The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-15
MY LADY pIspAIN.

MY LADY UlSDAIN.
Ny Lady Disdain was q brilliant
queenly girl. Her real name was Ga
brielle Ransome but ono Of her admir-
ers, once called her My Lady Disdain,
md Gabrielle was proud Of the title.
She treated most Of her lovers with un.
conditional disdain when she happened
tofeel in the mood for thus rewarding
their devotion and she felt aattered by
the natne which showed how well her
reckless power was recognized.
Poor Eugene Valny was made TO Il.
luAtrate the force aud the appropriate
ness ofithe title he had applied ; for on
him fell the full measure Of o disdain
which nearly crushed him.
Ithappened In this way. Gabrielle
was tho queen and goddess Of q certain
fashionable watering. place one summer,
and Eugene Valmy was there. She had
met him few times in New York, and
was pleased with him because he was
handsome and looked distingue and had
nFrench origin, and was, In short, a
personage somewhat out Of the COM
mon. But he was poor: a literary
scribe Of some sort or other, she hardly
knew what. Individually, Eugene Val
my was q versatile, brilliant creature,
who might possibly have made n name
for himself IL he could but have waited
and thrown his soul into some one kind
ofwork. But Valmy had not much OF
the "proud patience which the gods
love, pand he liked a bright and joyous
life andih made money as fast as he
could, and spent II, his most laborious
Efforts only Just enabling him to keep
decently within the circumference OF
that glittoring circle Of which My Lady
Disdain was the centre. Sometimes he
sighed o little over the flying years
which were bringing him nothing, and
he looked sadly forward into life, and
began to think that he must give up all
hope Of making o name, and to soy to
himself bitterly that there was nothing
inhim. But from the time when Ga
brielle Ransome singled him out for q
little favorable notice he forgot all
about this, and foated in an exquisite
blue ether OF love and hope and love-
pain, which is often SO like happiness
that the owner can not distinguish one
from tho other-until the catastrophe
came.
Gabrielle was really much attracted
by yaimy's brilliant talk and his vivid
alternations OF humor and thoughtful
ness; his varied experiences and knowl-
knowledge. Those Of her circle some
what looked down upon him for his
poverty, which made her take him up
oil the more graciously and eagerly.
Most women find something very sweet
in the patronizing Of some one; and
here was o handsome and. gifted young
man with q romantic sort Of poyerty-a
poverty which allows Of good clothes
and lid gloves and graceful ways-on
thewhole, quite delightful object OF
patronage. So Valmy found himself
during the season at this watering. place
distinguished in q manner which
surprised, enraptured, and almost be-
wildered him. Men with millions Of
dollars, men with names that echoed
from Maine to Florida, Europeans Of
title as well as fortune, struggled in
win for the favor which was spontane-
ously bestowed on Eugene Yalmy.
Probably vamly's head became q little
turned by the delicious novelty OF his
situation. Perhaps, on the other hand,
hewas not intoxicated or bewildered,
but merely had manhood enough to
think his profession and himself worthy
any woman's respect, and worthy to
compete with any rivalry Of wealth and
station. Anyhow, he one day made
wild love to Gabrielle Ransome,
aSked her to marry him, pressed
and besought her, and received
at last an angry vehement dis
dainful refusal. He learned by bit
terexperience how justly applied was
tho title ho had given her. She sent
him ftom her with scornful, stinging
words. =.
aBut what have you, my old one a'
Baid n gay young French friend, seizing
Eugene by,ths arm as the latter strobe,
withheld down and plunging steps,
along the strand after he had received
this scruol dismissal" what have you,
and whert, 20 YOU with such yisageY
Eugene stopped, and looked JOE 7
moment vHcnntIy ht nlhlu4u1A .ss
'eIhaye rot my sentence oil banish-
ment Alcide, he said at last with
ghasfly smile on his tremulous lips
" and i am going into exile"
"Pafdieul " the sympathetic French
man exclaimed II comprehend all'
md / pity you Of II. But lam not sur
prised- and you will survive, Come, Q
game Of billiardsg 49,.
Eugene shoolk his head, pressed hi
friends hand, and hurried away. lie
loft tho place TINT evening.
Can 1 explain why Gabrielle hansom. y, !
locked herself up in her room shortly
niior, and wept bitlcr and pasSSi.oni.I. J.
tcAra2 Can / explain why she felt mis-
cradle, and yet wholly unrepeninnt
Can explain why the place and the SO
cioiy around her seemed now nlterll
barren and hateful, aud yet were Valm'
back again "A her feet, ahu knew s1' s1,,'