Year: 1866

/
such woman in the holy bonds OF
matrlmony, for the sake of living in
easy circumstances.


Weeks rolled on into months but
still Estelle remained in New York
! The gay, fast, and fashionable society.
/ OF which she was the Acknowledged
/ queen, afforded her too much pleas
ure to allow her to leave it; she would
dress and out dress every one else
They rented large and elegant man
sion on Fifth Avenue, furnished in a
style fit for the home of a Princess.
giving costly parties, and getting
credit for nearly everything. They
had kept secret Mr.. Pitts death. not
wishing to exclude themselves from
pleasure.


Estelle was reckless and appeared
to care for nothing only admiration !;
her husband was sad and seldom in
terfered with her eXtravagant wishes


He loveG1all that wealth affords, and
dreamed ofshothing but pleasure when
in company


Estelle at times reflected, and well
knew that her husband could not af-
ford to support their present style of
living, but she would not retrench their
expenses. She never loved Louis, she
only fancied his fine looks, and was
dazzled by his title and his wealth
but when she learned that he was only
a pOrtionless Count, and had deceived
her in regard to his wealth, her fancy
for him suddenly grew cold He left
her free to actas she pleased, he never
questioned her about her movements,
nor the character of her visitors, al
though he was often panied to see her
SO attentive to Mr.. Martinez and so
cold towards him.


Little did the blinded husband know
that his fair and artful wife was daily
cherishing love for the very man
whom he disliled more than all her
gentlemen admirers.


Martinez was a subtle william, he Ia
made many inquiries about Gena, but
could learn nothing of her.


Mingling again in the vortex of
pleasures, offered to all who reside in
large cities, he soon was seeking new
victims, and when introduced to
Madame de L. he was determined to
win her.


He associated with all grades Of so
ciety, hence his opportunities Of learn
ing the private business of every one
was ample, he gained the knowledge
that Count de /. was buried alive in
debt


One morning after Estelle had had a
scene with her husband, who informed
her that he could no longer make eX-
cuses to their numerous creditors, and
saying that he would run away to
France, alone, if she would not come
with him.


She then sobbed and cried herself
sick; in this state her lover called, he
begged to know the cause of her grief,
although he imagined he well knew it.
He artfully said


'What can cause You so much sOr-
row? has that nau nty husband Of
yours scolded my darling :"


Eyes, he has, but it is not Mat which
grieves me-" answered Estelle


Martinez put his arm around her
waist, and placing her head on his
shoulder, said in his soft fascinating
way:


Let your lover know why he finds
his Estelle so sOrrowful, wish | had
you at my own home, how l would
study to make every moment Of your
life pass in gaiety and pleasure.


He bent his head and rapturously
kissed her, she warmly returned his
caresses telling him al her sorrows,
all her husbands embarrazsments for
money, end how she hated the man
whose name she bore.


Long had the sun gone to rest, soft
" the shades of night crept over the
day, still EstelIe and Martinez sat
closely together, talking over the fu-
ture, he planning her ruin, and she
only dreaming of the love which he
declared he possessed for her, and the
wealth he promised, if she would only
fv with him, should be hers.


The next night Estelle and her par
amour were en- route to Maple Cottage.


(To BE CONTINUED