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A DREADFUL TEMPTATION. 3
Music filled the air with entrancing strains, wooing light
’ feet to the giddy dance.
In the spacious supper-room the tables shone with silver
and gold and crystal, and every delicacy that could tempt
theappetite from home or foreign shores was daintily served
for the wedding-guests, with wines of the purest vintage
and greatest age.
.. There was no lack of wealth, there was no lack of beauty
in the brilliant: assemblage that graced the millionaire’s
proud house that night; and she, his bride, was now the
wealthiest, as she had: ever been the loveliest, of them all,
yetshe stole away at length from her aged bridegroom’s
tlatteries, and sought the solitude of the conservatory.
CHAPTER II.
THE beautiful fragrance-breathing bower was deserted.
The soft light of the wax-lights, half-hidden in flowers,
streamed down. upon her as she trod the leafy walks alone
in her beautiful white satin robe, frosted with delicate lace,
and her shining jewels that encircled a throat as white and
round and queenly as if she had been a princess royal.
Yet none were here to praise the soft light of her dark
eyes, the dazzling beauty of her smiles, the tender, tinted
oval of her face.
Why was she here alone to ‘‘ waste her sweetness on the
desert air?” .
Ah! in amoment she spoke ina stifled voice, her white
hands twisted in the band of jewels that encircled her throat
as if the beautiful flashing things burned,her by their mere
contact.
‘*T had to come here for a free breath away from that old
man whose very presence stifles and smothers me. And
yet—and yet, Iam his wife! Oh, Heaven, what a terrible
price I must pay for my revenge!”
She paused, and a strange look came into her eyes. It
was a look of terrible dreadand despair, inexplicably blend-
ed with passionate triumph.
“And yet,” she began again, after a moment’s silence,
looking around at the evidences of wealth and taste so lav-
ishly scattered about her, ‘‘ whata glorious revenge itis! It
was for thishe scorned and deserted me! YetIhavestripped
him of his heritage. I have stolen from him the empire he
held so long. Ihave revenged myself tenfold for what I
suffered at his hands. Ah! weak fool that I am, why re-
gret the price of such a splendid triumph?” .
Her face grew hard and cold, a cruel smile curled her
scarlet lips, her eyes flashed-with scorn. .
me ei weer
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a mage
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