The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-12-14

In tic bottom Of tle glass were found
the remains Of an active and y~irulent
poison; but there was no proof that isa-
bel Charters put it there, and she VS.
accordingly acquitted
The prettiest voma Of the season nj =
certain small waterins-p place was a del
icate, childish looking creature called
Gibson.
She had soft DARK eyes, silky I@aa:r, and
a shy carcssing manner that was i~grcsist-
ible. She had TN air CT wealth, and her
Jewels were something wonderful, they
all allowed.
The rival sensation was Il Gernal
count: a blonde, as beautiful as IN angel,
all the women said, except Mrs. Gibson,
who said nothing about It, but always
found superior attractions elsewhere
whenever Count Emil Glanced Ter why.
The count himself noticed her avoid
ance OF him at last, but Only smiled, and
spoke quite frankly about it, until a lady
informed him that Mrs. Chissom shud-
dered when lie was spoken OF.
Count Emil LAUGHED, but he grew very
white suddenly, ana the color did not
0 back to his face for n long time.
"What a temper he lIasf" thought the
lady.
"shuddered-eh?" muttercd the count,
1--WE must try and mend that"
He set about it at once. But the result
was not satisfactory. Mrs. Gibson
shrank from him with a look of positive
terror when he addressed her.
The counts blue eyes glittercd as he
eaw it.
pray, are you afraid Of me, madame?"
he asked very low.
Instead Of answering, she turned like
some hunted creature, and caught the
arm OF q gentleman who was passing-a
g~ood-natUrel laundering young fellow,
named Allen Ford. lie loved her desper-
ately, but be would as Oh have dared
ask an empress to marry him as tell her
so. He blushed up to his eyes as she took
his arm.
Don't you like the count, Mrs. CHS
som?' he stammered.
She did not answer, and seeing how
white she was, he led herquiekly to a seat,
into which she sank, and quietly tainted
away.
After that it was no secret that the lit
tie beauty with the soft, dark eyes, and
face liks e cameo carving, did not like
Count Emil.
4 few thought it must be something
constitutional. Il sort otrepul-on of tenn
peraments, possibly. Others whispered
that the handsome and delightful count
perhaps knew something concerning that
mysterious past Of hers which would not
bear the daylight.
Mrs. Gibson must have had a great
many offers that season, though she did
not seem to seek admiration, or care for
it. On the contrary, she had rather an
air eff shrinking from notice, and she was
never gay. Her dress, too, had nothing
striking about it, except, indeed, it al
ways being in perfect taste.
Count Emil used to watch her some
times as she talked with Others, with q
look made up of suspicion and hatred
mingled.
Hard lines on you, count" said Allen
Ford, on one of these occasions. He was
a~sremarkable forhis malapropos speeches
as his b~ashfuIness. "Odd that she's
down On YOU So"
The count turned livid and muttered
something that Allen could not catch.
When Mrs. Chissom made her appear
ance TT breakfast the following morning,
she noticed a vague and intangible some
thing in the faces and name Of the
ladies gathered there that struck a chill
to her hear.
No one addressed her, and those to
whom she spoke stared at her without re-
plying, as If she had beenan utterstranger
and her accostiug them n impertinence.
The gentlemen, to do them justice, were
as civil rs ever, but with q difference.
Mrs. Gibson grew deadly pale, but she
sat still and made Il p~retense Of eating.
Breakfast over, she went I her own
rooms and remained there all day, taking
both Iuach and dinner there, and holding
70 communication with the outer world,
ave to send hcr maid out with 4 tiny
note and rcceiv' IN return
She only descended TO the parlors when
the rooms were full.
"Perhaps Imagined it." she thought,
as she went slowly down, more elabor-
ateiy dressed than usual.
But the same strange chill met her as
in the morning. Some Of the gentlemen
spoke to her, but all seemed to shrink
from her vicinity, ard she would have
been left standing absolutely alone but
for Allen Ford, whose cagcrness, foroncc,
Invested him Of his usual bashful awk-
%y,arGncss.
lie was almost graceful as he offered
her his arm. But she would not take it.
II would 80 back to my room if were
you, Mrs. Gibson" he said bluntly.
'.Let me take you, They are all down en-
you here, except me and q few more"
Her face could get no whittier than it
was; but her soft eyes dashed.
She stood still.
"NNhy are they down on me?"
ooh, you know-oh, don't ask me, Mrs.
Gibson, please" Allen s~tammered.
"is it because they have discovered my
name is net Gibson; that l am Isabel
Charters, and that l Lave been tried for
murder?"
Allen hung his lead before that daune
less look.
"rhat is what they say" he answered
In n low " ice.
Isabel Charters turned and walked
slowly the length cfthc long room, Alien
keeping beside her. though s!.e would not
take his arm.
Pale as she Was, She had never looked
l~ovelier, and there was no unsteailiness in
her sep, no trenlor in the carriage Of the
proud little head.
Count Emil stood at the upper part of
the room, exactly opposite the door. He
wa the centre of an admitting group of
feminines rs usual.
$50 good of the count to interfere and
not allow Us to be imposed upon any
Longer" they were saying.
Isabel Charters went straight up to
him, an expression in her large eyes that
he shrank and whi.cucd under, III spite
Of his effort to look careless and uncon-