Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-08-24

tn II his own uncle.
Now" be thought, with a sign OF Ie-
lief. Il am safe. We are members OF tne
same order lie is my superior, Hence
forth his honor is cred o me.
The next night be went to the opera
It was an impassioned play, ana tne
house was crowded. Cora Elllston oc-
cupied her own box. ,
After the first act Eugene attempted W
60 TO her, but meeting several acque ~
ances in the passage, was prevented 1lom
doing So ,vou
rem eland and Charley Raymond passed
them. and the thought that they might
be going to Cora irritated him.
At last, after the fourth act, he went TO
visit her in her box, where he found ner
alone, lis uncle having gone out Tor Ie"
moments. c5
He was astonished at entering to find
the traces of to RS on her cheeks. Her
ewes were even moist.
She seemed displeased at beng sur
prised in the very act of sentimentality.
Music always makes me nervous sne
said.
Indeed" said Eugene. "You who al
WAYS reproach me with hiding my merits,
wby do YOU hide yours? If you are still
capable of weeping, so much the better.
dNol I claim no merit for that On, my
Godl If you only knewl 1t is quite the
contrary"
what a mystery you are!"
Are YOU very curious to fathom this
mystery? Only that? Very we'll, be 1t
sol 1t is time to put an end to this.
She drew ber chair from the front Oh
the box out of pubic view, and, turning
to Eugene, continued:
You wish to know what am, what
feel, end what 1 think; or rather, you
wish to know simply il l dream OF love?
Very we'll, only Dire M OF tha'; anu WIN
is yet more, if have or have not lovers,
or if never shall have lover, 1t will not
arise from vi tue. l believe in nothing,
bnt self-esteem and con empt of others.
These little intrigues, these petty pas
eions which I SEQ in the world, make me
indionant to the ottom Of my soul. 1t
seems TO me that women, who give them
selves for so little, must be base Great
ures. As for myself, TO commit sacrl..
lere I would wish, like the veslals OF
Rome. love as great as my crime, and as
terrible as death.
"I went iu>t now during the fourth act.
If was not because / listened to the mar
yelous music; it was because | admire
ond envy passionately the superb ana
profound love represented. And 1t is
avor tbus-whon | read of such things l
am in ecstGsieS.
aHow we'll the people of the sixteenth
c ntrrJ knew how to love and how to die
One nioht of love-then death. That is
delightful.
Now, my friend, you must leave me
We are observed. They will believe We
love each other, and as we We not that
nleasuIe. it is useless to incur the penal,
lies Good might"
"I thank YOU very much, replied Eu'
rene. tax ng the hand she extended him
coIdIv. and left the box. He met his
uncle in the passage. ,,.
"Ah! nv dear fellow" sid Mr.. Ellis
ton. sezing him by the arm L mus
tell YOU an idea that has been IN my mln'
ali the evening.
What is it, uncle?"
| "WeU. there arc here this evening
number of charming young girls. I'M
set me to thinking of YOU and your lone
liness. and even sad to my wife, tina
we must marry YOU in duo time TO one O
these young ladies'"
il ooh, unc'el"
@ "Well, why not!
! at i, such serious thing. II on
1 makes a mistake in his choice
q "Pshaw! it is not so difficult to avol
,. that. Take wife like mine, who has
great deal of religion, not much magma
ton, and no fancies. This IS the Who'll
|. secret. tell you this in confidence, M
S dear fellow.
!. "WeI, then, uncle, at the proper time
# will think of it.
y @Do tb nix of it" slid the other, in
v serious tone; and won't to JOIN his lo1n
!. wife whom lie understood so we'll
= Eugene lett the opera in a peculiarl
disturbed state His mind still dwe
4 unon his fair connection. lie felt, how
ever. more sure Of himself, since he ha
" bound himself by the strictest obllgo
2. tions of honor.
+ He abandoned himself from this me
n ment with less scrup'e to the emotion
l and to the danger against which he De
q lieved himself invinci ly protected.
He did not fear oftener TO seek the sc
= cjetv of his beautiful connection, all
even contracted the habit Of repairing
is her house almost every day.
# Whenever he found her alone, their cor
\. versaton invariably assumed on bot
sides tone OF irony and railery,
st which both excelled He did not forg
n. her reckless confidence at the ofera, an
a. willingly recalled it to her, asking Der
she had yet discovered that hero OF loV
,r for HON she was seeking.
AT last the night Of the ball cam
4 Cora's parties were Justly renowned Il
~ their magnifcence and good taste. 81
~ did the bonors with the grace Of quee
Ia This e ening she had a very simp
toilet. as was becoming in the conrteo'
~ hostess. She wore a long dress or da
"a velvet: her arms were bare, without je'
II els; necklace of large pearls on b
rose. tinted BOSOM and rich colnu
an was placed on her fair hair.
be Eugene caught her eye as he entered,
though she were watching for him. 1
had seen her on the previous evening, al
they had had more lively skirmish thi
usual.
be He was struck by her brilliancy-h
If beauty heightened, without doubt, by t
secret ardor of the quarrel, as though
Oh lumined by an interior fame, with all t.
clear, soft splendor of transparent al
he baster vase.
ce When he advanced to join her and S
81 lutte her, Yielding against his will, to
involuntary movcment of passionate q
ed miration, he said:
you ave truly beautiful this event
ot Enough so to make one commit crime
ly She looked fixedly in his eye, and
'e, Piled:
il L should like to see that, and tn
left him with superb nonchaance.
W. Mr. Elliston approached, and, tappi
th the Young man on the shoulder, said
Won ora IN { pp1 tho aVapi