Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-06-02
CHAPTER XIV.

tHAf LEX NNlN-
Poor young Muriel Ilewellyn, unhap-
piest of all the unhappy newly welded
brides the stars look down on that night
and there are almost as many unhappy
brides as unhappy wves-a grief mad
dened, passionate, forlorn creature. rest
less in the fever of the pain of desola-
ton that is over her-is wandering about
the dreadful London streets, by gaslight
and alone.
In the horrible hush that falls over the
house when Eric has given her his last
kiss and is gone away-quite away most
surely-gone away thousands OF miles
gone for months and years-perhaps for
evermOre;;" and they-those women VINO
are his friends but not her-havs shut
themselves into the sitting room down.
stairs, and she is quite alOne-alone with
this second bereavement that has fallen
on her in three weeks; then Muriefs very
senses seem to give way in trance OF
frenzied despair, and one idea Possesses
heart and brain-to get out of this house.
away from these people. out into the open
air. away among utter strangers, and
walk. or run, or travel away somewhere
anywhere from this place-from herself
from her life if it We're possible!
ESHt Rtls INTO III thoi'ukh
fares. and she grows bewildered, and peo-
pie jostle against her if she pauses a mo
ment. and twice men address her and
even follow her. catching a glimpse of
the starry eyes and statueslue face
through the gossamer veil, and she grows
faint and tired, as her feet ache in the
thin, high -heeled house shoes she has for
gotten to change. As she pauses. bewii-
Col Nil t-Iill and in
at hand the open, lighted vestibule of a
theater.
Il can sit in here. and rest, and See the
play 1t will be delightful, and I am sd
tired, and won't go back to that house,
she says, feverishly, as she walks up to
the office window, and lays down half a
sovereign and sixpence for zone stall.
"OneI" repeats the gentleman, in the
faultless shirt front and well-trained mus
tache, and his eyebrows go up. and his
eyes stare boldly at the pretty white face,
the glittering eyes, the little daintily glow
ed hand and the deep mourning attire.
But he hands her the white ticket with
ont a word and gazes out after her as
she goes along the vestibule-is politely
accosted and suspiciously looked at by
divers other gentlemen in faultless shirt
fronts and well-trained mustaches, and is
-finajly seized upen by the stylish young
lady IN the creped wig, biackened eye
lashes aud cream-colored' lace cap, who
has charge of the cloak room. She stares
breathlessly, and cant make it out"
as she tells the other young ladies after
ward, when Muriel resigns her Grape bon
net, but declines the powder puff which
the young lady politely offers. And then
another syren, with bright daffodil hair
and India muslin cap, sells Muriel a pro-
gram, and shows her to her seat in the
stalls
1t is so early yet, the first piece has not
begun, and as Muriel sits and looks at
the drop scene, and her aching head cools
n little in the qnietness, and the rest, and
the dim light, the reaction consequent
upon the strain she has suffered during
this evening and many q past evening,
comes upon her, and with terror stricken
Sense of being fearfully in fault. she be-
gins to comprehend what she has done
and where she is.
What is she doing here alone? She can
notice now how people stare at her, and
men put up their glasses, and women
look over their fans at her. What would
Eric think? What would he feel-he who
is SO punctilious-to see his wife sitting
alone in the stalls of fashionable thea
ter. like a friendless, lost creature, who
but came here to exhibit herself?
Those bold looks of the men, and the
worse than cold looks of the women. at
the lovely young face and the yearning
sad eyes, and the timid flush that burns
in a carmine spot on her cheeks, have
enlightened even Muriels girlish ignor-
ance and innocence, and a terror Of her
L.