The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-02-05


Could 1 wonder that she felt as she
did, even though it angered me?
| spoke more coldly to Esther for a
while, but surely she was to be for
given. %
1t was after we had been reconciled
with tears and kisses that she show
ed me a ebony box that always stood
on q stand near her bed A curious
thing brass-boumd and well fastened
perhaps half a yard square.
On q little brass plate let into the
side something was engraved. She
babe me read it. The words were
these:
"FOR BELLA ORME
Wife of Edwin Hunt.
TO be given to her after my DEATH"
''When I am gone, open it, she
said. 1.-The contents belong to you"
"More OF your great kindness, I
know" said l. But I think you will
outlive me, Esther Winthrop, unless
people never die of broken hearts,"
"You forget that my heart was
broken before yours was," she
answered, with a strange laugh.
''Besides you are ten years younger
than |, and more robust"
That night l lay thinking of what
she had said, so that | could not sleep
nor rest. l began at last to believe
that they were all right about Edwin,
and | wrong. l had heard her say a
word or two which made me fear that
she knew something of this Spanish
girl OF whom they spoke, and / re-
solved to question her.
But the next day passed without
my having the courage to speak as 1
desired, and only when night came did
I nerve myself to go to her room,
thinking that in the silence and dark
ness | could better hear what l might
| have to bear.
1 crept in softly after thought she
had retired, but she was not there. [
lay down on a low lounge, before
which a screen of golden silk had been
placed, and without intending to do
50 fell asleep.
The closing of the door awakened
me. Esther had entered and was
lighting a lamp. 1t illuminated the
spot where she stood, near her bed
but left the corner where l lay in
darkness.
1 could see her, therefore, but she
cOnld not see me. And as [ watched
her face a terror possessed me that
kept me dumb and mOtiOnless.
Her pale, withered, stern-looking
face has changed to the countenance
OF an infuriated demon; her eyes blazed
with a. chilly light. She had taken
from her watch chain curious key,
which she always wore there, and I'M
locked the ebony box which she had
spoken OF so singularly. Now she was
bending over it, looking at something
that lay there.
Goodnight" she said. II wonder
what Bella will say when she first sees
you? Will she scream and faint?
Will she die?"
ooh, little rocked you Of your fate,
traitor, when you fitted me for her
fair face. 1 punished you long ago.
[ punish her every day. seeher mis-
cry daily. Oh, if could but see her
when she first lifts the lid of this box
and looks at you! All, traitor! trail
tor! but then [ shall be dead"
What was she speaking to? What
did she stare at with those dreadful
eyes? That she was my enemy now
saw clearly enough, and must leave
her house at once; but first I must see
what she had there. Some portrait
OF my husband, no doubt; proof, per-
haps, that he was false to both of us.
Oh, must see what it was. Softly I
crept forward, the velvet CARPET
smothering the sound ofmy footsteps.
l came close behind her, and peeped
ho,, c,1, 1,
open, lined with white satin, like a
coffin, and on the pillow a severed
head, so that face seemed like that
OF one asleep-the head and face of
my husband, Edwin Hunt, and as
saw it I knew that she had slain him.
"Murdress!' [ shrieked, and seized
her arm. She turned and clutched
me by the throat, and held me so.
"Look!" she said. "Look, pitiful,
pretty face, look! You thought that
you had stolen him, and all the while
he was mine, mine, mine! I swore he
should never kiss you on your bridal
night. | wiled him to me by note,
telling him of a gift I wished to send
you. | offered him poisoned wine
He drank it to my health. For the
rest-money will buy men to do any
thing.
"You see him, you see him lying
there. [ feast my eyes upon you.
When l have enjoyed myself enough,
you, too, shall die, serpent that
cherished that you might turn and
sting me-"
But my screams had aroused the
house. There were steps on the stairs.
The door was burst open.
When | had recovered from tn swoon
into which l fell, they told ME that she
was dead; q vial in her bosom had saved
her from the gallows. But as for me,
| still live, awaiting anxiously the re-
lease that Heaven 81 ives one day to all
who sorrow and are heavy-laden.-
Mary Kyle Dallas, in the Story Tell
er.
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