Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1888-12-08

will the flush slowly dying from her check,
and leaving it more CHASTITY in its pailor than
before, turned now and walked to the oppo-
site side of the room, as she said In . low
and weary tone: Yes, he is coming. Good
night, Hugh.,,
Five minutes later, she stood alone, lean
Ing her brow on her clasped hands above
the mantel, the very droop of her figure be-
speaking listless, desrairing WEAKNESS OF
soul and body, when rich and melodious
voice spoke close at her side:
tMadame-madame, are you ills''
She started violently, and looked up into
the handsome face of Count Dubois. He
was standing very near her. She trembled
with a strange agitation.
You are certainly ILL.," he said, and he
drew her hand in his arm and led her gently
to divan and seated himself beside her.
They were silent for a moment.
II met monsieur your husband, madame.
as came in" the Count said, presently.
1t is strange mystery to me how man
with such beautiful home and lovely
wife can leave them both SO often for the
boud0ir Of an actress like Nanine. Her
brazen beauty would repel, not attract, me.
am glad, madame, that you do not allow
yourself to pine away in solitude, and make
yourself miserable on that account. l am
glad that you allow yourself the pleasures Of
society, even though you starve your heart
and the hearts of those who adore you-''
While the Count spoke, Clarice felt her
self growing cold and numb. She closed
her eyes and swayed backward, where a
gentle arm was stretched to support her.
She yielded herself to it's pressure uncon-
sciously. Heart and brain were SO tortured
and stung with pain, she gave no thought to
her body.
What were you saying about-about
Naninel" she asked in hoarse whisper.
Surely you are testing. 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, q bitter sarcastic
laugh, unpleasant to hear.
ssMy dear LADY, he said, II did not sup
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 a limp
figure against his shoulder. Clarice had
tainted.
She recovered consciousness to find her
self held closely in the Counts arms, his
hands strolxing her brow, his pale face bent
closely above her own, while he murmured
words of endearment.
"My darling, my beautiful one" he cried,
as she opened her eyes, you must not
grieve over one mans per6dy and falseness.
Here is one who loves you better than his
life, who will give you devotion, tenderness,
happiness forever Fly with me, dearest;
so this very night. Let your husband seek
the actress, but never again let him insult
you by coming home to you It is more sin
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, 60
with me this very night, Clarice-"
But Clarice drew herself from his arms,
weak, trembling and pallid as death.
mo, no,n she cried, ''wait, wait. I must
see him first-I must hear the confession
he tells me it IS can not condemn him
n
"You have but to 60 with me this very
evening. to the side entrance of the theater,
and will give you proof of my words"
Count Dubois answered, quietly. 'Your
husband will emerge therefrom at Nanine's
side, and drive away with her in clos1
carriage. Will you goa Do you desire the
proof?"
Il dol will co." she answered.
Gan hour later, two cloaked figures stood
motionless at the pr. ate entrance of the
theater where the beautiful ''Nannie" per-
formed nightly to enthusiastic audiences.
A thousand wild thoughts, memories, Incl
dents. were 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 not to and
derstand that she had rival in his heart?
Why had she been the last to know the
bitter, humiliating truth! 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 a
place in her tortured mind there was
murmur of voices, the sound of footsteps,
light laugh-and Nanine, all wrapped in
snowy fleece of cloud-like drapery from
which her face shone like a star, came trip
ping into the glare of the gaslght leaning
upon the arm of Hugh Bickester. They
paused Just second in the full blaze of the
light
why, where is my carriage?" cried the
silvery voice of Nanine. 'Ah, there it is at
the corner Let us walk down there, Hugh
it is but a step"
Count Dubois felt his arm pressed by the
clutch of two convulsiVe hands. He did not
dare 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 sighted
woman. She still held her head erect, still
walked quietly at his side, apparently un-
moved by the sight of her husbands con-
duct. But Dubois knew better; he saw that
the blow had stricken Clarice with sort of
numbness which would make her utterly
Indifferent to every thing save her own
misery He compassionated her deeply,
though there was a thrill of triumph min
gled with his better feeling. Surely, he
could, in time, make her happy; she would
not go on caring for her false husband for
ever. Love, mortally wounded, must die;
and, some day, in return for his own untir-
ing devotion, she would give him her heart.
He looked down at her pityingly as she
turned mechanically away, still supported
by his arm
''Where shall we go!' he asked softly, in