Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-07-06
CHATTER xxIIY.

In her sumptuous and palatial home,
alone in the great. silent house, save
for tile lackeys. was she whom yester-
day the little world of st. Petersburg
had known as Madame Florence
alone, but neither in darkness, in desc
latlon, nor in mouraing.
In the center of the great drawing
room, she stood, still wearing her we'd
ding robes. though hours had passed
since the name she had chosen 10 bear
had been stripped from her more pitt
lessly than the banlage from Louis
Gervase's face. and her own old name
rast back al her as a direct insult.
She had dined in her old state. Flow.
erS had bloomed upon her table: coursa
after curse had been served, and
wines OF rarest vintage poured into the
glasses ut her elbow. True. the dishes
had gone away almost untasted. the
glasses undraineI, but the farce tor
tragedy had bea played TO the emil.
Then she had sweDt into her drawing
rooms 10 find them. MS She had e0n,
handed. In a blaze ,f light.
.srhey do honor TO my second hap
tism," she murnlured. scornfuily.
She had shed 10 tear since Tie mcrn-
ing; she had sought no solitude of
grief. The pallor which had nlarke {
her had fled. One bright spot of Grim
son blaZed on either cheek. Her eyes
burned into blackness: her jewels did
not hold more brllliance, more hidden
fire. she was beautiful in this hour,
with q beauty which exceeded belief.
Heretofore her heart had been numbe;l
to slumber. Had not It's death fol.
lowed this second blow
admit nome" she had told her ser
wants. Il will see 10 me. l entertain
q new guest tonight she added 70
herself. ..The ghost of my past-F1or-
enee Nane dimes with me-"
So she stood alone in the center or
the rooms, which were a long vista or
radiant light and color. Slowly she
paced their length, smiling as in innu-
merable mirrors she caught n glimpse
Of the tall, graceful figure, clad in its
bridal white.
"It was Madame Florence who was
to have been the princes bride, she
murmured, mot Florence Nane. | am
glad of that. For her, new ans more
lifting honors wais; and l spared Dam
eroff 10 her. Fool. fool that l was.
Why did they not fight? Bat what
was 1t that this grl said about a sis
ter? Florence Vane has no sister
wishes none.'
She paused as she spoke; then. with
new impulse, hurried on. until size
reached the ante-room where Ark
wright first had seen her. And then
she moved toward the picture of the
white and cleaning cross. Lifting her
beautiful arms. she d~ssengaged ii from
the wire by which 1t was suspended.
gently laid IL oh the floor, and then set
her heel upon Ii. and crushed the
glass into q thousand fragments. Did
she fear its future softening influence
upon her? Had she not rather used II
as the milestone TO her revenge?
Standing there. another sound than
the breaking glass disturbed the 81
lence. 1t was a low, demoniac laugh.
she turned. There in the shadow OF
the doorway, stood u witness to 81
act-Louis Gervase. Her lackeys had
betrayed her for his gold. AS in the
morning, he had made no attempt "a
shield from curious gaze his terrible
disagreement. The full glare OF light
revealed It's livid horror. The marred
cheek rendered the contrast more fear
full, and lent the n n scarcely human
air. 1t were as though devil and man
were mingled into one; o would the
Bimile fallen far short of the reality.
She turned and saw him. but the col
or faded not from her cheek: she nei-
Their blanched nor trembled. Thus they
met-they who once had murmured
gofteSt uOthingS i'm each others ears,
who each had found a heaven In the
others eyes. and who a held the sa'
FRED relation. blessed by God. OF hus-
hand and wife. He, In his hldcous de-
formIty. confronting her who had
sought his body's ruin; she. In her ex'
Quisite beauty, facing him who had