Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-24
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! Love That Took
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BE was my master and his bonds
woman; not, however, by any form of in
denture, but by love. Moreover, he loved
me. albeit he was blind and 1 his house
keepers daughter.
. That is, he loved my voice-the rare
voice that is like delicious music even to
my ears-the rare voice that heaven gave
me in compensation for my ghastly face.
That face! That face! How have
cursed it, How 1 have cursed the hour
that was born!
He was my master in more ways than
one. He was a violinist of marvellous
power. Playing was the delight Of his
life, and when was only a child he con-
ceived the idea of teaching me and forth
with proceeded to carry the thing into
effect.
A passionate lover of music, proved
an apt pupil and, after years of loving,
patient application, developed power as
marvellous as his own. What strains we
wooed from those two violins, at least
100 years old 1t seemed as il the melo-
dies of heaven had found their way to
earth under the inspiration of our touch,
and, oh, how the love burned to our
hearts! All, what memories these are!
But may not linger. One glorious day
he called me to him and, pillowing my
ghastly face against his breast, murmur-
ed tenderly:
my darling, my love, when is It to
be?"
MY nasterv' I half whispered in
tremulous inquiry, sweet JOY at my
heart, for 1 well knew his meaning.
my darling" he went smilingly on,
with his tender kisses and tender caress-
es. my darling, must you have an out
fit beforehand? Cannot Mrs. Estelle
Vaughn purchase it as well as Miss Es-
telle Rihl?"
my MASTER" tremulously murmured
again.
MY darling, want my WIFE" he con-
tinued with O certain vehemence 81
want her tomorrow. VIII she give her.
self to me?"
So when the morrow rose I became
Mrs. Estelle Vaughn. Delicious memo
ry!
A month passed. month Of perfect
bliss for both. At the eld of that month
there was an arrival at the old hall. 1t
was the proud, neglected sister whom I
had never seen and Ralston little expect
ed ever to meet again. She had acci-
dentally learned of his marriage and
came to inspect the bride.
Good heavens she exclaimed when
he called me to him and tenderly present
ed me. "Good heavens! Ralston, You
don't mean to tell me that this hideous
looking creature is your wife, and
at thatw
'You forget yourself, Marlon," he
haughtily replied, ''and"-
But l, though my heart was on fire, in
terposed in my mellifuous tones:.
'The countess is right, dear husband;
I am no beauty, as / have often assured
you"
"My darling" he exclaimed, with pas
sionate vehemence, as he took me in his
arms, knowing well how my poor heart
was aching, you have assured me Of
more than that; you have declared your
self incontestably ugly and repulsive look
ing. But what care l, my darling? 1t is
the gem that love, not the perishable
beauty of the casket."
The countess rose and shrugged her
shoulders, remarking as she did SO:
Its well that you are blind, Ralston."
With that she retired, but the same
she wrote and posted letter to
Paris, and in the course of a week there
was another arrival.
The countess received this guest alone
and then, without ceremony, brought him
to the music room, where rRalston and
were luxuriating in a heaven of melo-
hat tha Hrct ir,fir
ton we had of his arrival or his errand.
"Ralston," said the countess after the
necessary introductions "Ralston, this
gentleman is the most eminent oculist of
his day, and have sent for him, hoping
that 20 years of blindness may end in
your seeing once more, and think may
safely say that 1 have never known a
man who needed his sight SO much" And
4 malignant glance at me gave venomous
point to the remark.
And that day she wrote another letter,
and soon there was in reply another ar
rival, this time fair, sylphlike creature,
beautiful as dream.
/ looked at her and shuddered.
Heavens, how / suffered! But why do
I linger over all this? Enough that the
day came when he saw for the first time
in 20 long years. That day! Just before
the bandage was to be removed a per-
emptory summons called me from the
room. Whispering to the oculist to wait
till my return, hurried away.
But such was not the countess design.
I returned just in time to hear my hus-
bands cry Of delight as his eyes rested
upon the beautiful Lulu, who had been
placed censpicuously in front of him and
TO see him snatch her in passionate
embrace to his heart. sprang forward,
wailing mournfully:
"Oh, Ralston! Ralston, she is not your
wife,"
At the sound Of my musical tones he
pushed her roughly from him and turned
with glowing .countenance toward me.
He turned, but that was all. Words
were not needed. Dismay, horror, repul-
sion and disgust were depicted only too
legibly on his handsome features. Reel
ing to him, sobbed as I sank at his feet
and cllng to his knees:
81 told you the truth, Ralston! told
you the TRUTH
eyes, yes, I know" he groaned, cover
ing his face with his hands and dropping
into his seat. "But l was
for this. Would to heaven l
had kept my blindness and my happi-
ness"
1t was useless. His heart had gone to
the beautiful Lulu, and gradually the
music began to madden my soul-gradu-
ally, gradually, till certain morning,
when / sprang like tigress at his
throat.
That brought the end. They took me