Year: 1878

446 ptuLy VI 1aN oVso1s


Do people often wonder at thei


own happiness 7 Certainly, / was Won


dering at mine, as sat alone in m,


pretty drawing-roOm, resting back il


my chair allowing my Berlin work t


fall unheeded on my lap, while m.
eyes wandered here and there, survey
ing with fond pride my possessions.


Many Of the pictures on the wall
the bronzes on the mantel, the clock
a chair here and there, had been my
bridal presents; and as only one short
year had passed since l came to my
kingdom, l had had no time to gel
weary.


A year ago, and 1 had then thought
myself a happy girl. / had yet tc
learn the full happiness which comes
to every loved and loving wife; but ]
had especial cause for gratitude in g
fact which might present pain.


Before 1 met Will, my husband.
had been engaged to a young man, by
very few years my senior, when some
one discovered his father and grand
father before him had died inmates Of
a lunatic asylum.


Ny parents Immediately broke of
the engagement, and was too sensi.
BILE not to bow to their decree. For
time / was very miserable, but soon
after I met Will, and learned that in-
to his keeping had passed the one
true love of my life, and he held it SO
tenderly, SO sacredly, that soon there
was not even scar to mark the old
wound.


But the tears came freely 70 nay
eyes, nor did Will reproach me with
them when, some six months after my
marriage, learned in the full flush of
my happiness, that Victor Struthers'
sad fate had overtaken him, and that
he, too, had followed in the steps of
those gone before; that never again
the light of reason would shine within
his eyes or the words of love he SO
we'll knew how to utter fall from his
lips.


These thoughts slowly come back
tonight as I sit alOne-the first even
ing I had spent alone since my mar
riage; but VIII had been called away
by important business, and would not
be back until late, perhaps not until
tomorrow.


Once more the tears came within
my eyes as I cOntFasted my lot with
VictOr's or shuddeFed at the fate
which would have been mine had I
followed my first mad impulse to be
his at any cost.


Yet, had not the loss of the girl he
loved hastened his dOomH The ply
sicians said not; but their verdict
would not satisfy my nervous dread.
l sighed a long, tremulOus sigh at this
latter thought.


And surely-was it imagination p
somewhere within the room the sigh
was Ie-echoed.


We had in the month of roses two
long French windows, draped with
blue satin and lace, opened on 3 We
randall, which, as the evening was
cool, were closed and fastened but as
l glanced round, with q strange mis-
giving at my heart, I saw the folds of
one tremble.


The window must then be open;
yet l felt no air.


With this thought I arose from my
seat, stepping forward to ascertain the
cause, but had barely taken a single
step when I stopped, my blood frozen,
unable to make another movement, or
even part my lips to scream for help.


On the blue surface was a mans
hand-no rufian's hand, but white
and handsome.


A ring cleaned on one Of the 6ng-
ers and on its luster my eyes rested,
fascinated as the dove by the serpent.
Where had / aeen that ring before 7
surely. where, my tortured
mind could not reason.


Then summoning all my strength
md courage, with a desperate effort l
turned to leave the room. Once put
! closed door between myself and that
white hand, whose invisible owner
aight at any moment step from his
I might know what best
,ould be done.


Now was blind with terror, and
,Ould scarcely see, though the room
vas brilliantly lighted, to grope my
way to the door.


At last, approached it, and reached ,
,ut my arm to open the way to free
lOm, when five white fingers, one !
,earinp the cleaning ring. were laid