The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-03-24
miscellaneous.
A TEMPTATION.

L all anu very ptlle, Will llttlr I)Tellld-
turely strewn with silver, a face mark
ed with the traces of smallpox, Grace
Abilities appearance was still more
disfigured with Il pair of gold specta-
cles. She was assistant matron of a
lunatic asylum.
AS she looked over a morning jour
nal, as had been her custom for years,
suddenly a scarlet spot glowed like a
coal on her pallid cheek. In the list
of arrivals by some foreign steamer
she read:
'Mr. and Mrs. Henry Silverton,
nurse and child.n
$50 he is married." she muttered
REALLY must endeAvor to make the
acquaintance Of Mrs. Henry Silver
ton - and she smiled as fiend might,
as her eye fell upon brief paragraph
in the advertising columns.
| "a housekeeper for Silverton
| place - she unused. II think the
place might suit me-" And Cedar
| Heights lost it's assistant matron that
very night.
The level shafts of sunset were
shivering into diamond atoms among
the glittering glass and silver on the
dining room table ut Silverton place,
where the English wife sat, with her
blue eyes gazing out on the sylvan
landscape.
What a lovely spotr' she muir
INJURED.
do you like it, dearest ~
He bent to press his lips to her fore
head, with the loverlike devotion
which two years of married life had
not banished. At that moment the
door was opened. and the servant
announced
Mrs Auliffe.n
Tall and spectral, she advanced into
the room. Alice Silverton rose.
The new housekeeper, bslieve.-
Be seated, Mrs. Auliffe. You look
wearied-allow me to give you glass
of wine"
Mrs. Auliffe did indeed look pale
as her eyes met the startled, strange
gaze of Henry Silverton's dark orbs.
"a glass of water, Henry; quick,
| she is fainting ~
"Nor' she said coldly; II never
faint. You were about, presume, to
inquire respecting my references. l
have two excellent ones-frst, from
the superintendent of the Cedar
Heights asylum, and secondly, from
Mr.. Silverton's first wife,
Henry Silverton's face was CHASTITY.
| "Mr. Silverton has not been mai
ried previously, Mrs. Auliffe," Mrs
Silveston said, smiling. 'You are
misinformed."
"Am misinformed, Mr.. Silverton?"
she inquired in words as smooth and
cold as ice.
''She is right, Alice. Though
never told you, dear, l have been
married before, when l was very
young, and my wife,
DIED ?''-inte rrupted MIS-. Auliffe.
"She died''-he said, looking ap-
ealingly at the stern woman in
black.
you see, Mrs. Silverton," said
| Grace, with an almost diabolical
smile, "these husbands almost always
keep back some little chapter of their
life's romance even from the most
cherished wife. May l consider my
self engaged -
"Certainly-by all means,n return
ed Silverton eagerly. His wife looked
at him with surprised face.
Alice did not question the matter
further, but she was by no means sat
| isfied
what are you writing p she asked
as she passed him half an hour later.
| ne WIS DcjlOlIS ONol IL bdbtC IlIIleu-
ly scribbling some words on the back
of an old letter.
"Only business memorandum,
dearest"
But she did not see him drop the
"business memorandum among the
sable folds of Grace Abilities dress as
she sat working before the open win
dow.
Grace unfolded it quietly and read ::
''Be at the foot of the pine glen at 8
tonight; | must speak with you"
AT 0 Mrs. Silverton rose to lull her
blue-eyed baby to sleep with her own
cradle song.
you will come with me, Henry ?"
she said coaxingly. Harry always
sleeps sooner when papa is by his
side?''
mot tonight, Alice" returned her
husband evasively. II think l shall
take cigar and 4 stroll in the moon
light
The young mother went up stairs a
little disappointed.
HAS Mrs Auliffe retir ed so early ?"
she asked the nurse.
Il believe so, ma'am. Anyway the
lights out in her room,n said the wo-
man.
| Inc golden UuUOHilSHb slepG III uell-
cious calm ON the little dell beyond
the pine glen. Just where the turf
sloped gently down, fallen tree lay
imbedded in moss and tall, scented
ferns. Mrs Auliffe sat there as Henry
emerged from the glen.
"Gracen'
"Henryr'
He ground his teeth as he looked at
her.
Woman what mystery is this
Why do you come here to torture me ?"
Grace smiled.
81 disturb your second edition of
Eden, do L? That is pity. But you
see have sworn to be revenged."
For what2 What harm have |
done you, Grace2 l swear to you
that l have believed you dead these
ten years -
And you think shall credit that
tale %
Listen to me, Grace he said fer
vently, uplifting one hand. Iswear to
YOU that am telling the truth. When
my uncle first told me that he was
cognizant of our boy and girl marriage,
| was in Europe. The next mail
brought tidings that you were dead.
l believed him. Grace, you should
have disproved this assertion. Why