Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-11-06
A DARK MARRIAGE
MORN.
A Romance of LoUe. Intrigue and
Crime.
BY MRS. ALICE P. CHARLESTON.
CHAPTER xxTx-tContinued.)

proDaoly tne napplest, In the lie OF Eu-
gene Cleveland.
The sudden death of Sidney Leland
had more than doubled his fortune, and
his careful business management and
clever speculations augmented it every
day.
Mrs. Leland continued to reside at her
old home in Roxbury, where her son
passed much of his time.
Clara Denton and Mildred Lester were
still, for the most part, in New York, and
there were now bright hopes that Mil
dred would soon be her old self again
this the great specialist emphatically
promised.
Warren Leland passed all his evenings,
when he was in the city, in their society.
Eugene Cle' Glands liaison with Cora
Elliston, without being proclaimed, was
suspected, and completed his prestige.
His prosperity, too, was great. 1t was,
nevertheless true that he did not enjoy it
without trouble. Two black spots dark
ened the sky above his head, and might
contain destroying thunder.
His life was eternally suspended on q
thread.
ANY day Senator Eliiston might be in
formed Of the intrigue which dishonored
him, either through some selfish reason
or through public rumor, which began to
spread.
Should this ever happen, be knew his
uncle would never submit to it, and he
had determined never to defend his life
against his outraged friend and relative
This resolve, firmly decided upon in his
secret soul, gave him the last solace to
his consc ence.
All his future destiny was thus at the
mercy of an accident most likely to hap
pen.
The second cause of his disquietude
was the jealous hatred manifested by
Cora against the young rival she had her.
self selected.
After having iested freely on this sub
ject at first, she had, little by little,
ceased even to allude to it.
Eugene could not misunderstood GER
tain mute symptoms, and was sometimes
alarmed at this 81 ent jealousy.
Fearing to exasperate this most violent
feminine sentiment in SO strong soul,
he was compelled, day by d ", to resort
to tricks which wounded his pride, and
probably his heart also; for his wife, to
whom his new conduct was ineXplicable,
suffered intensely, and he saw it.
One evening there was grand recep-
ton at the Elliston mansion.
Cora, before making little trip with
her husband, whose duties at Washington
were now over for the season, was max
ing her adieus to a choice group of her
friends.
Although this fete professed to be but
sociable gathering, she had organized
it with her usual elegance and taste.
A kind of gallery, composed of verdure
and of flowers, connected the drawing
rooms with the conservatory at the other
end of the garden.
This evening proved very painful one
to Flora.
Her husbands neglect Of her was SO
marked, his assiduities to Cora so per-
sistent, their mutual understanding so
apparent, that the young wife felt the
pain of her deseItion to an almost insup-
portable degree.
She went and took refuge in the con-
servatory, and finding herself alone there,
commenced weeping.
A few moments ter, Eugene, not see
ing her in the drawing room, became un-
easy.
She saw him as he entered the conserv-
atory, by one of those instantaneous
glances by which women contrive to see
without looking.
She pretended to be examining the
flowers, and by strong effort Of will
dried her tears.
Her husband advanced slowly toward
her.
What o magnificent camellia!" he said
to her. "Do you know this variety?"
Every well," she replied; this is the
camellia that weeps
He broke off the flowers.
aElora y ba said ct hava naver haAn
much addicted to sentimentality, but
this flower shall keep"
She turned upon him her astonished
eyes.
aBecause / love it, he added.
The noise of step made them both
turn.
1t was Cora Elliston, who was crossing
the conservatory on the arm Of young
English nobleman.
Pardon me-" she said, smiling; Il
have disturbed you. How awkward ot
mel" and she passed out.
Flora suddenly grew very red, and hel
husband very pale. The Englishmar
alone did not change color, for he com.
pretended nothing.
Flora, under pretext of headache
which her face did not belle, returned
home Immediately, promising her hus.
band to send back the carriage for him.
Shortly after, Cora, obeying secre
sign from Eugene, rejoined him in the
retired snuggery, which recalled to then
both the most culpable incident of theil
lives. She sat down beside him on the
lounge with naughty nonchalance.
what is it?" she asked.
aWhy do you watch meP" asked Eu.
gene. Tt is unworthy of you'll"
-Ah! an explanation? Disagreeabl'
thing, 1t is the first between us-a
least, let us be quick about it, and com
plete."
She spoke in voice of restrained pas
sion, her eyes fixed on her foot, which
she twisted in her satin shoe.
well, tell the truth" she said. @Yol
are in love with your wife,"
He shrugged his shoulders.
Unworthy of you, repeat"
What. then, mean these delicate atten
tions to herr"
aYou ordered me to marry her, but no
to kill her, suppose?"
She made strange movement of hei
eyebrows, which he did not see, fol-
neither Of them looked at the other.
After pause. she said:
aShe has her soni She has her mother
] have no one but you! Hear me, Eugene
do not make me jealous, for, when an
SO, ideas torment me which terrlfy eyel
myself.
@Wait an instant" she continued, still
more earnestly Since we are on thi
subject, if you love her, tell me SO. Yo'
know me--you know am not fond o
n e. 4,