Year: 1878

ritaton OF the moment.


Two months glided by, and scarcely
was Mrs. Chesterfield alone ere she was
Joined by Hale Raymond. Did she walk,
be seemed to spring from the ground ;
did she drive, mis- horse would come ca
reeriDg beside her carriage and he would
find time and opportunity to have with
her few moments quiet converse. Ev-
er approaching forbidden themes, he new
er transgressed openly, but slowly, sure
ly fought his way, as he hoped, into the
heart of the citadel.


" WILL" said Mrs. Chesterfield, one
day to her husband, A." there is to be a
masked ball at the Academy next week.
will you take me ?"


" l am sorry, my darling, but shall
be out of town on that nights and even
were here, it is not the place where 1
would care to see you"


With n pout the young wife turned
away, and the subject dropped.


"It is nothing to him now to refuse my
Wishes" she thought. "Once he would
have postponed any engagement to graft
fly me-"


The day ofthe ball came. With n low
ing kiss in the early morning, viii Ches-
terfeld bade his wife goodbye.


Scarcely had the door closed upon him
than Mr.. Raymond was announced.


i have come to ask you and Mr..
Chesterfield to join our party for the
masquerade tonight. Ofcourse he will
consent if you but ask him."


"Mr. Chesterfield is unfortunately alb.
sent, so that must decline"


"Indeed v'-feigning the utmost sur
prise. But surely you will not spend
the evening alone Mrs. Irving is going
to choperOne the party. We shall have
a box, and be perfectly TO ourselves. No
one will recognize you. Do say you will
come !"


And so he pleaded, until remembering
her hus band had not absolutely forbid
den her going, and knowing she could
readily assuage his displeasure, she gave
somewhat reluctant consent, and with
his heart beating high with hopes of what
she little dreamed, Hale Raymond left
her.


But all that evening, surrounded by
mirth and fun, music and lights, uproar
and dancing, she wished herself a thou
sand times back to her own quiet home.
Between her and the jewellers came the
vision OF her husbands handsome face.
What would he say? Yet could he
blame her Had he not left her alone ?


At last she could bear it no longer,
and whispering few words TO her escort,
he arose, assisted her in her hasty adieus,
and went with her forth from the din and
glare, into the calm, peaceful moonlight
night.


"Will you walk or drive ?"


"Oh, let us walk" she answered and
gathering up her rich ball dress, and
slipping off her mask, she drank in, with
a sense of inexpressible relief, heavens
pure air.


At last her home was reached. Turn
ing, as her servant opened the door, to
say good-by to her companion, she was
startled by the request:


1T is early yet. May / not come in +?
/ have something l want particularly to
say to YOU"


She could scarcely refuse so trihing a
request, SO preceded him into the draw
ing-room.


The room was in shadow, but as she
turned to ask his meaning, she was start
led at the unusual paIlor of his face.


"Are you i'll ?" she questioned.


"Ill ? Would to God l were Would
that torture of the body might teach for
getfulness of the minds anguish Have
you not seen, all these weeks, how have
loved you-how / would dare all things
for some response ? You must have
known it all-why, then, do you give me
that white face of untold horror ?"


Hush-no more Yet deserve it all.
You came to me with your fiat;ery at a
time when / thought my husband wav-
ering in his devotion, when / felt fool
ishly grieved and injured, and meant
thus to show him an indifference equal
to his own, though never for one moment
did / feel it.. The glittering colors of the
snake fascinated me, and l was all igno-
rant Of the deadly sting they concealed.
Leave me, sir, and our paths henceforth
diverge."


A glance at the cold, proud face warn
ed him of her meaning, and, with Bit
ter smile irony, he bowed himself out
of her presence and her life.


will Will p' she sobbed, when
alone. Then, as in answer to her cry,
out from the shadow came he whom she
had called, and taking her close into his
strong arms, said as he held her;


1t has been q mistake. darling-s sad
sad horror for us both. did not think
it best to disclose my presence. had
forgotten my little wife was but child
and she has forgotten that sometimes a
husband must leave his home, but that
he leaves as its guard its most priceless
possession, a jewel which the long
er he wears grows more and more price
less in his sight. From to night we will
start afresh. The serpent has gone from
our Eden. My poor child How you
must have suffered ~


But In all her husbands tenderness,
Mrs. Chesterfield only feels the deeper
her remorse for her folly and with her
head buried on his breast, she sqbs out
her plea for forgiveness, she knows al
..a..l Il. e l. la., L..t ...L;la -