Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-29

| WlIn the nuSn slowly DYING from Der cneez
and leaving it more CHASTITY in its pallor thai
before, turned now and walked TO the oppo
| site side of the room, as she said in a Low
and weary tone: Eyes, he is coming. Goo
| night, Hughn
Five minutes later, she stood alone, lean
ing her brow on her clasped hands abov'
the mantel, the very droop of her figure be
speaking listless, desrairing WEAKNESS o
soul and body, when rich and melodiou
voice spoke close at her side:
'Madame-madame, are you ill?'
She started violently, and looked up int
the handsome face of Count Dubois. h
was standing very near her. She trembleC
with strange agitation.
You are certainly ILL.," he said, and ht
drew her hand in his arm and led her gently
to adivan and seated himself beside her
They were silent for a moment.
81 met monsieur your husband, madame
| as came in,' the Count said, presently
ut is strange mystery to me how a MAJ
with such a beautiful home and lovely
wife can leave them both so often for the
boudoir of an actress like Nanine. Hel
brazen beauty would repeL, not attract, me
l am glad, madame, that you do not allow
yourself to pine away in solitude, and make
y l.
glad that you allow yourself the pleasures OF
society, even though you starve your heart
and the hearts of those who adore your
While the Count spoke, Clarice felt her
self growing cold aud numb. She closed
her eyes and swayed backward, where q
gentle arm was stretched to support her.
She yielded herself to its pressure uncon-
sciously. Heart and brain were so tortured
CT wifi flain ba M oh N
her body.
What were you saying about-about
Nanine!" she asked in a 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, bitter sarcastic
laugh, unpleasant to hear.
My dear lady" he said, 81 did not sup
pose you ignorant of this matter or l 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 stroking 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 perfidy 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, Clarice-"
But Clarice drew herself from his arms,
weak, trembling and pallid as death.
'No, no." she cried, ''wait, wait 1 must
see him first-I must hear the confession
from his own lips. can not believe it till
he tells me it is so. can not condemn him
unheard."
'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
husband will emerge therefrom at Nanine's
side. and drive away with her in close
carriage. Will you goa Do you desire the
proof?'
81 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 as not to see and IN
derstand that she had rival in his heart!
Why had she been the last to know the
bitter, humiliating truth! And yet-aud 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 a cruel jest.
But, even as the wild hope began to find a
place in her tortured mind, there was a
murmur of voices, the sound of footsteps, a
light laugh-and Nanine, all wrapped in a
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 q 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 mako her utterly
Indifferent to every thing save her own
misery He compassionated her deeply
though there was a thrill of triumph min
yled with his better feeling. Surely, he
could, in time make her happy; she would |
not 60 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 |
Dy his arm.
'sWhere shall we go!" he asked softly, in |
to her words.
Anywhere, anywhere-it does not matter |
10 me-" she answered, in a tone of dull, |
hopeless despair.
ssShali take You homer, the Count in |
,uired, laying gentle stress on the last |
word.