The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-17
MIRABEL's REVENGE.

Twin reyisw the past ten years for your
benefit, my dear husband, and you will see
II my revenge 10 NOT sweet.
Ten years ago we met--you were but 90
and handsome in face and form. Twas
10, an artless, loving child, with no beauty
70 win your hearts, slender, sallow girl,
my only redeen,ing beauty wealth Of
golden hair.
We were betrot aed--even now wear the
ring Of our first and second betrothal, In
mockery Of the post
A year passed away--a year Of sorrow-
and I read Of your marriage to rioh and
ancient dame. What an awakening that
was when learned you had sold yourself
for gold-sold your youth and honor for
base metal
The loving, trusting heart Of the girl
was gone forever, and In Its place cold,
revengeful woman, with no pity in her
heart for him she had once so blindly
trusted.
Eight years rolled into the past. ! had
grown beautiful and had hearts laid at my
feet, but had revenge In view and could
not wrong any man by exchanging clay
for gold. Eight years since your idol Of
gold was food for worms, and you found
yourself rich, unincumbered widower.
All, my pulse beat madly for joy when I
heard the news that she was dead, for TO-
venge seemed near.
In these eight years we had never met,
and had grown very beautiful, every
body said, and SO said my mirror.
Long, golden curls hung in masses
round my well shaped head, the sallow
complexion had changed to clear red and
white, and the pale, expressionless eyes had
now enough fire In their depths to win
hearts by the score. Ny form was grace
full and well rounded, and had the con-
seriousness Of possessing fame as well as
beauty.
How long to come to the evening we
meti Your wife had been dead a year when
you sought me out, and we met at the
house Of mutual friend, who on this par
tioular evening had given ball In my
honor.
Beauty, Jewels flowers and music filed
the crowded rooms, and i, the star Of the
evening, was introduced to you under my
nom do plume.
had stood by my mirror long time at
home and taken great care with my toilet,
for wished to win your heart at our FIRST
meeting.
You loved me, I knew it by your almost
worshiping gaze as we were introduced to
each other. You did not recognize the
sallow, homely Mirabel Istrey in the spar
king, bewildering May Yerna. 70 :
A month after our meeting we were be-
trothed. You came to my home, met my
parents and sisters, and learned for the
first time of Mirabel Istrey's identity with
May Verna.
Then you asked forgiveness, kneeling
at my feet, with my hand olasped in yours,
for the wretchedness you had once brought
me. And smiled my forgiveness. Ha,
hal you cannot imagine what woman
can hide under smile.
Parents and friends wondered that ]
could take you back to my heart after your
desertion years ago But only laughed
merrily when they wondered, and prepa-
rations went on for grand wedding.
We stood at the altar. You, Orleans
Erie, vowed to cherish and love me, Mira
bel Istrey-her you had once cast under
foot.
After our marriage we returned home.
The magnificent mansion your first wife
had left you was newly and extensively
furnished for your second wife.
As we entered my boudoir," as you
called 1t, you olasped me to your heart,
kissing me on the brow and lips, and call
ing me "your precious wife,"
All, how satan was smiling for joyl
could have screamed in my mad delight at
the stab I should soon give you.
That night, after the wedding guests
had departed, you sought your bride, and
she had flown and left in her stead bou--
quet of withered flowers and a letter. Do
you remember how spoke Of your second
widowhoodP All, hal weren't you happy
to learn how once had loved your
The freshness Of first love you had
crushed, and now I'm enjoying my hour
of triumph.
Once loved you as fondly and passion
ately as you now love me. That love was
crushed out by your mercenary marriage
VOWS. I hate you with bitter hate, for
you blasted the young and tender bud with
your false love.
You may search the wide world over,
and you will never find me, yet I will be
near to you to make your life as void and
barren as you once uldue mlHe-
You will reach out your arm to clasp
but empty space. You will cry out in your
loneliness for your loved Mirabel and will
hear only q mocsing echo
Revenge! Oh, 1t is so sweet Adieu,
my true husband. A year has flown since
our bridal. What year Of happiness it
has proved to be,
Two days after Mirabel Erie wrote the
above haunting letter to her husband I |
met her in Vienna, leaning on the arm Of |
a pale but handsome man, and from her
lips learned the finale of her revenge.
She had been travelling in Vienna, and |
while stopping at an inn she learned that
q sick stranger-one of her countrymen-
had taken lodgings there and was calling |
the name of Mirabel in his delirium. She
went to his room and saw-her husband,
wasted to q shadow and beseeching in
piteous accents 'his Mirabel to forget her
and love him as she once did"
The heart that for 12 years had thought
only of revenge melted at the low, beseech-
ing tones of the voice she had once loved,
and through weeks Of delirium she nursed
him back to health with all the tender
care q woman could bestow, and now they
were again united after years Of suffering
to each, and Mirabel told me, with her
o,lorinua orbe infused with taare that bia