The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-03-02
LOVER AND HUSBAND.

IL Is an last lll'l-stl NEU4. anu WIS
given to me by a Brahmin OF high caste"
Royal Rayne said holding in his ex-
tended hand a small vial containing an
amhcr-colored liquid The natives claim
for IL some very peculiar properties, but
| have never felt any disposition 10 test
it for myself
\ wild storm was raging without, and
twilight found us clustered about the fire
that hal been laid on the hearth vi the
roomy oil hall.
The duh, rainy day hal depressed all
our spirits AMI IT Wa, 10 culiven Us by
diversion 81 some sort that Royal Raync,
the life OF every gathering hon0rel bv his
presence, had PLUNGED into hoard OF
treasures, accumulated from the Amazon
to the GangcS and "lurthost Inc" and
brought forth the interesting drug
Royal Eayue, ] seem 10 see him now
as ! saw him that might, with the ruIdy
freight flashing over his dark, splendid
face and noble figure, As kindly in bear
ing as he was in uane-a man all the
women alorcd and all the men envIsd.
Tell us something about it, Mr.. Rayne,"
cnrcatci Vera, my SIX months bride,
lifting her sweet face and involuntarily
drawing nearer.
had noticed before how this princely
man, with his winning smile and wOnd-
rous vitality, seemed 10 attract weaker
him, and once or twice, for our diversion,
he hal charmed the wild, beautiful
soug-tcrs from their native shuucs 10
perch upon his hand.
But IL gave me a Jealous pang that my
innocent Vera should iall ever SO slightly
under his spell
Il do not know from what it is pre-
pared, or the use the Brahmins make of
Il, Mrs. Dclmar," he replied, IN the soft,
rFFrr-f.al tones that tinted 0f his
greatest charms; but II is said to affect
the mind very strangely. While under
It's influence, the brain works with such
lghtnjug-llkc rapidIty that one may fancy
himself 10 pass through all the shining
cycuts OF a long life IN avery few moments
of time"
The way in which his glowing dark
eyes fingered upon my wifes face irri-
tItCd me, and l said, sCoiiIngly:
"Nonscnscl ! am not 50 CredulOus rs
to believe it has any such power as you
claim Tor it.
The drug is harmless. Perhaps you
would like II test it?'
"Oh, Roger, dont.' cried Vera, in
alarm.
The only effect Of her appeal was TO
confirm the resolve | had taken the in
slant Rayne addressed those words to
me, rs II daring me to make the expert
mcnt.
..What IS the dose?' I asked, taking
the vial in my own hand.
1.-TWO drops IN hall glass ofwater, he
replied.
..Iicrc are four-a double portion" and
deliberately measured them into \
class tiItt stood on a table AZ my elbow.
Il shal0 soon know ii there Is any virtue
i'm the drug
swallowing the last drop OF the prcpa-
ration, 1 leaned back in my cd~y-chalr,
gazing ut Royal Rayne hIll-cOutcmPtu-
Uusiy.
lie returned my look, and all Mt once
il seemed .s if something black fell he
fore my eyes. IL was gone in 4 moment,
and then / perceived that Vera was also
regarding me with a strange, spCcuiatiug
expression 1 had never seen upon her
rFTow do YOU feel, Racer?" she asked,
in what was evidently intended Tor n
sOliCitOus tone.
Very much as usual. The drug is a
humbug'
Rayue frowncu.
You think so because YOU arc OF Il
temperament 10 throw OFF its influence.
But II certainly would affect some persons
precisely as have described"
My only answer WAS Al COntemptuOus
smile
Shortly aftcrwarl some ono arose
the houSc-and the cis'Ie was broken
But Eayne and nv wife remained.
When they iaHcied | had become inter
c~tcd in a bouk ! had taken up, Vera
fitted tu tac niche hcyOuul the glowing
hearth where Eayuc was a that moment
standing. and said in a whisper:
''Eo.cr looks and acts strangely. What
ii that yellow liquid should DC deadly
poison
answered back IN = tone that chilled IGy
b!uul
I 10 not know what response She made
i. VS. p.ohably only a look. But both
laughed softly, and after moment Vera
-liict back and threw herself upon Il low
hasSDr's at my feet.
/ could have struck her rs she lifted
her dIuplcd, lovely face. IL was tLc FIRST
time adoUbt htr truth had ever crossed
my mind. Only by a determined c.Turt
pl the will could / help bctraviuE tho
-orror and disirust that had taken passes
SION 80, my mind.
"I,ar Roger I am glad that Eo.rii
drug did not make you ILL., shc purryi,
uut her eyes dropped, refusing ~ meet
my searching gaze.
Later, when she had retired to her own
room, and ] was CrOUChiug upDn the
Uiudswept verIuda, needless OF the storm,
Tor my own thoughts were in a greater
turmoil than the elements two Oi the
guests came and stood II the window Just
above.
"Do You think Mr.. Dclmar knows -"
were the words that came 10 my ears
clear and distinct
knows what How shamelcssly his
vile IL flirting with Royal Rayne p
..Nes"
at is doubtful. The honeymoon is
scarcely over, and man in love is prov
crhIalIy blind. lie no doubt thinks his
vile = modern Lucretia.'
What = shame that he should bc so
deceived kayuc was Mrs. j., lmar's
lover before he went abroad, I Lrileve ,"
so the gosSips say. Scnndalous stories
were told Of them even then But Rayne
was not a marrying man, and gave his
pretty sweetheart the go by. She married
Mr.. Ielmar Tor his money
The speakers lett the window. But I
had heard moro than enough. Raync an
old lover OF my wifcs, and they had met
- strJnccrSi Had | been 50 deceived
Were all Nera's kisses and tender words
the snarcs of 4 hypOCritc?
| would watch-Convince myself, anil
should this drcad!Ul thing prove true
exact a terrible penalty.
They were extremely careful in nv
presence. hut the next dav, as we we're
,rtNlng the br"aEi.St-tablc, ! saw kayur
slip n note into NeTa's hand. She stole
away 10y herself To read it.
Several hours later, when she was ont
upon the lawn with oar guests, the gavcst
ot them all, | sought her ,Ircssing-room
\ hit of crumpled paper lay on the carpet
before the dTcssIng-tJble. Smoothing il
on my knee | read these words:
''~iN o'ClOck. The Old summer-house."
An appointment u had even come
TO tLut.
While ! stool there crumpling the note
in my trembling hand, | decided upon
thc courSc OF action would pursue.
Among nay possessions WIS a llrre
siberian bloodhound ! had purchased
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