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

in its true light. I have as good a
right to demand you to stop such con.
duct as you would have to demand the
same OF me. I think you have been
thoughtless, and am willing to let oil
ill-teeling drop provided you do as I ask
"And if I do not?" demanded Belle,
huughtily. -Ht 4,1l
"Then you may consider that all is
over between 1ls, Ralph replied.
every we'll, answered Belle 2" here
is youfring, end-good-merning."r ~
Ralph, 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. He had had a
lucky escape }#
9JBelie watched him go withvery angry
eyes. he had told her the truth and
she had acknowledged it. But she
wasnt going to give up in that way.
She had too much 6 ''spiritJ" she told
herself, Too much foolish, silly obsti-
macy would have hit it. siHe'il come
around Ia time" she said. "He'n get
over this When De Vaux goes away.
I'm not going to be tied up to any man
SStSAS l. III 1ad11lCus l. IL lou Q1m KQOW
| that he can't bend me around his little
| finger"
The summer went by. Ralph didn't
"come around" as Belle had expeoted
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 as ever. She concluded
he was wearing mask" People with
wounded hearts usually die in novels,
Belle recollected.
Capt. DE VauX 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, coldly and politely. =
He's obstinate declared Belle. "IIl
have to ask him to forgive me, and then
-" She confidently expected that that
would bring him to terms.
One evening, at q party, she tried her
plan. They were in the conservatory.
She was looking pale and interesting
at least she thought SO. Ralph didn't
seem TO think much about it. Is
-..a..l va been WanEpe.ta say somathino
to you for n long time, sh9 said, put
ting her handkerchief to. her eyes, ST
see nov how thoughtless- sho couldn't
bear to say how foolish and silly
how tloughtless was, and I'ra sorry
that I wounded your feelings so. Ralph.
If you could forgive mo and bo my
friend still if nothing more"
She believed that would fetch him.
at least it usually did in romances.
"Im perfectly willing to be your
friend, if you want NO." answered
Ralph, feeling desire to laugh. He
understood her perfectly. He only won
dered how he could have been foolish
enough to fancy her.
II do want you to-" said Belle,
brokenly. elf you only knew how
thoughtless conduct, Ralph"-with
corner of her eye to see if he was about
ring from my finger, Ralph, SO much"
stroke Of Bellies. "It never fitted you
exactly; if you have noticed. it fits
Allie Brayton's finger beautifully"
'Belle turned pale. She understood
what Ralph meant. He had been with
Miss BrNyton q good deal lately but she
hadn't supposed that he thought of
marrying her.
"You don't mean to suy" she
stammered.
"That I am engaged to Miss Bray
ton? Yes, do" answered Ralph. 81
shall be pleased to see you and Capt.
De Vaux Mt the wedding, which takes
place on Christmas"
Belle burst into tears. She was never
30 vexed and angry before. The affair
hadn't turned out at all as such affairs
always did in novels. She was mad and
disgusted and mortified.
You're wretch" she sobbed.
"You wouldn't care if you broke my
heart. Oil Oh r.
"Sha'n't I 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.-Rural NeU Yorker.
80 Ona of tho boua i,,okthafora rot nv,