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Chapter XXXII.

Like one in a dream, Mrs. Graham sat perfectly motionless. "Could thus be the end," she thought, and thought, until her head spun round and round, and her body shivered with cold. The papers Nellie had placed on her lap, fell to the floor and lay there unheeded, and the darkness hid them from her sight. But presently the twilight faded, and the great moon peeped over the Eastern hills to see what the world was doing. Her cold, steely rays shot through the open window, and crossing the floor, rested upon the talisman of a girl's weakness. The woman started as if the eyes of a serpent were fixed upon her. Stooping, she made as if to seize them, but their touch electrified her; she sprang up, and stood gazing down upon them with fear. Gradually a calmness crept into her heart, and her mind grew clear with its fixed purpose. A voice at the door disturbed her; she turned, and without waiting to hear what the girl said, bade her bring in the lights. "Yet stay! we will have the gas."

Poor Mary looked quite crest-fallen as she turned up the gas and closed the window. "Mistress is going to have company to-night, and what would George say? She would not be able to keep her appointment; and she had put a piece of new ribbon on her hat too! It was hard."

"May I ask if you be having company to-night, Mrs. Graham?" said she with much hesitancy, and many side glances.

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"I am not Mary, but I wish the house to look bright."

Her wish was gratified, for soon the little Elysium shone and sparkled in the rich blaze of its bright artificial light.

"You may go when you please, Mary. I shall see after Mr. Graham's tea myself," was the next command, and Mary nothing loath, obeyed.

Leaving the letters where they lay, Mrs. Graham went to her room and changed her grey dress for one, pure white. She pinned a tiny diamond broach at her throat, and arranged the lace about her neck. She fastened a piece of ribbon in her hair and straightened the disorderly curls. Then stepping back, viewed herself in the large oval looking glass. If she were not satisfied with her appearance she should have been. The dainty little figure, the sweet face with its expression of resolute calmness, the fair curling ringlets that would in spite of every effort to prevent them, break out of their confines and dance mischievously around the girlish face. All made a very pleasing picture, and with the shadow of a smile on her lips, Mrs. Graham turned away, and re-entered the parlour. Stationing herself a little distance from her letters she stood calm and quiet.

Alma Graham knew what she was doing. She had not sat at her father's table, nor entertained her husband's friends, without understanding the power beauty had upon men.

Standing thus, her hands clasped together, a crimson spot on each cheek, a dangerous gleam in her blue eyes, the room sparkling with its reflected light, and the letters lying at her feet, she waited for her husband; and such was the sight that met his wondering gaze.

"Why Alma, what's going to happen?" exclaimed he, stepping into the brightly-lighted room, and advancing toward his wife; his eyes shining as brightly as the bright gas light, "You look like—you don't look like—you look sweeter than yourself my Alma."

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But Alma pushed her husband away, and gently but firmly said—"Wait until I have told my story before you kiss me Percy! Perhaps then you will not be so anxious to do so. I have often wished to tell you something, but you would never listen. The time has come when you must hear, and I must tell."

"A moment, Alma. Understand, nothing can change my feelings toward you; nothing," interrupted Mr. Graham.

"Wait and see." Walking over to the fireplace, Mrs. Graham stood leaning against the mantelpiece, and gazing down at the great bunch of roses stamped upon the fender stool. Mr. Graham drew a chair close to his wife and seated himself therein.

"Years ago," began Mrs. Graham; "long before I knew you, Percy, when I was but a girl in years, though an old woman in society's ways, a man stepped across my path, and—well, I loved him. And he—he was kind and good, and seemed to care for me a great deal. Ah! it was not right of him to pretend he loved me, to whisper those words that to my unaccustomed ears sounded so sweet, and then to leave me for another. But I do not reproach him," she added, bitterly. "It is the common practice of his sex. Why should he be an exception? The circumstance which occasioned the disillusion was one after my own heart, and one in which I exalted and shone. It was at the annual celebration of our church picnic that I first became aware of the fact that it was only a secondary place I occupied in Iwand Enswav's heart." Mrs. Graham paused a moment; then continued: "I was the ringleader of all the fun at that picnic, and I was very happy, for I imagined myself very pretty, and that everyone else imagined the same. Luncheon time drew near, and we all clustered together under the trees. I had been too busy before to notice much, but now I missed Iwand. Looking around, I espied him page 385running toward us in company with Elmy Main. Something in Iwand's face struck me as strange. I drew back among the crowd and watched. I don't know," and here Mrs. Graham spoke in a dreamy tone, as if communing with herself. "I do not know, but within my heart I felt something snap. It gave me no pain, only a strange feeling. As I stood there and watched those two, he with bare head, she with bowed; he tall and fair and bright, she dark and small, and, to my mind, ugly, together, receiving the benediction of our beloved white-haired minister, I felt there was no more for me. When the benediction was pronounced, and the hushed attentive crowd began to stir, I saw the girl look up into her companion's face; I saw the eager watchful gaze of her companion, and the light of love in his sunny eyes; and I ground my teeth when I caught sight of their smile. Who was she that she should usurp my place?" I cried. I made enquiries, for I had never seen her before, and found she was an Elmy Main; that she and Iwand had been playmates, schoolmates, every other mates conceivable; that for a time they had been separated, and that this probably was the first meeting for ever so long. I learned all this, and as the day advanced I learned more. I learned that I was wholly forgotten, and that all my artful practices were powerless to attract the return of the once attentive deceiver. My blood boiled every time I saw those two together. Was I, who had always reigned supreme in the small circle in which I moved, to be dethroned by that chit, 'that gawky Main girl,' with the tanned face, straight black hair, and owl eyes? The thought drove me nearly distracted, and I vowed revenge. Upon this came Iwand's promotion to a higher office in another town; and in less than a week after he set sail. Among my acquaintances there was a young man named Albert Maurice. By accident I discovered he had no special liking page 386for Iwand Enswav, and would, if it lay in his power, do him an injury. I tempted him by spreading out the bait, and he was caught. Thus, following in Iwand Enswav's wake, Albert Maurice went to fulfil his commission—that of ruining his friend's reputation. Short-sighted that I was, I might have guessed that his own inclination was his master. They went; and I set myself to watch and wait. As for Nellie, she returned to her babies and her seclusion.

Those are the products of that waiting time," exclaimed Mrs. Graham, pointing to the letters; "but let them rest longer, until I have finished;" for her husband had attempted to take them. "They are only commendations and instructions to my accomplice. His letters to me I destroyed the eve of our wedding. Several times during that and the following year, Albert Maurice returned, but went away again after a few days' sojourn. Somehow, I suspected there was more in these hurried visits than he cared to tell me; yet he seemed cheerful, and spoke as if he were succeeding admirably. Indeed, we were both succeeding; he, in making Iwand a drunken and disreputable man, and I, in spreading the defaming news. For myself, I knew that Iwand would come out right in the end; he esteemed society's patronage too greatly to remain long under the bane of its displeasure; but I wished Nellie to hear of his apostasy, and cast him off. I was foiled. Although Nellie would have nothing more to do with him when he returned, it was not through my interference. This she told me herself this afternoon. After vainly trying to win Iwand a second time, out of malice and wounded pride, I accepted you. And now, Percy, you have heard all my abasement. I have not attempted to exculpate myself in the least. What do you think would be the best thing to do?" Mrs. Graham turned and faced her husband, a page 387strange mixture of entreaty and defiance shining in her bright blue eyes.

"She is worth a dozen of me," inwardly commented Mr. Graham, as he looked at his wife. He had never seen her so agitated before, and this new phase of her character amused as well as pleased him. "Blowed if I'd have had the courage to make that confession. And the minx pretends it was out of pique she married me. Rough on a fellow, if he believed it. No, no, Mistress Alma; I can see further than you think I can, and I know more than you imagine I know."

Stooping, Mr. Graham picked up the telltale letters, and carrying them over to the gas, carefully lit the corners of each. The flames curled round his hand, and threatened to burn his fingers; and with one sweep he hurled them into the grate. Then when nothing but black crumbling tissues remained, Mr. Graham opened his arms, and gathered his wife to him.

"Alma, dearest, that is what I think best to do, and this is what I am doing. Did you think I was wholly ignorant of your former life? Ah! my darling, with all your faults and failings, you are better by far than I. I fear if the one for whom I plotted was my Alma, I would not pause where you paused. You are the dearest and bravest of little wives in Christendom;" he gently stroked her soft fluffy hair, and kissed the tired tear-filled eyes. "And you have made me the happiest and most blessed of mortals living in the same place. So now, Alma, my own, put away these tears. We must have all smiles in our homeland." And Alma, looking up to the tender manly face, caught the love-lights which played at hide and seek in his proud earnest eyes. Letting her fair curly head fall against his broad shoulder, as a weary child does upon its mother's bosom, Alma Graham realized for the first time the blessedness of a husband's love and protection.

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"My husband," was all she said, as she nestled into his close embrace.

"My wife," he answered; and from that evening they dated the true nuptials of their wedding.

Thus it may often be the case. They who sigh the most in courtship, may not smile the least in marriage. The devotedly attached husband and wife are not necessarily the most ardent lovers.