The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-16


to take; but once confirmed In Dis 3D. he
became reconciled to it.
But his conscience, scared as 1t was,
had some living fibers in 1t; and ne
would not have failed in the duty he
thought he owed to his wife.
These sentiments were composed OF
sort of indifference blended with pity.
He was vaguely sorry for the poo, girl,
whose existence was absorbed and de.
stroyed between those of two beings OF
nature superior to her own, and the tate
TO which she was condemned.
He resolved never to neglect anything
that might extenuate it's rigor; but ne 6e-
lonped, nevertheless, more than ever SOLE
ly to the passion which was the supreme
crime of his life.
For his intrigue with Cora Elliston,
constantly excited by mystery and danger
and conducted with profound ADDRESS oy
q woman whose cunning was equal to her
beauty, continued as strong, after months
of enjoyment, as at first.
The gracious courtesy of Eugene, on
which he piqued himself, as regarded his
wife, had it's limits, as Flora perceived
whenever she attempted to abuse 1t.
Thus, on several occasions, she de-
clined receiving company, on the ground
of indisposition, hoping her husband
would not abandon her to her solitude.
She was in error.
Eugene gave her, in reality, under these
circumst ances, tete-a-tete OF o few mo-
ments after dinner; but later he would
leave her with perfect tranquility.
Perhaps in an hour she would receive
q packet of bonbons, or pretty basket
of choice fruit, that would permit her to
pass the evening as best she might,
These little gifts she sometimes shared
with her mother, sometimes with slyme,
her brothers secretary.
Slyme, for whom she had at first con-
ceived an aversion, was gradually getting
In the absence of Eugene, she always
found him at hand, and referred to him
| for many little details, such as addresses,
| invitations, the selection Of books, and
| the purchase Of pictures. :.
From this came q certain familiarity;
she began to coll him Slyme, or friend
Siyme, while he zealously performed all
her little commissions. =.
| He manitested for her great deal OF
respectful attention, ana even refralned
from indulgipg in the skeptical sneers
which he knew displeace1 her.
Happy to witness this reform and to
testify her gratitude, she invited him to
| remain on two or three evenings when he
| came to her rooms 10 take his leave, and
| talked with him Of books and the thea
ters.
Being indisposed for some little time,
Eugene passed the first two evenings with
her until nine o'clock. But this effort
fatigued him, and the poor woman who
had already erected an edifce for the fu-
ture on this frail basis had the mortifca-
tion of observing TINT on the third even
| ing he had resumed his bachelor habits.
This was q great blow to her, and her
sadness became greater than it had been
up to that time-so much 80, in fact, that
| solitude was almost unbearable.
Unfortunately, her father and mother
| were away, and in the intervals she adopt
ed the habit Of retaining Slyme, or even
| sending for him. Eugene himself, three
| fourths Of the time, would bring him in
before going out in the evening.
Il bring you slyme, my dear" he would
say, and q good author. You can read
him together"
But Slyme, whenever he looked at her,
wore such 0 sympathetic air and seemed
SO mortified when she did not invite him
| to stay, that, even when wearied OF him,
she frequently did so.
About the end of the month Slyme was
alone with Flora about ten o'clock In the
evening. They were reading Faust"
which she had never before head. This
reading seemed to interest the lady more
than usual, and with her eyes fixed on the
reading, she listened with rapt attention.
She was not alone fascinated by the
work, but, as is frequently the case, she
traced her own history across the grand
fiction of the poet.
We all know with what strange clair
voyance a mind possessed with q fixed
/ idea discovers resemblsnces and illusions
in accidental description. Flora per-
ceiyed without doubt some remote con-
nection between her husband and Faust
between herself and Marguerite-for
she could not help showing that she was
strongly agitated.
When Marguerite in prison cries out in
her agony and madness, blending OF
confused sentiments, Of powerful SYM
pathies, Of vague apprehension, suddenly
seized on her breast. One can scarcely
imagine their force-to the verge Of dis
tracing her.
She turned on the lounge and closed
her beautiful eyes, ss if to keep back the
tears which rolled under the fringe Of
her beautiful lashes.
At this moment Slyme cased to read,
dropped his book, sighed profoundly, and
stared for moment.
Then he threw himself at Floras feet,
took her hrnd, and said with tragic
sigh: