Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-04-19
A HITCH.

Eva Carrlngton, the bride elect,
was beauty.
Eva's soft blue eyes and bright
little ways wrought dire Gestruc
riOn in the ranks of the stronger
sex, bnt she appeared qrite un'
conscious of her power or inditfer
ent 10 it. To all intents and
purposes she had promised to
marry Charlie Nrltorpe. His will
was her law and to please him the
chlei object OF her life. In short,
his programme seemed in a fair
way to be carried out.
Her total submission delighted
him, and be took every advantage
of it. 1t was not III bin TO show
generosity to a WOman or indie
to any thing he thought weaker
than himself, He was the sort OF
man who is brutal to his dogs aud
horses and Overbearing to his
servants-wbO, in short, tyiannlzes
whenever he eau do so without
fear of retaliation. His nature
asserted itself in bis dealings with
thu woman he loved, aud he took
the keenest possible pleasure IN
trading on her fOrbearance, taxing
her endurance TO the utmost aud
showing of heer pliaut will and
obedlent temper 10 the world at
large. 1t was all a part of the
system that could not fail.
Charlie went on giving his petty
arrogance full play until, as was
only to be expected, things came
to a crisis. The wonder was they
had not done so long before.
On the occasion of Lldy Brown
Jones' ball he went the length Ot
/ Orbidding his fAnce TO dance
round dances with any one but
himself, and thought she received
bis commands without a murm
her seul rose in passionate revolt
against his tyranny. This lasl
test that he had devised seemed tC
her the worst OF all. AS a matter
of fact, she bad submitted patiently
to far harder ones, but we all knew
the fem lie capacity for allowing
a camel and straiuing at a gnat
and Eva was no less inconsistent
than the rest OF her sex. The gnat
stack in her throat and obstinate
ly refused to be dislOdged. There
always must be last straw, anl
this was 1t.
When the ball was half over
Lord Dolly put in an appearance
and at that moment Eva happened
TO be sitting quite alone. Charlie
had left her for a minute or tw'
to speak TO a friend, aud she wa
looking wIstfully at the maze
couples that revOlved before her
Lord Dolly made straight for her
Not dancing, Miss CarrngtOn
Lick Tor me 10y JOvel Rippin
waltz. this. Have a turnf"
He stuck out his elbow inviting
ly, but Eva turned away, bitin
: her lips.
"No, thank yon," she answer,
IN a low tone. 81 can't dance wit
you, Lord Dolly
"CAn'tlr echoed his lordsQiI
"HoW's thatF What's upi Not IL
are youi Not cross With me, ehf"
Eva shook her head:
"NO, | am not i'll or cross, but
bit | have promised Cbatlie
waltz only with him. He dOesn
Ike to see me waltzing with 0tht
men,
Lord Dolly choked down tn
forcible but iDelegant remar
cleared his throat violently an
ran his fingers through his hal
The two latter proceedings wer
signs of severe mental disturbanc
There was a slight pause.
"And he dances 40 awful
badly" Eva vent on, With a que
little catch in her breath. '.E
can't waltz a bit-not a little W.
bit. He-holds you all wrong
e Her voice quivered and brOl
e the last worj, and she looked |
II at the man at her side with gre
fearful eyes, like forgetmeno
drowned in dew.