Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-05-04

ant than n emotion, TO reassert its
supremacy. She had, doubtless, an
gered her husband; she should have
been more gentle, less imperious. 1t
could not be that any one had supplant-
ed her in his heart, or that his love was
less loyal.
How well 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
wayered, She would charm him back
to his old allegiance!
n so, with almost n 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 prettlest toilet, Marie.' she COM
manded.
For the first time. Marie found her
~eXacting and hard TO please.
rs madame going to a ball?" she
asked; but the answer was a simple
negative.
When, at last, the toilet was COM
pleted, she could have entered no bah
room and not been it's acknowledged
belle. The beautiful hair was twisted
low upon her little head, with here and
there n tiny curl escaping from its
thraldom, q diamond star scintillating
in its gold. She wore a dress of white
satin, open at the throat, with sleeves
of pearl-dotted tulle, through which
shone the white. exquisitely-rounded
rms She stood n moment surveying
herself in the long mirror, which so per-
fectly reflected the lovely and imperial
vision.
AIR she said, with a half-sigh to
herself, "will he be ashamed tonight to
present me to his friends as his wife?
What would Dorothy say If she could
see me nowY'
And 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, in voice, in ann
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
sleur. had he returned?
Yes; monsieur had returned during
the afternoon; but had made a very
hasty toilet, and gone Immediately out
again.
Florence's heart sank. Some Of the
old GOODNESS, 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 . O'Clock when she Arose: at
the same moment n note was handed
her In a handwriting unknown to her.
She tore il open. 1t was unsigned,
and that most detestable of all miss
ives-an anonymous communication.
IF Madame Gervase will go 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 n
legal impediment to- the latter possible
ity, but she Is in error. as the writer
fears, TIE future will prove"
With face blanched to marble. Flor
cnce 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 preyious
night came back 10 her. He had not
acknowledged his marriage-the world
! did not know her as his wife Rnt fHd
he imagine she would keen silent. when
her honor and her womanhood were at
stake?
Pshaw! 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-
ty. ~
With sudden resolution. she sum-
moned Marie.
Prepare TO nae to the on
era. and order the horses nj oncer, sbe
commanded. though her voice sounded
even 10 herself, like LIQUID ice. 500 at
once TO the opera. Jean" she said. TO
her butler. land procure me n box. at
,px. nr;oo NIoot 80 a. ,ho D,.