The record-union., 1892-02-06
Was 1T FATE?


delicious odor of violets hoated through
the window to where sat a lady, appar-
emily i'll deep thought 1t seemed to
arouse her from her reverie, and she
stood up, and looking out upon the
tempting scene spread before her, like
some gorgeous panorama, she picked up
a soft white shawl that lay on chair
near her. Throwing it around her
shoulders, she stepped through the low
French window, going down the steps to
the garden. She strolled along, not
thinking which way she was going, when
suddenly she stood still and listened,
then she detected the odor of cigar, and
at the same time sauntering toward her
came a gentleman in full evening dress
and soft hat worn carelessly on the
back of his head. He saw the lady as
soon as she had perceived him, his hat was
in his hand in a moment and bowling
politely before her, said: II beg your
pardon, did / startle you?'' Then: 'Oh
Is it you, Mrs. Elliott? l really did
not know you, you look so different out
here in the moonlight with that white
shawl around you"
Il must plead guilty to the same
charge. i certainly did not expect to find
you out here, as l understood that you.
in company with the other gentlemen,
were going to the hop this evening at
Hotel Lafayette"
YES" he replied, ST did intend to go.
but at the last moment L begged of. l
do not care for dancing as a rule, and
when | do go it is merely to kill time, and
tonight really did not feel equal to be-
ing bored, so thought quiet evening at
home would do me no harm"
And l have interrupted you," said
Mrs. Elliott; please excuse me and / will
return to the house,
He was by her side in a moment, and
taking possession of one of the little
hands, said in his deep, rich voice, now
unsteady with the strong emotion he was
trying vainly to conceal:
ou know why | stayed home to-
night? Twas in hopes that / might see
you, might even catch glimpse ofyou, if
L could not speak to you, and now that for
tune has favored me and L see you here and
alone you beg my pardon for interrupt
ing my quiet evening at home.'" Then
putting both his hands on her shoulders
and striving to look in her downcast eyes,
said, My God woman, do you know
what 1t is to suffer? Do you enjoy seeing
men make fools Of themselves for you ?''
Then removing his hands and stepping
back from her awaited the stinging reply
he knew was coming
She lifted her eyes and looked him full
in the face. 1t was hard, O, so hard, to
say those cruel words she knew she must
say for his own good. Looking into that
dear face, and those deep gray eyes look
ing, as 1t seemed to her, through her very
soul, it was that thought that neryed her
to her task.
"NIr. Stanford, you have no right to
speak to me in that way, and why YOU
should wish to insult me [ do not know.
\ GU are aware that words of love, no
matter how sincere, when addressed to
another mans wife, are insulting. /
think, Mr.. Stanford, after what has lust
occurred, you will see the impossibility
OF both OF us remaining in the same
house, and if you do not see fit to leave
here tomorrow, l shalI.'
Jack Stanford stood perfectly still and
calm all through that bitter speech:
not a muscle of his handsome face moved
to show how every word she uttered
pierced him like a knife. But when she
had quite finished he said very quietly
Mrs. Elliott, will you answer me one
question, and then | will bid you good
by, and never purposely set eyes on you
again?"
what is your question ?' came from
the woman's white lips in almost whis-
per.
He moved a little nearer. and TAKING
the little pale face he had learned to love
so we'll in both his hands, and looking
into the dark eyes that were struggling so
hard to keep back the tears, said: "Maud
II you were free, would you be my wife ?
Could you love me just a little? Stop
and think" he said, as she struggled to
free herself; =" do not hide the truth from
me now, for this is probably the last time
| will ever see you, and for all my suffer-
1ngs, all my hopeless longings, | only
ask you to tell me, if it were possible.
would you be my wife?'
She raised her eyes and looked at him.
only to lower them the next moment:
but that one swift glance was enough to
set Jack Stantord's heart beating madly.
No matter now what she might saw how
many times she might deny it, he knew
the truth. Maud loved him, for woman
never looks at man as Maud had lust
looked at him unless she loves him. TAX
ing her reverently in his arm, and kiss
ing her on the lips, he said: "My darling.
l know now. You need not answer me.
but God help US both, it is even harder to
bear now, knowing that you suffer too. ,,
Then suddenly seeming to realize what
she had done, Maud turned from him
without a word or a last look, and walked
swiftly up the path leading to the hotel.
Jack stood and watched her, then he saw
her pass within and softly close the door
after her. With weary sigh and feel
ing of utter loneliness and despair, he
sat down and burying his face in his
hands, gave himself up to bitter refiec-
tions Of what might have BEEN" Itwas
nearly two hours later that Jack gained
his own rooms, and, after lighting the
lamp, began packing his grip. When all
was in readiness for the intended Journey
on the morrow, he lit cigar and sitting
down by the open window thought-of
what? ., of many things-of his past
ho H.
first met Nat Elliot and his wife. They
were then, to all appearances, quite
happy, but how little the world knows
what is under the surface, for at
that very time, less than six
months after her marriage, Maud
Elllotts life was a mockery, living
lie. She knew then that she had Wrecked
her whole life by marrying whom she
had. 1t was one of those marriages (and
they occur every day. of convenience.
where the parents insist, and the girl not
realizing the importance of the step she
was taking, consented, and after a few
months of married bliss (?), met the
man she knew she loved with all the
passion and intensity of her Southern
nature. But not by word or look did she
then show Jack Stanford that she was
unhappy or that the very sight of him
was enough to set the blood tinglincr
through her veins. But all her efforts to
shield her husbands neglect and abuse
were of no avail, for Jack was always a
good judge of human nature, and in his
quiet way took in" everything, and it
did not take him long to see while the
world at large was in blissful ignorance
of the fact that Nat Elliott treated his
young wife shamefully. And when he
would see him night after night start off
on lark" with a lot of questionable
characters that were usually around the
hotel, knowing that his young wife sat
alone in her room anxiously awaiting
his return, he felt that it would be lux
ury to strangle him. But Elliot, quite
unconscious of Stanford's disgust at his
way of living, went calmly on, and as