Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-11-06

speCtfuL Ills treatment OF me na3peucu
the change in my fortunes
Fannie. I judge. was desperately in
love with this young man, for one night
she said tenderly to him. I'm going to
give this thing away-you dislike it So"
To which he replied with great earnest
ness;
Thank heaven, tho country Is saved"
! couldn't for the life Of me see how
/ affected the condition Of the country,
but | was relieved to know was to leave
the stage.
The next day Fannie's maid bundled
me up and took me to a second hand
clothing store, where she sold me for a
~ridiculously low price.
Months ufterward | was taken OF q
shelf and spread out before a man whose
wicked eyes stared greedily at me. He
cursed me and the price asked for me,
but took me away with him. He carried
me to some handsomely furnished rooms,
and tossing me into the lap Of a young
woman said; There's a frock for you.
l want you to fix it up and wear it when
the boys are here. Do you understand"
She looked up timidly and said tremu-
lousy, Eyes, dear"
Day by day she worked on me. chang
ing me here and there. She did not hurt
me as the fashionable dressmaker had.
She handled me tenderly. and sometimes
glittering tears dropped from her soft
blue eyes and rolled down upon my sill
yer leaves and acorns. | saw that she
was unhappy and lived in terror Of the
man who would sometimes .caress her
but oftener curse and threaten her.
Shall 1 ever forget the first night she
wore me? She was tall, slender and
fair, and when she had put me on she
went into her little drawing room and
stood before the long mirror u minute,
gazing steadily at the reflection. /
thought she looked like an Easter lily,
but she took no pleasure in the beautiful
image.
Good evening, Mrs. Ormonde." some
one said.
She gave a little start and turned. A
tall, fair man, with a frank, boyish face,
stood there. His eyes beamed with kind.
ness.
"Good evening, Mr.. Howard" she
said, and gave him her hand.
He pressed it gently and bent toward
her, warm light playing in his beautiful
eyes.
How lovely you look" he said,
lovely and loyable."
She looked steadily at him with de-
spair in her face. | could feel her heart
beating violently against me. | recog-
nized those symptoms only too well and
knew instantly that my mistress loved
: this man.
|. "Be careful how you play tonight, -
was all Mrs. Orlnonde said. She scarce
> ly breathed these words, but ever as she
spoke Orlnonde came from the next
room, smiling and bowling graciously.
He cast a look of rage at his wife. lie
had heard her warning.
|, Four or five other men came in soon,
and presently they all sat down around
J a great green baize covered table and
began to play cards. Mrs. Orlnonde sat
by the fireplace. She was very quiet,
but she constantly watched her husband
and Mr.. Howard. When the latter was
playing she seemed to hold her breath,
' and when he won che drew u long sigh
of relief.
Suddenly there was a crash. Every
body started up. There was a struggle.
They were all talking at once, but ]
4 heard the words:
r "Cheatl Swindlerl BlackguardI
r Then Howard seized Ormoude's arm and
shook it. Down from Ormonde's coat
r sleeve luttered several cards.
The other men drew away from him
as If he were a leper, and one after the
: other quickly left the room. At first
n Ornonde gazed upon the floor stupidity.
4 Then he lifted his head aud stared Will
! bloodshot eyes at his beautiful wife.
g "This is your doing" he said. "Yor
a warned Howard. ! heard YOU"
a he snarled like a dog, and came to
ward her with a CLEAN Of murder in his
= eyes.
; She caught the table to keep from fall,
n ing.
t "You have ruined me-" he cried
a Take that"
She dropped at his feet and her blood
poured over me. Her pretty hair fel
' down and covered her face. The fire
light CLEANED brightly.
a The man staggered back and preset
his. hand across his eyes. For an in
/ slant he stood still. The awful silenc,
was broken once or twice by a feeble
moan-then all was still. l saw hin
steal stealthily from the room. ! la.
there with my dead mistress for tire
long frightful hours. heard the shriel
/ which Renee gave when she came il
from her evening out. Then in quicl
succession came cries for help, the ARR
val Of the policemen, and the gaping
crowds and the doctors who tried il
vain to bring the poor lady back to life
G So that's why I am here today.
s have run the gamut Of the emotions
|. / have no desire for further experience.
l. really hope that Renee viii cutmO Al
L into pincushions, for ! am old and tireI
4 Of life.-New York Evening Sun.
= Buttsrmnk for Freekles.