Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-05-04


ant than any emotion. to reassert its
gered her husband; she should have
been more gentle, less impcrious. 1T
could not be that any one had supplant-
ed her in his heart, or that his love was
less loyal.
How we'll he had loved her! And
then her mind went back to the old
days. and fingered there until resent
ment fled. All, if he had momentarily
wavered. she would charm him back
to his old allegiance!
And so, with almost smile upon her
lips. determined to throw off the dark
shadows which all day had oppressed
her. she rang for her maid to come to
her.
My prettiest toilet, Marie'' she COM
manded.
For the first time. Marie found her
eXacting and hard to please.
us madame going to a ball:' she
asked: but the answer was Il simple
negative.
When. at last. the toilet was COM
pletcd, she could have entered no ball
room and not been it's acknowledged
belle. The beautiful hair was twisted
low upon her little head. with here and
there Il tiny curl escaping from its
thraldom. a diamond star scintillating
in it's gold. She wore dress Of white
satin, open at the throat, with sleeves
of pearl-dotted tulle. through which
shone the white. eNquisitely-rounded
arms. She stood a moment surveying
herself in the long mirror, which so per-
fectly reflected the lovely and imperial
vision.
All" she said, with a half-sigh to
herself. twill he be ashamed tonight to
What would Dorothy say if she could
see me nOw?'
Aud the later thought brought an in
slant tear to her violet eyes, for Doro-
thy was her twin. the little sister. more
gentle. less imperious than she. but so
like her in face i'll voice. in manner
that her own father scarce could tell
them apart. But the difference would
be greater now. Dorothy never had
worn such a gown as this, nor such
jewels about her throat and wrists.
1t was strange she should have
thought of Dorothy at this moment;
but it was her dream which made the
home-life come back to her so strange
ly.
Madame. dinner is ready" an
nounced her maid.
All. dinner was ready. And mon
sieur. had he returned:
Yes: monsieur had returned during
rhe afternoon: but had made very
haSty toilet. and gone Immediately out
again.
Florence's heart sank. Some of the
old cOldnesS. the old bitterness. re-
turned: but her housemaid must not
SuSpect..In her regal pride and beauty.
she sat down alone to her eXquisitely-
served repast. 1t dragged itself out to
an interminable length.
1t was 8 o'clock when she arose: at
the same moment a note was handed
her in a handwriting unknown to her.
She tore it open. 1t was unsigned,
and that most detestable of all miss
ives-an anonymous communication
eff Madame Geryase will 60 tonight
to the OPERA it ran. 'she will see
Monsieur Gervase with the lady whom,
rumor states. he is soon to lead to the
altar. Madame may deem herself a
legal impeachment to the latter POSSIBLE
ity, but she is in error, as the writer
fears. the future will prove
With face blanched to marble. Flor
ence read and re-read the lines of such
terrible and portentous import.
What could they mean: What was
the fearful implication underlying
them?
Her husbands words Of the previous
night came back to her. He had not
acknowledged his marriage-the world
did not know her as his wife. But did
he imagine she would keep silent, when
her honor and her womanhood were at
stake?
| Ishaw! The whole thing was false.
the letter written in qualification of
some petty revenge. But the writer
told her to see and judge for herself
ard tonight was to be her opportuni-
IT,
With sudden resolution, she sum
moned Marie.
Prepare to accompany me to the OBJ
era. and order the horses at once!" she
commanded. though her voice sounded
even to herself, like liquid ice. eco al
once to the opera, Jean,' she said, t.
her butler. land procure me box, a
any price Meet us at the entrance or
our arrival
The clock had just struck 10 whel
her carriage stopped before the doors
and she stepped from it with the ali
and bearing of a queen.
A little murmur of admiration raj
through the boxes in the immediate vi
cinity of that which she had secured
as she took the seat within it. ant
threw back the elegant wrap she wore
Marie seated herself little behint
her.
! The first act was ended-the secon,
had but just begun; but not one singl
glance did Florence vouchsafe tn
stage Slowly she raised her oper
glass to her eyes. and slowly scanne'
the house. A half-sigh of relief parte,
her lips. when. suddenly, she gave
perceptible start.
In one of the lower stage boxes, t
the left. sat a woman toward whoI
half the glasses in the house, from tim
to time, like that Of Madame Gervase
We're leveled.
She was imperiously, consciousl
beautiful. with hair of ebon blacknes
and eyes that matched the night.
She was dressed in black velvet. CT
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