Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-03-25

HSNU oYNpttCN9 NbO PebLGIGy.
within her died, but she made no sound,
for she was proud woman-as proud
as she was passionate. She even acceded
to the brides request, and, as Thorne's
next of kin, led the bevy of girls selected
from the fairest of society to do honor
to the occasion; her refusal would have
excited comment. But as she stood be-
hind the woman, who she felt had usurp-
ed her place, fierce longing was in her
heart to strike her rival dead at her feet.
After the marriage she continued her
intimacy with Mrs. Thorne-and with
Mr.. Thorne. When clouds began to
gather along the matrimonial horizon,
and "rifts within the lutte" to make dis
cord of life's music, she beheld the one,
and hearkened to tlSaadher with savage
thrills of satisfaction. She did nothing
to widen the breach-Norma was too
proud to be mischief maker, but she
did nothing to lessen it. She watched
with sullen pleasure the cleft increase to
a crack, the crack to a chasm. When
the separation became an accomplished
fact, it found Norma, of course, ranged
strongly on the husbands side.
During the year which had elapsed
since 1horne's return from abroad,
Norma had contrived to establish con-
siderable influence over her cousin. She
studied him quietly and adapted herself
to his moods, never boring him with an
overdisplay of interest, never chilling
him with an absence of it. Her plan
was to make herself necessary to him,
and in pant she succeeded. Thorne,
| lonely and cut adrift. came more and
more frequently to his aunt's house and
exhibited more and more decidedly his
preference for his cousins society. The
thin edge of the wedge was in, and but
for the. move to Virginia and its ill
| starred consequences the inevitable re-
suit must have followed.
Would it follow now? A vision of
Pocahontas, with her fair face and her
sweet, gray eyes framed In soft cloud
Of white, standing on the lower step Of
the stairway with Thorne beside her,
his head bent low over the hand he
clasped, rose before Norma's eyes and
caused them to burn with jealous anger.
Here was the old thing repeating itself;
here was Irritation again, the exact ex-
tent of which she could not determine.
1t must be stopped at once-trampled
out ere the fame should do irremediable
damage.
But how? With tbs question came
the answer. Norma Vas sure that as
| yet no knowledge Of Thorne's marriage
had ever reached Pocahontas. She would
enlighten her. and in such way that, if
there had been aught of lovemaking on
the gentleman's part land Norma, know
ing her cousin, thought it probable
there had been), every look and word and
tone should seem a separate insult.
She also decided that it would be bet
ter to accept Mrs. Vincent's invitation
and return to New York for awhile.
She knew very well why the invitation
had been given, and saw through the
shallow maneuvers to win her accept
ance of it. Hugh Castleton. Mrs. Vim
cents favorite brother, was in New
York again, and she had not abandoned
her old scheme of match between him
and her friend. Norma felt quite COM
petent to foil her friends plans in the
present as she had foiled them in the
past, SO had no hesitation, on that
score, in accepting the invitation. 1t
would be better to be in New York-on
the spot, while this matter should be
pending. Thorne might need advice,
certainly would need sympathy and pet
ting; he must not learn to do without
her. Even if he had only been amusing
himself here. after his reprehensible
wont, her presence in New York could
do no harm and might be productive OF
good