The Jewish herald. (Houston, Tex.) 1908-1914, 1911-01-26
Third Year
A HOUSE OF CARDS.
(By Mrs. B. Lurie.)
CHAPTER XII.


Dear Harold know you will be
amazed at the length of my recital But
! have not much more to tell. What is
to follow will be more pertinent TO your
case than the foregoing. Although
felt was combating an invisible force,
the exact nature of it ] was unable to
determine. ] knew, she felt the strength
of my passion for her. 1 was convinced
that she reciprocated, but could not
fathom the source from which she drew
her strength to resist all my most pas
to be stronger than anything ! had ever
before encountered in my dealings with
women for whom, at different times, |
may have had a passing fancy. / pom
dered on this many time, but she never
gave me the opportunity at any one time
of solving the riddle satisfactorily; Prob
ably therein lay her great fascination
for me. Keeping me constantly at bay,
she remained the the enigma she had
been at first But not TO dlgress iur-
,"The night of the opera my private
box was full of guests. My wife looked
TO the best advantage when there were
many to admire her. And this evening
she was. not disappointed. There We're
many vieing with each other to show
her attention and whisper words of adj
miration in her willing ear. About her
white throat lay beautiful necklace Tor
which she had leased me some time be-
fore Christmas. | refused to buy 1t, as
it cost eight thousand dollars, and her
ewe s ease Ta not need ala MOTT buy
But Christmas morning dawneu anu
Pratified her within. Some one sent her
anonymousiy, but / guessed from her
bushes that she knew who the donor
was and would no doubt reward him as
such generosity deserved.
81 felt bitter about 1t for time, but
said nothing / am sure in your prac-
tice you come frequently across similar
other cared enough to expose himself TO
curious and sensation-loving public
In my case, this would never happen
II have long looked on this as part
OF the life we lead The contrast be-
tween the necklace and the dress strucE
me forcibly.
II looked out over the sea of faces in
the. hope. of picking out the one ! was
looking for. My opera glass swept the
center of the orchestra circle, where
she ought to be sitting, time after time,
but In vain. i was trying to distinguish
her by her toilette, which knew. would
be sufficiently conspicuous even In that
surprised she did not manifest her pres
ence by a glance toward my box, whose
location ] had previously indicated nd tn,, to to
the first act l hoped for better results
during the intermission, when the audi
ence thinned out. | swept each lazy ;
once was petrihed to see tall blonde
coming down the aisle arrayed in all
the finery had intended for Bess Win
throp; A young, man walked proudly by
her eide. AS / looked my attention was
attracted to a lady half rising In her
seat and then falling back again. My
glasses turned on her instantly MY
surmise was correct. 1t was my sweet
heart. She leaned forward and SAID
something to her companion, He nodded
and smiled. Shortly AFTER they both rose
and left the opera house They never
returned. Their seats remained vacant
til II was all over, The music had nc
charm for me. had come for another
purpose--to see my darling happy as
wished her to be. ] was disappointed
/ did not try to speculate on the singular
incident Something had evidently gone
wrong. / would find out tomorrow. This
evening the presence of my guests de-
manded gaietS was far from feeling
"The next morning entered th'
breakfast ROOM feeling numb and dul
with disappointment, to which ] seemed
committed throughout,
The zest and sparkle seemed TO hav'
fled from life The long perspective o.
tbs large breakfast room vawned before