Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-05

years" She stopped suddenly.
Beatrice wondered whether Unorna wert
married or not Considering the age she ad
mitted, and her extreme beauty, it seemed
probable that she must be. 1t occurred te
her that the acquaintance had been made
without any presentation, and that neither
knew the others name.
"Since 1 am a little the younger" she
said, II should tell you who am"
Unorna made q slight movement. She
was on the point of saying that she knew
already-and too we'll.
81 am Beatrice Varanger."
| 81 am Unorna. She could not help a
sort of cold defiance that sounded in her tone
as she pronounced the only name she could
call hers.
"Unorna?" Beatrice repeated, courteously
enough, but with an r.of surprise.
"Yes-that is all. 1t seems strange to
you? They call me so because 1 was born
in February, in the month we call Unor.
Indeed, it is strange, and SO is my story
though il could have little interest for you. F"
Forgive me-you are wrong. 1t would
interest me immensely-if YOU would tell
4 me little of it-but am such q stranger
to vou-''
81 do not feel as though you were that, "
| Unorna answered. with very gentle smile
''You are very kind to say So" said Bea-
trice, quietly.
Unorna was perfectly well aware that it
| must seem strange, to say the least OF it,
that she should tell Beatrice the wild story
of her life, when they had as yet exchanged
barely 100 words. But she cared little what
Beatrice thought, provided she could inter-
est her. She had a distinct intention in
making the time slip byunnoticed, until it
should be late.
She related her history, so far as it was
known to herself, simply and graphically,
substantially as it has been already set forth,
but with an abundance of anecdote and
comment, which enhanced the interest, and
at the same time extended Its limits, inter-
spersing her monologues with remarks
which called for an answer, and which
served as tests of her companions attention.
She hinted but lightly at her possession of
unusual power over animals, and spoke not
at all of the influence she could exert upon
people Beatrice listened eagerly. She
could have told on her part, that for years
her own life had been dull and empty, and
that it was long since she had talked with
anyone who had so reused her interest.
At last Unorna was silent. She had
reached the period OF her lie which had be-
gun month before that time, and at that
point her story ended.
Then you are not married." Beatrice's
tone expressed an Interrogation, and a GER
tain surprise.
NO" said Unorna, 81 am not married.
And you, if may ask?''
Beatrice started visibly. 1t had not oc-
CURED to her that the question might seem
natural one for Unorna to ask, although
she had said that she was all alone in the
world. Unorna might have supposed her
TO have lost her husband. But Unorna
could see that it was not surprise alone that
had startled her. The question, as she
knew it must, had reused deep and pain
full train of thought.
NO" said Beatrice, in an altered voice.
81 am not married. 1 shall never marry"
A short silence followed, during which
she turned her face away.
II have panied you." said UnorHa, with
profound sympathy and regret ''Forgive
me. How could be so tactlessl''
"How could you know" Beatrice asked
simply, not attempting to deny the sugges-
ton.
But Unorna was suffering, too. She had
allowed herself to imagine that in the long
years which mad passed Beatrice might per-
haps have forgotten. 1t had even crossed
her mind that she might, indeed, be mar
ried. But in the few words, and in the
tremor that accompanied them, as we'll as in
the increased pallor of Beatrice's face, sne
detected love not less deem and constant
and unforgotten than the Wanderers own.
Forgive me-. Unorna repeated. II
might have Suessed. 1 have loved, too"
She knew that here, at least, she could
not feign, and she could not control her
voice, but with supreme judgment of effect
she allowed herself to be carried beyond all
reserve. In the one short sentence her
whole passion expressed itself, genuine,
deep, strong, ruthless She let the words
come as they would and Beatrice was startled
by the passionate cry that burst from the
heart, so wholly unrestrained.
The feeling that she was in the presence
OF a passion as great, as unhappy and as
mastertul as her own, uuloosed her tongue.
Such things happen in this strange world.
Men and women OF deep and strong feelings,
outwardly cold, reserved, taciturn and
proud, have been known. once in their
lives, to pour out the secrets of their hearts
to stranger or mere acquaintance as they
could never have done to friend.
Beatrice seemed scarcely conscious of
what she was saying, or of Unorna's pres
ence. The words, long kept back and sternly
restrained, fell with a strange strength from
her lips, and there was not one of them from
first to last that did not sheathe itself like
sharp knife in Unorna's heart. The enor-
nous jealousy OF Beatrice, which had been
growing within her beside her love during
the last month, was reaching the climax of
its overwhelming magnitude. She hardly
knew when Beatrice ceased speaking, for
the words were still all ringing in her ears.
and chasing madly in her own breast and
prompting her fierce nature to do some vio-
lent deco. But Beatrice looked for no
sympathy and did not see Unorna's face.
She had forgotten Unorna herself at last, as
she sat staring at the opposite wall.
Then she rose quickly, and taking some |
thing from the jewel box, thrust it into |
Unorna's hands.
81 cannot tell why have told you-but !
have. You will see him, too. What does |
it matter? We have both loved, we |
are both unhappy-we shall never meet |
again" /
"What is it?" Unorna tried to ask, hold |
ing the closed case in her hands. She knew |
what was in it we'll enough, and her self |
command was forsaking her. 1t was al |
most more than she could bear. It was as |
though Beatrice were wreaking vengeance |
on her, instead of her destroying her rival, |
as she meant to do, sooner or later.
Beatrice took the thing from her, opened |
it, gazeG at it a moment. and put it again
into Unorna's hands. SIT was like him."
she said, watching her companion as though |
TO see what effect the portrait would pro-
duce. Then she shrank back.
Unorna was looking at her. Her face was
livid and unnaturalIy drawn, and the ex-
traordinary contrast in the color of her two
eyes was horribly apparent. The one seemed |
to freeze, the other to be on fire. The strong
est and worst passions that can play upon
the human soul were all expressed with aw-
full force in the distorted mask, and not a |
trace of the magnificent beauty SO lately |
there was visible. Beatrice shrank back in |