The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-10-12
The Love That Took
FRIGHT at a Face

He was nv master and his bonds
woman; not, however. by any form OF In
denture, but by love. Moreover, he loved
me. albiet he was blind and I 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 CHASTITY face.
That face! That face! How 1 have
cursed it, How l have cursed the hour that
/ was born!
Why did not die when my mother took
fright at that wretched woman's staring
eyes and graveyard palior? Why were both
eyes and pallor, reproduced in me? What
have done that should be brought into
the world with such heritage of horror?
Enough, enough! Let me go back-let me
go back to the sweet voice that won him
and thrilled him (he said) more deeply even
than the transcendentally delicious strains
which we called forth together, day by day,
in the first glorious flush Of our loves young
dream.
My face, my cursed face, he had never
seen; but my voice. my precious, blessed
voice, was the one silken chain by which I
held him; it won him to love, it soothed
him in pain; it delighted him in ease, it
charmed him to sleep. All this and more
yes, more. Though could not sing it was
a priceless dover in it's delicious changes;
it made him my doting lord and master
the lord and master that 1 worshiped from
rise of morn till set of sum-
He was my master in more ways than
one He was violinist of marvellous power.
Playing was the delight of his life, and
when l was only child he conceived the
idea of teaching me, and forthwith pro-
ceeded to carry the thing into effect.
passionate lover of music, I 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 old violns, at least 100 years
old! 1t seemed as II the melodies of heaven
had found their way to earth under the in
spiration of our touch, and OH, how the
love burned in our hearts! All! what mem
cries these are! But 1 may not linger. One
glorious day he called me to him and, pill
lowing my CHASTITY face against his breast,
murmured, tender1y:
my darling; my love! when is it to be-"
"My MASTER" 1 half whispered in trem-
ulous inquiry, sweet joy at my heart, for
1 we'll knew his meaning
my darling he went smilingly on, with
his tender kisses and tender caresses. my
darling must you have an outfit before
hand? Cannot Mrs. Estelle Vaughn pur-
chase it as well as Miss Estelle Rihl?"
"My MASTER" TREMENDOUSLY murmured
again.
my darling, want my wife," he con-
tinued. with a certain vehemence. 81 want
her tomorrow. Will she give herself to
me?"
So when the morrow rose 1 became Mrs.
Estelle Vaughn. Delicious memory!
month passed. month of perfect bliss
to both. At the end or that month there
was an arrival at the old hail. 1t was the
proud, neglectful sister, whom 1 had never
seen and Ra!ston little ever expected to meet
again. She had accidentally learned of his
marriage and came to inspect the bride.
Good heavens!" she exclaimed, when he
called me to him and tenderly presented
me. Good heavens! Ralston, you don't
mean to tell me that this hideous looking
creature is your wife, and mesalliance at
that!"
You forget yourself, Marion,'' he
haughtily replied, ''and-'
But l, though my heart was on fire, in
terposed in my mellifluous tones:
'The countess is right, dear husband, I
I'm no beauty, as l have often assured you."
my darling" he exclaimed, with pas
sionate vehemence, 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 yourself incontest-
Ably ugly and repulsive-looking But what
1, my darling? 1t is the gem that
love, not the perishable beauty of the
casket.'
The countess arose and shrugged her
shoulders, remarking she did so:
Its we'll you are blind Ralston.
With that she retired, but the same morn
Ing she wrote and posted letter to Paris.
and in the course of the week there was
another arrival. ss s.
The countess received this guest alone,
and then without ceremony, brought him
to the music room, where Ralston and 1
were luxuriating in heaven of melodi-
pus sounds That the first intimation
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
bis day, and 1 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 malig-
nant glance at me gave venomous point
to the remark.
At first my husband resented. what he
termed her presumption in acting with
put his knowledge or consent, but, finally
yielding to her persuasions, he unwill-
ingly submitted to the examination.
watched the. progress with sinking heart
and waited with bated breath the Ocu-
lists decision, and when 1t was given,
knew the knell of my doom had been
sounded.
"He will see me! He will see mel"
moaned in fearless agony. When L could
secure a moment to myself; and
worse than that, he hungered and thirsted
for the sight Of me, in spite of my truthful
descriptions.
And the countess? She laughed lightly
as she left the room with the oculist, ex-
claiming, as she glanced tauntingly at me:
"You will see, dear BROTHER
And that day she wrote another letter,
and soon there was in reply another ar
rival-this time a fair, sylphlike creature,
beautiful as a dream.
1 looked at her and shuddered.
HE will see her! he will see mel" 1
whispered to my own soul.
Heavens! how I suffered. But why do
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 peremp-
tory summons called me from the room
Whispering to the oculist to wait till my
return I hurried away.
But such was not the countess design.
returned just In time to hear my hus-
bands cry of delight as his eyes rested
upon the beautiful Lulu, who had been
placed conspicuously in front of him, and