too, evading his touch, and rails
ing myself to MY full hight.
mean that do not choose to share
yeu with Minna Vane or any other yon
an, ! answered After the outrage Won
have put upon me, ] intend to return to
my people
Minna Fane he stammered, looking
at me with lorrihed eyes.
went to my desk, unlocked it, took out
the telegram and handed it to him.
Ny God, he uttered, then walked ~
the window.
Ny heart :1aat furiously. What answer
returned.
Come and let me tell you the truth"
and be took my hand, led me to the sofa
and sat down beside me.
Five years ago I was in love with this
woman. She had a good deal of influence
over me. l was for the time almost a slave
70 her. In a moment Of madness she made
me swear that if | ever married | would
spend the first evening OF my marriage
with her. Boy and fool that | was, feeling
certain then that | should never marry any
other woman, | swore 70 it. You may won
der perhaps. that | thought such an oath
binding. | had forgotten it, as | had long
and completely forgotten her when week
before our marriage, had letter from her
reminding me of my oath and the terms
OF IL 1t was horrible one. | am ashamed
I when / think of it. am not usually SUI
Perstiuons, but had vowed that if ! broke
my word | hoped my wife would die before
the week WAS out. Oh, darling in-and his
voice trenbled, and there were even tears
in his eyes" If you knew how love you
| II you knew how awiulthe thought of any
thing happening to yeu is to me you would
understand and forgive mel And if You
knew the hell have gone through the last
three nights you would pity instead of be
ing angry with me. She may have had her
revenge, but ! do not think, with bitter
laugh it can have been very sweet to her.
she was glad enough to let me go after l
! had been ten minutes in her house
| | believed nina weight was taken from
my heaTt-yet still | had that cruel desire
to punish him.
/ VIII you still leave mey he said, in an
agonized voice.
/ will forgive you on enc condition.
answered. IF you will go away for three
/ days at the end Of that time you may come
| back"
| And all his prayers and entreaties left me
| inexorable lmmovable-I, who three DAYS
ago was such stupid child At last he
| consented 10 the ordeal and went ! can
answer for it that he alone was not pun
ished. Oh. in those three miserable days,
how my heart was racked and torn with
pain doubt longing Each day Ire sent
the most imprisoned letter, and those let
| tiers alone enabled me to bear the weary
| hours
! THEME came back. All no written
page shall reveal the joy of that return il
shall remain forever sacred. rocked moth
ing then ofthe past suffering. l had gained
power over him that | should never else
! have possessed.
! So Minna Vane, Your evil turned to