How such a man came to marry Ella Grey,
was to her a puzzle; and if occasionally she harbored the thought
that Eugenia Deane was far better suited to be the mistress of
Howard Hastings's home than the childish creature he had chosen,
she was only guilty of what had, in a similar manner, been done by
more than one New York belle. Dinner being over, Ella led the way
to an upper balcony, which opened from her chamber, and which was
a cool, shaded spot. Scarcely were they seated, when remembering
something she had left in the parlor, she went back for it, and,
in returning, she ran up the stairs so swiftly that a sudden
dizziness came over her, and with a low cry she fell half fainting
into the arms of her husband, who bent tenderly over her, while
Eugenia made many anxious inquiries as to what was the matter, and
if she were often thus affected.
"Yes, often," answered Ella, who began to revive; then, as the
perspiration gathered thickly about the white lips, she pressed
her blue-veined hand upon her side, and cried, "The pain--the
pain! It has come again.
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