Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-09-03

Quiet and sImpael ball such as
this would be Just the thing to
please her, should think"
$50 it would once; but, lor' bless you.
she amt nigh the same girl she used to
be. And no wonder. Once she'd driven
us all mad with the thoughts Of such an
affair like this-now she takes 1t as quiet
as a lamb; and though it'd be more nat
ural-like for her to be a bit merry, I do
think as how it shows her good sense not
to care for nonsense like this. loves to
see folks enjoying themselves, and don't
object to dancing providing people does 1t
in quiet and orderly manner,
but 1 must say it's beyond me how
folks as calls themselves respectable
men and women, can fake themselves up
in clothes as IL only At for play-actors and
behave as some Of them are doing. Why,
schoolgirls and boys couldn't be no
worse. It's good thing in my idea they
have the decency to hide their brazen
faces behind those masks-but they do
say as how they're going to take them off
by-and-bye.''
Once or twice make an effort to In
terrupt the old woman's TRADE against the
follies Of the age. but to no pur-
pose. At length however. she paus-
ed for want of breath, and I said
hurriedly, ''Well, what 1 want you to
do for me now is to seek Miss Madeline
and bring her here to me; give this to her
and she will understand" held out the
sandalwood case containing the rose
The old woman took IL
"Another present." she said. shaking her
head. "Why I don't know what TO do with
'em already-would you like to see themH
I amt supposed to let them be seen, but
you may have a peep If you like"
What it was at which I was to
peep did not know. was gazing once
more where could see, in the opposite re-
cess, the waving plume Of the warriors
helmet, and the floating veil of the lady at
bis side; while noted once more dark,
indet1nable shadow in the background;
but, willing to see what she had to show
me, IL afterwards she would 90 on my
errand, followed her into a room which
led from the ante-roon, the door of which
she unlocked with q key from the big
bunch at her side. Here dim light was
burning, by which I could discern on
tables on all sides collection of roughly
done-up packages of all shapes and sizes.
Enough of them" says the old woman.
81 haven't had time to put them away"
'It was a funeral as we were a-crying
about this time last year, now its we'd
ding. My poor dear ladyl-but sup
pose it's all for the best''
"But whose weddingP" say in a hurried
whisper.
'5ir Philips, to be sure thought all
as came here tonight knew that"
"But" I said. a sudden sense of pity
rising In my heart-'your mistress, Lady
Isobelr"
''What-sure1y you know. She has
been dead this twelve months gone"
Deadi and knew nothing of it Why
had not Madeline told mef But there,
perhaps she had done 50, and the letter
had been lost A thousand suppositions
flashed into my mind-but grief at the
news had Just heard overruled them all.
Deadl beautiful Lady Isobel deadI How
hard it seemed to realize Madolinel how
she must have sorrowed for her
sister, And Sir Philip1 He had, it was true,
waited the prescribed year OF mourning
but yet it seemed soon to me to put Rome
one already in the place Of 40 loving and
devoted wife. Nowhere will he end
one, 50 loving, 30 devoted as abe,
land who'is it." asked, still wonder
lngly, .that Sir Philip has chosen to hl
dear Lady Isobers placer"
"Why, surely you know" said the old
woman in amazement "Who should it
be but Miss Madoline' See, there they
are yonder."
'.MadolineP' 1 shouted, bounding for
ward. But at that moment some one
sailed loudly to the old woman, and she
ran out of the room. I was alone with
her words ringing In my ears-spen
bound-dumb-stritken at what had
heard.
For 9 moment I stood thus; then I
woke to life and thought l had but re-
turned to find my love false TO no. false
to her vows of 1ove-false TO all that is
good and true In woman "SSee, they are
yonder" old Margaret had said, motion
ing towards the recess where, fool like,
had looked on and smiled at the happy
picture Of two lovers
had watched this man and the girl
who had pledged herself as my wife;
had seen him bestow, she accept, his
caresses-could doubt my eyes and earsf
No, HeavenI Madeline was false to me.
In that one brief moment that thought.
''she is false" flashed like lightning
through my mind; I knew that, and that
only, and that must know the truth at
once bounded to the way leading to
the hall but one glance showed me that
the recess opposite had the curtains
crowd below; did not wait to
think, bnt few rather than walked
across the hall, my rapid passage causing
many to turn and hook after me-hung
| open the curtains of the recess opposite.
1t was empty! My bird has escaped 1
turned, and fancied / saw at the farther
end of the hall floating veil Once more
| "a5 AA OAo SAO"A9 hBhuA81 JOSI4hnS hAs
most passionately-while around me
whirled the dancers and In my ears rang
the music-my way to the veil. 1t glided
from me- strobe after it, in my passion
rising every step-reaohed It but-this /
knew was not Madeline.
| "Where Is sheP'' muttered to myself
between my olenched teeth. "pn find her
wherever she be, and drag from her the
truth. False-false as helli And to
marry this man, too-villian that know
him to be- Has he tr1cked and fooled her
as we'll as me, aud played the part of ser
pent, of which L when first seeing him.
deemed him capableS Yes, he may have
done that she fears him All, Madeline,
you might have been false TO me- but to
marry this mani would rather you were
dead-rather dead at my feet than that
| ~
The rest OF the sentence was left unsaid,
FOR as those last words were on my lips,
even they were stayed by-merctful
| Heavens, what was itH
A scream-an awful piercing scream
Of fear and pain, which rose high-high
| above the nd of the music the humof the