Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-03-26

DEuAu ndO ceased 1CS regular passes over
the bright, brown hair, and that the
gray eyes were on the fire, without pause
or warning she spoke Of his hurried
courtship and sudden marriage. She
WINGED involuntarily as she saw the
cold, gray pallor creep slowly over the
girls face, and noted the sudden tremor
that passed through her limbs; but she
steeled herself against compassion and
proceeded with her brushing and her
narrative like one devoid of sight and
understanding.
81 cannot expect You, who know Mes
bit so slightly, to be much interested in
all this" she said, watching Pocahontas
through her lashes. 81 fear only bore
you with my story, but my mind has
been so exercised over the poor fellows
troubles again lately that must I'M
burden 1t to some one. You have no
personal interest in the matter, there
fore you will forgive my trespassing on
your courtesy, especially when tell you
that I've no one at home to talk to. Mes
bit wishes particularly that his story
shouldn't get abroad here, and If !
should revive 1t in Blanche's mind she
might mention 1t to others. Mamma
and rarely look at a thing from the
same standpoint. It's been relief to
speak to you-far greater than speaking
to Blanche. Blanche is 80 excitable."
Yes; Blanche was excitable, Pocahon-
tas assented absently; she was bracing
her will and steeling her nerves to en-
dure without finching. Not for worlds
would she-even by the quivering Of an
eyelash-let Norma see the torture she
was infiicting. She felt that Norma had
an object in this disclosure, and was
dimly sure that the object was hostile.
She would think it all out later; at pres
ent Norma must not see her anguish. A
woman would sooner go to the stake and
burn slowly than allow another woman,
who is trying to hurt her, to know that
she suffers.
Norma continued, speaking gently,
without haste or emotion, telling of the
feverish brightness OF those early days
of marriage, and Of the clouds that soon
obscured the sunshine-telling of the
ennui and unhappiness, gradually sprout-
ing and ripening in the i'll assorted union
shielding the man, as women will, and
casting the blame on the woman. FL
nally she told Of the separation. lasting
now two years, and Of the letter from
his wife which had caused Thorpe's pre-
cipitate departure the day after the Shir-
ley ball.
But Of the divorce now pending she
said never word.
"Have they any children" questioned
Pocahontas steadily.
And was told that there was one-a
little son to whom the father was at
tached and the mother indifferent. 1t
was a strange case.
Again Pocahontas assented. Her
voice was cold and even; its tones low
and slightly wearied. To herself it ap-
peared as though she spoke from great
distance, and was compelled to use ex-
ertion to make herself heard. She was
conscious of two distinct personalities
one PROSTATE in the dust, Inundated,
rent and bleeding, and another which
held a screen pitifully before the broken
thing and shielded it from observation.
When Norma bid her good night she re-
sponded quietly, and rising accompanied
her guest to her room to see that every
arrangement was perfect for her COM
fort.
Far into the night she sat beside her
dying fire trying to collect her faculties
and realize the extent Of the calamity
which had befallen her. The first, and
for the time, dominant emotion was q
singing sense of shame, an agony OF
rage and humiliation which tingled hot
| ly through her, and caused her cheek to
! fame and her body to writhe as from the
/ lash of whip. She had been degraded;
an insult had been put upon her. Her
eyes blazed and her hands clinched. Oh,
for strength to hurl the insult back-for
mans arm and q mans power to
avenge the foul affronti He-a married
man-to come, concealing his bonds and
playing the part Of lover free to WOO
free to approach a woman and to win
her hearth The proud head bent to meet
the hands appraised to cover the pale,
drawn face. She loved him and he was
unworthy. He had deceived and lied to
her, if not in words then in actions;
knowing himself bound to another WON
an he had deliberately sought her out
and made her love him. 1t was cruel,
cruell All along she had played virgin
gold against base metal, and now she
was bankrupt.
When the burning, maddening sense
of outrage had passed, and pride stood
with lowered crest and istless hands
love lifted its head and tried to speak
Hewas not without excuse, love pleaded
his life had been miserable; his lot hard
and uncomfortable; he had been given g
stone for bread, and for wine the water
of Marah. Until the night of the bal
he had retained mastery over himself
had held his love in check. Then mem
DRY reused herself and entered testimony
words, looks, tender, graceful atten
lions thronged back upon her, and prid'
caught love by the throat and cried on
that there was no excuse.
Perhaps, she pondered heavily, he, too
writhed beneath this avalanche Of pain
perhaps remorse and the consciousness
Of the anguish he had entailed upon then
both tore and lacerated him He haG