The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-03-20

IN its true light. have as good a
right to demand you to stop such con-
duct as you would have to demand the
same of me. / think you have been
thoughtless. and am willing to let all
ill-feoling drop provided you do as ask
you TO-"
"And il do not 2" demanded Belle,
haughtily.
"Then you may consider that all is
over between us, Ralph replied.
Every well, answered Belle; "here
ls your ring, nnd-good-
kalph took the ring and bowed him
self out, feeling quite as much relieved
as disappointed. He saw that she was
not the woman he wanted. She could
never make him happy. Hc had had q
lucky escape.
Belle watched him go with very angry
eyes. he had told her the truth and
she had acknowledged it. But she
wasn't going TO give up in that way.
She had too much "spirit," she told
macy would have hit it. "He'Il come
around in time," she said. "HeII get
over this when De Vaux goes away.
I'm not going to be tied up to any man
before I'm married. I'll let him know
that he can't bend me around his little
finger"
The summer went by. Ralph didn't
"come around" rs Belle had expected
he would. He met her in society and
never showed any signs of the wound
she was foolish enough to think she had
given him. He seemed to enjoy life
quite the same rs ever. She concluded
he was wearing mask" People with
wounded hearts usually die in novels.
Belle recollected.
Capt. He VauN went away, and then
Belle was confident that Ralph would
return to his allegiance, but he didn't
seem inclined.
He's waiting for me to give him
some encouragement, most likely"
Belle thought, and she straightway
proceeded to encourage him by making,
or trying to make, herself very fascinat.
ing and agreeable. But Ralph wouldn't
be fascinated. He repelled all her ad-
vances, coldlv and politely
"He's obstinate declared Belle. s.I'll
have to ask him to forgive me, and then
-" She confidently expected that that
would bring him to terms.
One evening, at party, she tried ller
plan. They were in the conservatory.
She was looking pale and interesting.
At least she thought so. Ralph didn't
seem 10 think much about it.
~ En- heen Iva Wantingto say say something sn 4
ting her handkerchief to her oyes, "I|
see now how thoughtlcss--"s she couldn't
bear to say how foolish and silly
how tlloughtlcss J. was, and I'm sorry
that l wounded your feelings So Ralph.
II you could forgive mo and be my
friend still if nothing moro"
She believed that would fetch him.
At least it usually did in romanccs.
"Im perfectly willing to be your
friend, if you want me" answered
Ralph, feeling a desire to laugh. He
understood her perfectly. He only won
dered how he could have been foolish
enough to fancy her.
81 do want you to-" said Belle,
brokcnly. eff you only knew how
many times 1 have regretted my
thoughttess conduct, Ralph'-with
sorrowful sigh and gl;lnco out of the
corner of her eye to see if lie was about
to capitulate. "I-I've missed your
ring from my finger, Ralph, so much"
"Ah?" Ralph had to smile at that
stroke of Bellies. cit never fitted you
exactly if yom have noticed. it fits
Allie Brayton's finger beautifully"
''Belle turned pale. Sho understood
what Ralph meant. He had been with
Miss Breyton good deal lntely but she
hadn't supposed that he thought of
marrying her.
You don't msnn to Guy" she
stammered.
"Thnt I am engaged to- Miss Bray
ton? Yes, do, answered Ralph. 81
shall be pleased to see you and Capt.
De Vaux at the wedding, which takes
place on Christmas"
Belle burst into tears. She was never
SO vexed and angry before. The affair
hadn't turned out at all as snch affairs
always did in novels. She was mad and
disgusted and mortified.
You're wretch u she sObbed.
"You wouldn't care if you broke my
heart. Oh! Oh"
"Sha'n't call some one ?" suggested
Ralph, smiling cruelty.
Belle concluded she wouldn't faint
then but postponed that demonstration
of the state of her feelings for an in
definite period. .-Rnrai Ne1V Yorker.