The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-12-01

ana leaving IL more gnaStiy IN lts phllOr tna
before, turned now and walked to the opp
site side of the room, as she said In To-
and weary tone: "Yes, he Is coming. Goo
night, Hugh"
Five minutes later, she stood alone, lear
ing her brow on her clasped hands abov
the mantel, the very droop of her figure b'
speaking listless, desrairing WEAKNESS {
soul and body, when rich and melodiou
voice spoke close at her side:
"Madame-madame, are you illl"
She started violently, and looked up int
the handsome face of Count Dubois. II
was standing very near her. She tremble
with q strange agitation.
"You are certainly ILL.," he said, and h
drew her hand in his arm and led her gentl
to divan and seated himself beside hei
They were silent for moment.
~ met monsieur your husband, madame
as came in," the Count said, presently
at is a strange mystery to me how ma
with such beautiful home and Lowell
wife can leave them both so often for tn
boudoir of an actress like Nanine. He
brazen beauty would repel, not attract, me
l am glad, madame that you do not ALLOW
yourself to pine away in solitude, and maxi
| yourself miserable on that account. l an
glad that you allow yourself the pleasures o
society, even though you starve your hear
and the hearts of those who adore you."
| While the Count spoke, Clarice felt her
self growing cold aud numb. She CLOSED
| her eyes and swayed backward, where {
| gentle arm was stretched to support her
| She yielded herself to its pressure uncon
| sciously Heart and brain were so tortured
and stung with pain, she gave no thought II
her body.
vl,N an,,it oh
Nanne!n she asked in hoarse whisper
"Surely you are iesting. My husband does
not go to see that actress, save in the au
dience. We have all been to see her several
times. She plays WELL But he-oh, no
you are mistaken, Count Dubois"
The count laughed, bitter sarcastic
laugh, unpleasant to hear.
"My dear lady" he said, "1 did not sup
pose you ignorant Of this matter or never
should have beer the first to speak of it to
you. But the whole city knows what a
slave to Nanine Monsieur Bickester has be-
come during the last two months. NO day
passes that he does not see her. He is said
to be most favored of all her lovers, just
now. But surely, madame, YOU" AT
this juncture, the Counts remarks were in
terrupted by the sudden dropping of limp
figure against his shoulder. Clarice had
tainted.
She recovered consciousness to find her
self held closely in the Counts arms, his
hands strolSing her brow, his pale face bent
closely above her own, while he murmured
passionate words of endearment.
"My darling, my beautiful one" he cried,
as she opened her eyes, "you must not
grieve over one mans perfldy and falseness.
Here is one who loves you better than his
life, who will give you devotion, tenderness,
happiness forever. Fly with me, dearest;
go this very night. Let your husband seek
the actress, but never again let him insult
you by coming home to you. 1t is more sim
full to dwell with him after he is untrue to
you, than to fly with one who will devote
his life to making you happy. Come, go
with me this very night, Clarlce-"
But Clarice drew herself from his arms,
weak, trembling and pallid as death.
mo, no." she cried, ''wait, wait / must
see him first-I must hear the confession
from his own lips. l can not believe it till
he tells me il is So can not condemn him
"You have but to go with me this very
evening" to the side entrance of the theater,
and 1 will give you proof of my words"
Count Dubois answered. quietly. "Your
HuSDduu VIII puCiciiO aS
side, and drive away with her in a close
carriage. viii you got Do you desire the
proof"
81 dol will CO." she answered.
San hour later, two cloaked figures stood
motionless at the pr. ate entrance OF the
theater where the beautiful Mamie" per-
formed nightly TO enthusiastic audiences.
A thousand wild thoughts, memories, Incl
dents, wers floating through the excited
brain Of Clarice, as she waited there. Her
husbands prolonged absences, his increas-
ing disregard of his home, his avoidance of
quiet evenings alone with her. All, why
had she been so blind as not to see and un-
desstand that she had rival in his heart:
Why had she been the last to know the
bitter humiliating truthi And yet-and yet
perhaps after ALL it was not true; perhaps
he was not there; perhaps he would not
come forth with Nanine, and Count Dubois
would confess it all cruel jest.
But. even as the wild hope began to find
place in her tortured mind, there was
of voices, the sound of footsteps, a
light laugh-and Nanine, all wrapped in
snowy fleece of cloud-like drapery from
which her face shone like star, came trip
ping into the glare of the gaslight, leaning
upon the arm of Hugh Bickester. They
paused just second in the full blaze of the
light.
why, where is my carriageln cried the
silvery voice of Nanine. "Ah, there it is at
the corner. Let us walk down there, Hugh
it is but step"
Count Dubois felt his arm pressed by the
clutch of two convulsige hands. He did not
iare look at his companion for moment.
Let us CO." she said, quite calmly.
Hope for the first time awakened in the
Counts breast as he saw the effect of this
certainly convincing proof on the slighted
woman. She still held her head erect, still |
walked quietly at his side, apparently un- !
moved by the sight of her husbands con- |
luct. But Dubois knew better; he saw that !
he blow had stricken Clarice with sort of |
which would make her utterly |
Indifferent to every thing save her own |
Misery He cOmpassionated her deeply, |
hough there was thrill of triumph min
lied with his better feeling. Surely, he
ould, in time, make her happy; she would
Iot go on caring for her false husband for
yer. Love, mortally wounded, must die:
nd, some day, in return for his own untir-
ng devotion, she would give him her heart.
Ie looked down at her pityingly as she
urned mechanically away, still supported
y his arm.
"Where shall we go!" he asked softly, in
esponse to her words.
'Anywhere, anywhere--it does not matter
D me-" she answered, in a tone OF dull,
opeless despair.
"Shall take you home." the Count in
uired, laying gentle stress on the last
;ord.
The familiar phrase seemed to sting her
Io,, IA /