The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-07-16
WHY HE GOT THE WHITE FEATHER.

Mabel Vaughn walked the floor of her
chamber uneasily. Tue hour was late
the house and street silent. She had
partially disrobed, and the glOriou,
brown hair about which her youthful
admirers raVed and were forever quot
ing
"Let me tangle my hand in your hair, jeanette,
Let mo tangFe my hand in our har, my pet,
For the world to me,has no daintier sIgnt
Than your Drown hair shroudlng your shoul-
ders white.
AS l tangle my hand in your halr, Jeanette''-
swept down in long, thick waves. Her
feet were still encased In the snow satin
slippers she had worn at the ball, and
the sweet strains of tue last waltz were
y ct ringing in her ears. But her heart
was beating and brain Whirling TO
another measure than that of Strauss.
That very night seemed to hold her
fate within its hands. Two lovers had
bowed the knee to her beauLy-two
hearts had been proffered in exchange
for hers-two homes mad been offered
for her TO rule petted queen. Which
suould she choose?
"Either," she murmured-as she
paused in front ot the tuli length mirror
and gave mumentary glance Of pride
at the almost peerless face and figure
d
lion-give ME "a high place i'll The fash
ionabie World-my carriage and opera
box Both can equally boast Of birth
and blood-bolh have sufficient OF man
ly physique and good looks. Perhaps"
and sigh Of Weariness escaped from
lips red as red Wine, while the blood
danced more quickly through The veins,
and The throbDlng OF her bosom raised
higher the billoWs Of 81 ken har-"per-
maps had l never known but one l
should now stand untettered-should
nave been promised wife. But it is
not SO, and l must decide. And | think
| could love elther-love truly and deep
ly as soon as the other was banisned.
Now l am undecided, irresoIute, all at
sea. Yes, could love eitner-could love
any good and true man were lie not a
coward" and the curling lip told even
more than her words now bitterly She
naLed such thing. "rnat could never
aDide-a man and a coward! IL is the
most contemplate combination l know
OF IN tins world"
An hour Of walking produced no good
result. She mad gained noLning by the
tuought-must take more tlme--must
dream of the matter. But the beautiful
mead thai pressed The pillow was an un-
easy one, and it was long before the
velned lids yelled eyes that, had she
been possesSad OF spark OF coQuetry,
wOulu have made her dangerous 70 the
happiness OF mankind. BuL she was the
reverse. Both nature ana education had
made her aVelse TO the littleness of con-
Quests in which 80 many of her sex de.
npht-in Turing men to burn incense AT
ner shrine without a thought of return.
| q me what mIgut Sue would never stoop
| 80 low as tual.
| Morning found her still undecided.
The battle was scarcely fougut-certain-
| ly not won. There was an ANXIOUS look
EXPRESSION lingering around the mobile
mouth-a nervousness in her every ac.
tion that was foreign to her nature. But
she kept her own COunsels. Where
others would have sought the assistance
| of some dear friend she depended entire.
| ly upon herself. According to her vie
| of the matter, she was the one whose
| life happiness was at stake-the one
upon Wnum alone should rest the decis.
ion. and, besides, her view OF sucn an
alliance was altogether too exalted tu
permit it to become food ior gossip.
| lndispOsition was ready excuse tc
| DOS tpoue the time when an answer must
be given, and she used it, and not with
out truth. No human heart could thus
be tossed between two fires withou,
feeling its baleful effects. Then wo
mans privilege Of delay aided her, and
SO the days were spun out into weeks,
and yet the anxious lovers knew no.
wnat their fate would be.
But it was moral lmpossibility fol
any women 10 be thus situated and no
lean toward one side more than the 9th
err. The index OF the female heart Cal
not be kept without Wavering-thert
must be preference. And 80, uncUn
sciously almost, it was with Mabe
Vaughn. Had an instant decision Deel
/ forced upon her she would ilave said
"Charles Hamilton, l am thine.' Ye
somehow she could not have explained
why she hesitated before telling Ral
Palmer that she could never become nle
vile. 1t was one of the not to be ac
counted for mysteries OF Woman'S ma
ture, and no one knew it better than SHE
mo one could have more endeaVored Il
solve it as she sat one evening at LITTLE
gathering i'll company with both Of he
ADMIRERS, pOnuering the matter ant
anxious for some look or tone Tia
would tx her wandering heart.
At her right was Charles Hamilton
perfect almost in figure and face, viii
blue eyes, curling chestnut hair, 1al
complexion and frank, joviak expires
sion ever upon his lips. At her lett wa
Ray Palmer, dark haired, dark eyed, 0
dark complexion aud tar less of an atn
letlc.
TO Hamilton a stranger would haV
been the most attracted, but sec0n
thought would have forced upon him tn
conviction mat the friendship OF Paine
would be the most sincere and lasting
that he was formed OF truer stuff-Lha
he. was a man Of Inc deepest thought an
the most nerve. With the word Ham
llton had the most friends-was vote
he most brilliant talents; with thOs
who knew the two men intimately
Palmer stood the highest for learnin
and solidity OF mind. But the circle {
mis- acquaintance would never be a
large as that Of Hamilton. He was TO
reserved and retlcent-slrauk from
that looked through his mental lenses a
glitter and display.
Glmpses OF this often foated throug
the m4nd of Mabel Vaughn. Dancin
with Hamilton she was attracted; tall
ling with Palmer she was deeply int
esLed, and felt rather than feasone
what her future would be with either.
"Ov' she sighed when again il til
sancUlty OF her own chamber, "Lhat theI
= was some sterling test. Charley HAM
! ton wins me against myself. Vine
with him l feel subtle intoXication, /
II when inhaling too deeply the perfume (