The record-union., 1892-02-27
RECORDED IN HEAVEN.
Written for the REcoRD-UNIoN by Gal
Z

IN swift glance OF mutual understand
ing, and Lady Betsy trails her golden
! draperies across the Threshold As she
passes the exquisite fragrance of stephen
otis, which always clings around her, al
most maddens him. But it is soon dis
PEELED by the more common and I'M
pleasant odor of musk as Miss Janet
quickly follows.
Dick resumes his seat at the table and
swallows his champagne at one gulp. Sir
! Roger reflllS the glass, smiling:
Drink 1t, lad. Nothing like good
glass of wine TO brace a fellow up. By
your appearance since returning from
India service there must be very up
hill work"
Rather" replies the young soldier,
briefly, selecting Il walnut and few
purple raisins from the dish before him;
though with hesitation, II cannot say
but that 1t would be Wisest for me to re-
| turn Immediately"
/ His uncle regards him increduously
with uplifted brows.
Tut, tut; what nonsense, Dick. I'm
less you wish to deliberately hurt me you
will not refer to that subject again. This
| Is your homo remember, but" Sir Roger
continues. Il know just how you feel,
/ Dick. Since l have contracted this mar
rage so late in life, you feel shade of
contempt for me; is it not so? But"
laying white, kindly hand upon the
young mans shoulder, ''you are still my
heir, even if"-and a faint flush mantles
to his still handsome face = "even if
| would still have a large share of my
heart, and you shall be amply provided
] for'
Dear uncle Roger, your kindness
makes me feel keenly my own unworthi-
ness"
In the drawing-room restlessly Lady
| Betsy walks TO and fro, her long satin
skirts twisting and tangling around her.
Miss Janet is bending with betriZZled
head low over her everlasting knitting,
patiently occupied in picking up row of
dropped stitches which the frolicsome
white Persian kitten has mischievously
unraveled, and who las now fastened its
bright little eyes with eager attention
upon Lady Betsy and the sparkling
buckle which adorns the slipper upon her
slim, dainty foot. Lady Betsy glances
toward the white marble clock, ticking
so slowly upon the mantelpiece, and
| heaves an impatient sigh. How dull it is.
| Will Dick never come? Why do they
linger so long over the wine? suppose
suppose he should let word drop. She
clutches her throat with a strong, white
hand, whereon, amid the numerous
gems. one single band of gold is modeStly
cleaning. Her eyes alight upon de-
canter of wine in the adjoining room.
With quick, hurried steps, encountered
by her trailing draperies, she approaches
it, the kitten jumping and rolling behind
her. She reaches the wine, and without
| waiting to pour it into the glass, raises
the bottle to her lips and drinks-drinks
greedily, until her face becomes heated
and her hands firm. She replaces the
half-emptied bottle. The silver comb
slips from her loosely-coiled hair. Stoop-
ing, she rescues it from the kitten, who
has Immediately bounced upon it. and
fastening it rather rakishly 10 one side, re-
enters the drawing-room.
Miss Janet, who is still busy with her
dropped stitches, has not noticed her alb
sence. In one corner of the room is q
frail, costly stand, whereon various dainty
knickknacks are carelessly scattered
From amongst them she picks out an ex-
quiste case, wrought in pearl and gold,
from which toy she selects Turkish
cigarette. With her beautiful, bare white
arm she lifts it to the chandelier, then
places it between her scarlet lips. As she
puffs the smoke, she glances into the mir
ror by her side, smiling mockingly into
her own beautiful 1ace-a face bewilder-
ingly beautiful, and so fair that the mar
row blue veins are traceable upon the
forehead and throat. She is tall, very
tall, and the golden satin gown clings
tightly around the firm, full hips, caress-
!
With both hands she pushes the crisp,
red hair from her forehead, and laughs
softly, recklessly, for plentifully sprinkled
amid that shining mass are numerous
gray hairs, which are wonderfully becom-
ing to that glorious face. With unerring
aim she throws the half-smoked cigarette
across the room into the CRATE opposite,
and turns, smiling brightly, as the two
gentlemen enter the room, followed by
an attendant with coffee. Her husband
walks direct toward her.
Have we kept you waiting, dear? If
so, please pardon us. Dick has been
entertaining me with his startling adj
ventures in India.'
Swiftly, with stealthly, noiseless foot
steps a dark shadow fits amongst the
numerous corridors and stairways, paus-
ing frequently with stitled breathing and
bent head in listening fear. Then, grow
ing desperate with nervous forebodings,
the muffied form turns in the direction of
the west wing and runs III GREATNESS
haste the full length ofthe ghostly picture
gallery until with trembling limbs it
pauses in front of heavy open door,
from beneath which golden thread of
light is brightly shining. With an un-
hesitating push, the door is flung open.
An exclamation of pleasure escapes the
occupant as he comes hurriedly forward
and folds the intruder in his arms.
AT laSI at laSG y lie cries, drawing
her farther inside the room.
She clings to his neck sobbing, half
laughing, burying her flushed, happy.
face upon his shoulder.
He draws her to him, pressing her
close and closer. He unfastens the long
velvet cloak from her shoulders and casts
it aside. devouring her lovely, upturned
face with hot, burning kisses, whose half
parted lips seem to drink in those
passionate caresses as if half furnished
With trembling fingers he smooths and
pets her rumpied red hair, raising her
chin by clasping her fall white throat
backward. Signs, deep and low, escape
her trembling lips, ana her long, beauti-
full arms clasp her lovers neck, muir
muring incoherent words of joyous rapt-
ure.
The next morning Sir Roger Hope
opens the square white envelope which
his wife's maid hands him. Miss Janet
is seated, prim with white stiff cap and
curls before the silver coffee urn. The
little white kitten is sitting in front ofthe
brightly-burning fire, licking her paws,
with an occasional glance toward the
breakfast-room door, in patient expect
ancy for her mistress to enter. Miss Janet
moves the spoons and cups about nerv-
ously, watching narrowly the grave, anx-
ious face of her brother as he opens and
reads the letter. Slowly the pallor of
death sweeps over his countenance, and
himself again.
1T is nothing, Janet" with a kindly
glance toward his startled sisters face
fhnf. i