St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-27
A TURNING POINT.

ING 6lll0Ftdltlul6HtS given tueTolH ny
Anthony Bentham'5 wife were fittingly
stupendouS affairS-crusheS of satin and
broadcoth, dreams Of rich music, froths
of priceless lace and sparkle Of gems.
On this particular evening grand
ball was in progress, and the throngs
surged through the upper ROOMS and
ball room, escaped down the broad
stairways and scattered themselves
throughout the lower apartments. The
conservatory seemed a favOrlte resort
for all but one couple, who moved to-
ward it slowly, cast a glance at the
promenaders seen through its green
vista, and with one accord turned away.
They came to a halt at deep window
seat in the library, partially curtained
from the rest of the room, and the Wom-
an sunk down in the farthest corner
and drew a fold of the damask about
her. Myra Dalzell was beautiful, with
her delicate, piquant face and luminous
eyes--beautiful in the strange, lrresisti-
ble way fate bestows on some. Two
years ago she had not known it or
thought about it, when George DalZell,
the wealthy Speculator, had met her in
her country home, fallen madly in love
with her fresh loneliness and taken her
with him home. He was devoted to her
and she admired and respected him,
liked him we'll enough, was entranced
with her social position, wealth and
the adulation lavi5hed upon her
in short, lived IN careless,
rose -colored dream until she and
Marx Duncan crossed each others
ways. Outwardly he appeared, as did
scores of other men, polished, hand
some, ordinary, but she had never asked
herself what was the fascination; in
deed. she never thought of it. Only
somehow 1t happened after the first
meeting that he was always at her side
in his quiet way, and that they always
sat out their dances. He never said
much to her, for words seemed un-
necessary the longer they knew each
other; in fact, they grew afraid to talk.
and so long as it was not put into words
she could still meet her husbands gaze
with frank smile.
She dreaded to think of losing his re-
spect with strange, contradictory
pride. Yet sometimes as she and Mark
Duncan stood together silently apart
from the gay crowd, the moekery OF it
all. rushed upon her and she would
hurry him back into the ball room and
laugh away the rest Of the evening
with dangerous flush upon her cheeks
Tonight, as they paused at the win
dow seat, there was the usual silence.
Duncan leaned against the carved
framework and stared steadily out into
the night, while she never stirred. The
electric lights outside brought out the
tints Of her pale green gown and cast
sharp shadows over her white shoulders
and cleaning hair.
Fragments of music, intermingled
with faint laughter and the plash of q
fountain, came to them from the bright
rooms beyond. and their dark corner
gave her an eerie feeling of being in
another world. 1t eXasperated her that
froWn upon his forehead. never looking
at her in the usual feeting way.
She gave a sharp, little, petulant cry,
and Duncan turned quickly, then sat
down beside her.
"What is it?'' he asked. His back was
toward the light, and she did not see the
new look of restlesSness and intensity
upon his face.
"Oh, everything is SO ABSURD" she
said, half angrily. You are absurd; l
am absurd; everything is absurd"
There was moments silence after
this childish and apparently incompre-
hensible speech, during which the mu-
sic and whirl of the dancers beat mo-
notonously on their ears. Then, with a
sudden movement, Duncan threw his
arm about her and drew her fiercely to
him.
Don't say anything" he said through
his cIenched teeth. II can't fight
against it any longer-l don't want TO! ~
She did not move-there was an over
whelming sense OF joy and fear which
stunned. and, above all. the shock of
tinding their hidden secret tacitly ac-
knoWledged. She suffered his caresses,
she returned them, and then suddenly
sprung from his arms and went off into
a peal of laughter that chilled him.
He caught her roughly and drew her
back.
Are you crazy?' he said. "Don't
spoil this moment, Myra."
She clung to him shiveringly, then
pushed him away and sat upright in
her corner.
"Myra," he repeated.
, Mrs. Dalzell-yes, as he would have
st pped her, "Mrs. Dalzell-l-a mar
ried womanw
There was bitter Scorn in her face
and voice and she spoke as if trying to
force her meaning upon herself rather
than him.
"Don't!" Duncan begged desperately.
don't make me any more Of scoundrel
than you can help! Why, [ love you
don't shrink so. You have known it
why do yon dread to hear it spokenp
yes" she interrupted. with a deep
flush on her cheeks and the same scorn-
full curl on her lips. 81 know it. And
| love you-It hurts me to say it-I love
YOU. Don't touch me-"
Duncan hesitated in bewilderment.
She seemed different creature as she
sat so straight and slim with that
new expression. The diamond star in
her hair sparkled derisively.
81 will!'' he said tensely. Il have a
right" and drew her to him in spite of
it all. He could not be gentle and con-
siderate with the restraint of months
thrown Off.
"What is the use?" he said to her as
The thinking will come afterWard,"
with slightly bitter humor.
Il cannot stand the stiffness herew
she gasped: sit is awtul-and the dane
ing will drive me mad! Oh, why-Why
did you say anything?" in helpless de-
spair.
She was very pale and there were
lines about her mouth.
The reality of 1t all was forcing itself
upon them and Duncan looked upon her
with moody eyes.
"Well?" he said.
She looked at him inquiringly, fear
fully. She felt like drowning person
with nothing to grasp at,and half closed
her eyes as the horror of it all settled
upon her relentlessly, when steps ap.
preached and through the chaos of her
mind she was conscious Of Woman's
laugh and mans clear tones. She
gave low cry as she recognized her
husbands voice and reeled, then stood
erect with dilated nostrils. Her heart
beats choked her.
''Ah. yes, there is some one," George
Dalzell said to Mrs. bentham, who was
his companion. 'Myra-are you there?'
Eyes" she answered from the win
dow. Her voice sounded cold and emo
tionless and she had the impression of
drifting back TO the world again. She
could hear Duncan breathe, but he said
nothing. In the brilliantly lighted hall