The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-01-12
Highest Laysnng Govt Report, Aug 1882
|aI B BolsiIs':
ABs9G1JTElY PURE
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I cate but she checked herself 'sNo; but
/ it was very natural he should. I am glad.
I 1t seemed SO shabby not to mention it, and
so strange
Mrs. Laurence did not say that for Cliff
ford Stuyvesant to have been silent con-
corning his confidence to the countess
/ might also come under the head of
"strange,n but her face showed she
thought it.
II never could see the good of not own
ing it to people, " she said; everybody
else does"
..Time enough next winter, Dora
answered, cheerfully: but she did not feel
cheerful in the least
After Mrs. Laurence had left her she
! sat bordering over Clifford's reticence,
perplexing herself with weary questions;
| and though she tried to put them out of
/ her mind, they would come back very
often during the weeks that followed,
! though they were pleasant weeks on the
/ whole, and Stuyvosant was one Of the
guests at the house, merry and contented
as a man who had never had any dead to
bury, or their unquiet ghosts to lay, after.
The autumn passed; the troop Of visit
ors left the old mansion; the countess re-
turned from her expedition to watch the
falling leaves among the mountains; the
three women were comfortably established
! in the town house, and the wheels of time
apparently rolled on velvet.
The season began and rushed ON
toward a brilliant elimination, till be-
tween dinners, balls and the thousand dis
sipations society contrives, Mrs. Lau-
renee and Dora, like the rest Of fashions
devotees, worked harder than bond slaves.
The countess did not work. she took
life in an idle, disdainful way, like one who
had learned that it was not worth weary
ing over. She made no pretense of
Widows weeds. She had done with pre-
lenses of all sorts, she told herself. If
she chose to be visible at Lily's parties,
she was; sometimes took her seat in the
opera box, or could be occasionally de-
luded into dinners. What anybody else
said she did not in the least care; it was
inclination, no fear of gossip, which made
her live quietly, and kept her in attire
that might be considered species of
mourning dress
Naturally, Clifford Stuyyesant was
good deal at the house, but the countess
rarely saw him. When they did meet,
there was nothing to excite suspicion in
the manner of either, not even an effort at
avoiding conversation. Mrs. Laurence
admitted that Adele had no evil designs,
she believed, and got neatly snubbed by
Dora for venturing to hint that she could
make trouble if she had
The young lady and the countess were
absolutely fond Of each other. Adele was
astonished to find that she had such capa-
bilities for liking left; and as both were of
theerder of women who DO not consider
that friendship means gushing and talk-
ing ones self over, they got on admirably.
Lily sometimes when she had mo-
ment to think, did the injured and re-
proachful to each in turn for showing
more affection toward a comparative
stranger than to her. but the countess
fairly laughed in her face with good
natured scorn, and Dora denied the charge
once sor all, and then took refuge in what
her cousin termed ''the obstinate Hast
ings silenee.n
But it was written in the books of Fate
that Nine. de scissors should not yet
attain the undisturbed quiet she desired.
Another trouble rose to haunt her and
bring the punishment for another folly.
Henri de Riviere came over from
France--a worthless fellow, who, in the
\ days of Adele's Partisan triumphs, had
maintained decent position in the world,
thanks to the Importance Of his family.
But within the last year he had lost even
that. Some fragrant misconduct at q
gaming table had been made public; his
relatives discarded him, and he found it
necessary to seek fresh fields and pas
lures new" He appeared in American he
wanted money for his present needs and
assistance in marrying a Yankee heiress,
and he relied on the countess for both.
In spite Of the rumors which followed him
n
his own, made Adele recognize him, and
floated into Murray Hill salons on the
( strength of her name II was one of the
most CALLING annoyances that had ever
! befallen the naughty woman; but she
! could not at once rid herself Of the yoke
In the mad Partisan days she had firted
| dreadfully with de Riviere; indeed,
/ there. had been quarrel be-
tween hes and the count in re-
! gard to him, and she had written the
| young man q dozen foolish letters which
she had long ago forgotten.
But Henri de Riviere had not forgotten,
and those letters were safe in his dressing
case when he reached America He made
his determination plain enough. Adele
should either help him, purchase his
silence, or he would introduce their faded
romance into book he was writing
For several weeks he tormented her
out of her senses. There was nothing
wrong in the letters-that is, nothing
worse than the folly of married woman
/ writing sentimental epistles to another
than her husband; but the countess knew
that, If they were made public just now,
when evil reports concerning her had only
lately been laid at rest, SANDER would
blacken her character in an irretrievable
fashion
Nobody dreamed of her trouble except
Dora. She did tell Dora. In her whole
life before madame had never accepted
a confidante; but she was SO weary
and broken down now that her old
strength OF will could not support her;
she wanted sympathy, and she told Dora
everything At last, de Riyiere found
that the countess would only help him on
condition OF receiving tangible return
lie wanted money dreadfully concluded
that he should stand better chance
among the heiresses of South America
than he did among those OF the north,
owing TO the unpleasant gossip which pur-
sued him and made his position in New
YORK more and more doubtful He con-
sented to Adcle's offer--he would sell her
the letters for $4,000 But when it came
to the point he haggled-demurrcd-
threatened--appointed interviews in COM