The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-05-11

inc it for man that dressed so well, and
wore such a magnificent diamond as that
which sparkled on Gilbert's finger The
flash of it had caught her glance the mo-
ment he approached.
For good or i'll, from that moment Gil
bert Burrelrs life was altered
CHAPTER IL.
Celia was not what the world calls bad !
She was only beautiful unframed animal
with a soul-if she had one at all-of
which she was entirely unconscious; as for
being good or being wicked she had never
thought about either. So long as she had
enough to eat and drink and plenty of
pretty clothes to wear, and so long as her
father did not get drunk too often, or did
not i'll use her when he did, she was as
happy as possible.
Yet the weeks went on, and Gilbert
Burrell with all his cultured refinement,
was only growing more and more in love
with this stage Undine. She wondered at
him vaguely as his admiration showed itself
in ways to which she was all unused. He
would gaze at her BY the hour, and when
he talked at all it was in dreamy idealisms
she utterly failed to understand; yet the
girl unconsciously found it easier to drift
into sort Of tacit acceptance of his atten-
tions because they did not take the form
she would have expected, and were less
demoustratlve than idealistic.
Unframed though she was, Celia shrank
from deformity of every kind and erayed
for what she thought beauty, though as yet
1t only meant to her wealth and ornament
and luxury. She saw nothing to admire
in her lovers clear-cut, refined face, nor In
the exquisite modulations of his voice, his
artists hands. and his poetic Thoughts
but his presents were lovely The flowers
and the lewelry, the delicious bloomy grapes
aud the velvety peaehcs-howshe revelled
in them all, and life was smoother and sof
ter To her because of him, and the kitten
like creature purred eontentedly because it
was 81.
IL seemed very easy to say yes very hard
10 say no when he asked her at length TO
b. his wife. At the time it just meant TO
her having all those delightful things or
giving them up forever, and the poor child
was no, heroic enough for such self-denial.
so Gilbert had his way Poor, pur-
blind idealist, he fancied that fate had more
than atoned 10 him for the sorrows Of his
F youth Bliss, unalloyed bliss, would be
his now, long as life should last. No fear,
no misgiying. troubled him. He scarcely
asked himself IL she loved him, he felt so
secure 10 his own devotion, 50 assured that
no womans heart would fail to respond to
the tenderness he would lavish upon his
darling. Blinded, though he was, however,
1t was DOT long ere a vague something threw
its ghAs,ly shadow across his Paradise aud
struck a chill horror TO his heart
Was it a mere fancy, born Of his morbid
sensitiveness. or was il true that his wife
never willingly les her eyes rcst upon him?
Could ii be possible that the very fact Of
marriage had made that giFl more alive 10
bis defoTmity, OF was it Just some undemon-
straliveneSs Of nature-some strange temi-
aine yagary-that made her now shrink
+ from his caresses2- now, when he had
hoped her heart would opea to him Of its
own aecord?-now, when he was trembling
with new joy and hope Of coming bles-
ssdnesS9
Surely their child would draw them
nearer to each other; surely motherhood
would give to this lovely creature the one
touch Of diviner beauty she needed TO per-
feet her But, alas for his dreamsl the
boy that was To be the erowning joy Of his
life, the flower aud glory Of hers, was born
as IL seemed, but TO perpetuate his humi-
halion. The child was the living image Of
his father, aud when the poor little fellow
was able to toddle about Gilbert used to
watch him with great mute pain az his
heart. aud his ewes hot with unshed tears
Aud the mother Who could say what
she felt, or if she felt at all? For the
most par, she ignored both the father aud
the child, and lived her own life as bright
F N As she might And the years did much
for her oatwar,lly She bad some drama
tie instinct, sOme talent, and she adapted
herself to the roIc she had 10 play wonder
+ fully well
The eecentrieities Of pronunciation and
phraseolOgy had toned down, till now what
remained only gave little air Of piquancy
and uneonyentionality. She had grown TO
know her beauty and its power, and this
knowledge brought with il an added dignity
with lust enough tincture Of coquetry to
make il attractive That she was pro
fouudy Ignorant still few discovered.
When beautiful woman smiles, little more
Is required of her by way of answer, aud
Celia could occasionally be raey in addition.
Gilbert had long given up the hope Of
winning her love, given it up for the first
moment their eyes met over the child that
had been born TO them, and his were wet
with tears and hers were cold aud hard and
unresponsive. He who began by seeing
his wife through a mist of poetry now
read her very clearly; yet he only pitied
her the more His love had done griev-
J Gus wrong to the beautiful woman, and he
lived in dread of the time when she should
fully awake to the knowledge of all it
meant
, If love, real, true love, should ever
: rouse her heart, aud the lowly-developing
, nature should spring to maturity at its
touch, who could answer for what the end
might be?
Already her soul was stirring in its sleep,
5 and the first flutters of awakening life were
: changing her. Though she was surround
: ed by every luxury she was less happy
than in the old days of work and poverty
d and hardship. She was so dull at times
t that even new dress or a fresh bauble
! diverted her no longer. Then, again, she
had fits of high spirits, that to her husband
d anxious eyes seemed to have more than a
7 dash of recklessness. A crisis must come
: sooner or later, Gilbert knew, blessed ol
a cursed by loves terrible prophetic insight
a CHAPTER Ill.
s "You are cruel, cruel, Mr. Warburton
!. Why should you make me tell you that
e love you?" sobbed the woman "What
t but pain can ever come from the knowledge
1 of it?" And the glorious dark eyes and
full ripe lips were raised for moment
e pitifully to the face of her companion; but
S alas for her it was triumph, not compass
e sion, that she read there
: "But you shall say it, my beauty, with
e those sweet lips of yours, though your eye:
have owned it thousand times already
n then | shall feel as though life might even
l. .ho He ,,oioa har