Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-08-06

and tossing me into the lap of young
woman said: There's frock for you
I want yon to fix it up and wear it when
the boys are here. Do you understand"
She looked up timidly and said tremu-
lously, "Yes, 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 | 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 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 little start and turned. A
tall, fair man, with 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,
'loyely and lovable.
She looked steadily at him with de
spair in her face could feel her heart
beating violently against me. I 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 Ormonde said. She scarce
ly breathed these words, but even as she
spoke Ormonde came from the next
room, smiling and bowling graciously.
He cast a look Of rage at his wife. He
had heard her warning.
Four or five other men came in soon,
and presently they all sat down around
a great green baize covered table and
began to play cards Mrs. Ormonde 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 the drew a long sigh
of relief.
Suddenly there was crash. Every
body started up. There was struggle.
They were all talking at once. but
heard the words:
"Cheatl Swindler. Blackguardr
Then Howard seized Ormonde's arm and
shook it. Down from Ormonde's coat
sleeve futtered several cards.
The other men drew away from him
as if he were leper, and one after the
other quickly left the room. At first
Ormonde gazed upon the floor stupidity.
Then he lifted his head and stared with
bloodshot eyes at his beautiful wife.
"This is your doing" he said 'sYou
warned Howard. heard youn
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
ing.
'sYou have ruined me" he cried.
Take that"
She drooped at his feet and her blood
poured over me. Her pretty hair fell
down and covered her face. The fire.
light CLEANED brightly.
The man staggered back and pressed
his hand across his eyes. For an in
slant he stood still. The awful silence
was broken once or twice by a feeble
moan-then all was still | saw him
steal stealthily from the ROOM l lay
there with my dead mistress for three
long frightful hours Iheard the shrek
which Renee gave when che came in
from her evening out Then in quick
succession came cries for help, the arri-
val of the policemen, and the gaping
crowds and the doctors who tried in
vain to bring the poor lady back to life.
So that's why am here today. /
have run the gamut of the emotions.
have no desire for further experience l
really hope that Renee will cut me up
into pincushions, for l am old and tired
of life.-New York Evening Sun