The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-02

! spectlon Of the other ladies to supply
them with hints" and good ideas, !"
and sections of her trouSseau were for
ever on the rounds undergoing copy at
the hands of the dirgars. She did notap-
pear to have the smallest notions as to
any jealousy or rivalry, or anything of
that description; no notions at all, in
deed, that were not wholly open and
above board; she was not the least bit a
dangerous woman in any respect, and
such being the open verdict returned, she
raised no animosity in the breast of any
of the members of her own sex, while
among the opposite one she was univer
sally faYorite. Before she had been a
few minutes inside a ballroom her pro-
gramme was entirely filed up; she in
variably was surrounded by men at rides
and sports and bands; her ante-tiffin
levee at home was thronged by the Off
Gals and soldiers of the station, and in
the court-martial of the messroom not
one dissentient voice had been raised
against her.
she's most awfully nice"
Jolly little thing.''
BEST little woman out.n
Gay as any skylark, and, tell you
what, thoroughly good too. True as steel
to old Thingummy."
''Ye-es, awfully nice, so she is" This
was drawled out by the Major, man
considerably senior to the others of the
]
though"
well, Norton, old chappie," cried out
the youngest sub, give us your word.
| Why so silent, 0 connoisseur among the
fair? What's your opinion, Ell?
That the lady in question is too good
to be under your discussion" and the
Ispeaker turned on his heel and walked
out of the room.
Great rot, Norton taking it up like
thatW grumbled the youth, "only just
among ourselves
THE greatest" agreed the Major.
So far as he personally was concerned,
! Mrs. Clifford had already been tried and
according to his standard, found wanting.
His was the role of laying siege to every
young married woman who happened to
come within his ken, and he had there
fore, eXerted himself to be especially
agreeable to her on her first arrival, being
pleased to feel how success was promising
to crown his efforts, until she herself all
unconsciously had dispelled the illusion.
He was fixing his day for going to visit
her, and her unconcealed pleasure had
been quite delightful to observe.
Did you not say" he asked, bending
to her and speaking low, that Thursday
is the day your husband sits in court"
Thursday, yes"
THAT, then,'' in yetlower key, ''shall
be my day of call"
but no. she had exclaimed, in her
clear, girls voice, that all the country
might hear, totally misunderstanding her
man. lit would be pity he should miss
you" and the most accomplished mistress
of finesse could no more effectually have
undeceived him.
She was young enough and guileless
and unsophiSticated enough to be ready
to like every one, and to have every one
IN turn to like her-to dance, to ride, 10
chat with them all. She lived as care
lessly as one of the humming birds skim
ming IN the sun, and she thought almost
as little. With introspection she was I'M
acquainted, as is commonly the case be-
fore the deeper feelings have been reused.
A passion of grief such as sorrow could
have taught her, an ecstasy of 10Y such as
love might have shown her-what did
she know of either? She had cried at
leaving her parents and brothers and
sisters, so far the blank of death was ac-
quainted with the pinprick Of separation;
she was fond of her husband, therefore
was conversant with affection masuue-
rading as love. But stealthily, stealthily
the while crept on the avenger of the ig-
nOred passions, so subtly and unawares
that for long she could not distinguish
one from any other-perhaps, because al
ways since first she had come, she had
danced a good deal with Captain Norton,
their steps did so well suit; had ridden
often with him, as he principally had
been her master of instruction; had
talked much with him. because their con-
versation flowed so glibly.
honestly, for some time unconscious
ness reigned alike on his side, though,
OF course, he first discovered the iuklingS
of what was to be. He marked her eyes,
that went seeking him at parties before
he had Joined her, while she was all I'M
aware they did so. He noticed the first
tleeting touches of embarrassment before
she felt their transitory inconvenience.
lr,g,u al 4
and talking when she was yet ignorant OF
1t, ana he loved her all the deeper for it.
acknowledging SO boldly to himself and
willfully persisted in it, shutting his
eyes recklessly to its consequences. And
then-then were hers opened. but only
after she had deeper dritted, for this was
! how 1t came to pass: They were out for
an early morning ride, in highest spirits
both. The charm of the sun, as yet
without its scOrch, and the air and the
flowers, and the subtler still more slim
ulating one of their own companionship,
had laid their spells upon them; their
laughter bubbled forth constantly; talk
came easily, small siIences that inter-
vened no less pleasantly, to Judge from
features soft with smiles; then he discov-
cred that something about her saddle had
gone wrong.
Your syce must, I think, have put if
on bit crooked from the first,'' ne said.
oh, bother my sycei Then must get
off, / suppose
you had better, and let me settle il
properly. You would not fancy going
over the Khud, would you ?"
mo, indeed !" she cried, shudderine
away from mere thought of the deep
ravine beneath, darkness and death, and
up here above life so radiantly bright
Never, never ~
Lightly down she sprang, and having
rearranged her saddle to his satisfaction
he put her up again.
My strap w she said, bending to her
foot; and somehow her head brushed
against his. AS he raised his head their
glances met, and stayed. What was it
In his eyes some strange glow, in hers q
new, wild light-before they could be
torn asunder, lips had joined and cleaved.
You would not fancy going over the
Khud," but so few minutes before he had
said to her, and mo, never, never! ~ she
had shudderingly replied but alas, and
alas for the moral descent and the deem
ravine of guilt taat she had plunged her
self headlOng toward
From that day began for her misery
and mad enjoyment, despair and delight,
months of living happy to intoxication
when with Captain Norton, wretched to
desolation if apart from him. About
equal hung the balance of the scale, and
then every one was talking, he told her,
and their meetings must consequently
become more sub rosa, and then the
Indebtedness began predominating for
her, hating herself for hypocrisy to her
husband, but unable to keep herself
from her lover. Could she but gain
strength enough to tear herself alto
gether from him, she thought, and go
home on some pretext, while all the time
she but framed her days so as to keep