The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-21

bliss for Adele and me. The wedding
was to occur In June.
But the shadow that had been destined
to darken her life and mine fell at last
1t was on the night of one of the grand
est carnival balls, and she was Queen.
All, how like queen she seemed that
night, loved by all men, but loving none
but me; pouring balm the wounded
hearts at her feet and handing them back
with womanly dignity. Tender, gracious
and beautiful The midnight chimes of the
st. Louis Cathedral were mingling with
the music of the ball Ash Wednesday
was already beginning and Adele and I
were preparing to depart. We were ar
rested on our way from the dressing room
by some one who wished to present to
Adele, Monsieur DO, hypnotist. phrynolo-
gist artist and what mott Devil! say l.
That word expresses all! From the mo-
ment looked into his sinister face with
its cleaning eyes and Vandyke beard
hated him. His glance Travelled over my
beautiful Adele In undisguised and un-
comfortable admiration, and noticed with
start, that he wore a boutonniere of
clover blossoms matching exactly the
shower bouquet carried by Adele 1t
was all the more peculiar when l remem-
bered that Adele had forced hers in her
own green mouse. AS we ufONe nome tndL
night we were both strangely silent. A
mood of sadness was upon us. as though
we stood frightened upon the brink OF
an unknown precipice, beyond which was
darkness. mystery and fear. When L
turned to leave her in her home she chung
to me almost sobbing. so | kissed her
eyes, her lips. her hair, as though 1t
were for the last tme--and so it was
foreverl
A telegram called me to New York the
next morning where | remained five
weeks, and in that time l received not
one word penned In answer to my letters
to Adele So l reached New Orleans in
Impotence and drove straight to the
VanCourtlandt home. I was told that
Adele was indisposed and could see no
one But Madame LeFort, the dear
grandmother, came down and in tears
told me what had taken place in my alb
sence. Rumors and whisperings were
abroad In the city that our engagement
was broken, and Adele and Monsieur DO
were now betrothed. Adele she said,
would not speak upon the subject, and in
fact gas almost unapproachable upon all
subjects, sitting brooding and silent all
day until M, DO came in the evening.
Then she would spring up half frightened
and go to meet him smiling and gracious
insisted upon seeing her but she refused
point blank TO see me. | cannot describe
my feelings so mingled were they with
hurt pride. wounded love and anger.
What strange spell had this man cast
over my darling?
| left the house In agony, after learn
Ing that ADELE was to accompany NJ DO
to a private musical in the evening.
walked the streets almost madly and
night found me before the house in which
the guests for the musical had already as
sembled, l waited calmly till the close,
and all were dispensing. But when Adele
emerged from the door my calmness van
ished and springing forward / grasped
her hand. and she with little scream of
gadness would have almost fallen into.
my arms had not Monsieur DO appeared
from behind and caught her firmly by
the arm as though to steady her She
sank back trembling as Monsieur D'O
said: The carriage is waiting Without
excuse l stepped In front of them and
demanded speech with Adele. Bowling
low with the grace of king. NJ. DO.
replied; 1 have the honor Of being Miss