Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-02-05
A NEW.YEAR'S ERROR.

careless of your wonted precision and
iaintiness," he murmured.
Detective in form as it was certain
y, in substance it was impressive
enough.
~ do not wish to see you again now
Or ever. II I have ever allowed you
to suppose l cared for you it was be-
cause my family for the time had con,
used my reason and dulled my sensi.
oility by their unceasing importu,
nities. To convince you this is true,
will even confess without reserve that
I most fervently and devotedly love
another"
Rathvayne arose from his chair as
i unconscious ofmotion, and distract
sdly paced the length of the room.
Halfway down the room he passed
a mirror, and he paused to glance
earnestly, almost fearfully at his re-
lectiOn.
1t was indeed the look of n man
whose reason might be unsettled; and
in fact then, and for some little time
afterward, Alger Rathvayne was
scarcely his own natural self.
"WhO is this other whom my ador-
I'd false one loves?" he resumed, with
increasing agony and excitement. "Is it
MalmOuth do We're who has supplant-
ID me in her atfections-robbed me OF
my joy--whO has cheated me OF my
most precious treasure? And shall |
tamely submit to such injury and
sffront? Well, | shall represent at the
reception tonight, and ii our happy
idyl our brief delicious dream, closes
in tragedy the blame and fault are
not mine.
1t was rather late that evening when
he was admitted into the elegant
Craig mansion.
The charming drawing-rooms were
quite empty, alike OF callers and
hostess.
As he entered n low tonc-the eager,
triumphant tones OF Malmouth de
Vere--sounded from the spacious
conservatory just behind him.
Rathvayne's pallid face suddenly
lushed dark angry crimson. His
line eyes shot forth an unnatural fire.
One hand was abruptly thrust inside
his coat, and nervously clinched some
thing hidden there.
He pushed aside the silken, rosy
hangings, and gazcd searchingly down
the long, pertumed aisles OF greenery
and bloom,
The next instant he started and
iInpulsively stepped back within the
screen OF the heavy protiere.
Undera tall, blOssOming orange tree,
so near that he could almost have
touched her with an outstretcheG
hand, stood his fair, idolized Van
eSSa.
Her proud golden head was very
erect at the instant, and her great,
| luminous blue eyes We're fixed WITH
something like wonder upon the smiE
ing Young gentleman before her.
why do you pretend coy inditfer-
cnCe now, my queen? Have you not
admitted that you care for me?''
| Malmouth dc We're was saying.
AIgev Rathyaync set his white teeth
sharply upon his neither lip.
All | could STAY them both. had
rather lay her dead at my feet then let
her live to belong to the brainless
sOuIless society butterfly who has
stolen her from me" he murmured to
himself
And again one shapely hand was
thrust within his coat to tumble the
deadly thing there concealed.
And then, all at once, his saner
nobler self asserted the supremacy
A sudden shudder shook his handsome
figure from head to foot.
Great heaven! have been mad
absolutely mad! he thought. But
am myself again, and | want nc
towards vengeance"
He stepped to window and drew
something from his coat. The moon
shine flashed upon it for a second, anC
then it fell ringing upon the frozel
! snow far out from the lawn.
She is safe now" he said to him
sell.
And during that singular depression
he could still see the sheen OF her vic
let gown, and hear her soft low voice
There is some absurd mistake.
do not care for you, and | never ca
care" Rathvayne heard her say
His gloomy eyes frightened and tn
blood surged to his pallid face
What did you intend me to thin
by your delightful little note, my pet?
De We're asked.
1T was plain enough" Vanessa al
| gu..,al iantlyr 81 p,nont W.
to understand that l wished t
see you no more; that | ha
only been kind to you because IN
family were always pleading for yol
and that loved another"
But you didn't write that" sal
De We're, producing a dainty not
fastidiously lettered upon the mo,
delicate OF violet-tinted paper.
Nanessa caught it with startle
little cry of grief and mortificatio
"Oh, that was not meant foryou, bl
for another" she painted, her blueey
trimming with tears. "Oh, how cou
| be so carelessl How shall | mana
to correct such stupid blunder?"
In the hurry OF her many prepar
tions for her grand new-year's rece
| ton NaneSSa nau somehow cOntfl
ed to change the envelopes.
And so De Nere's note had been Sc
. to RathvaSne, while that meant f
= helatter had, of course, been forwar
ed to De We're
She dropped family upon the plus
cushioned seat beneath the orau
tree, and she did not attempt
restrain her tears
"Oh, what will poor Algy think
was her mental question.
But Rathvayne was Fastening
ward her knowing all, understand
all, and so joyful ut the terminate
OF the day. misery that he was rea'
even to pardon the blunder viii
caused it.
But you will never know, my
loved darling, what suffered"
: said to her, as he kissed the lovil
quivering lips and beautiful wet ey
Il trust never TO experience a Ii
torture again." he added, with
III shudder, as he recalled the dead
pIs thing which was glittering beneath t
moonshine somewhere out on I
lawn.
And that faa rftl termination Iasr