The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-03-06

Die mistake. her supposed prince OF
affluence was a wretched, depraved i'm
postor, and shortly after that marriage
from which she had hoped to gain such
grandeur and prestige he was brought
home to her dying from wounds that
had been dealt him in drunken brawl.
At times 1 can fancy her pale and lone
ly and sorrowful, repentant and chas-
tened, better woman, perhaps, be-
cause she has seen the sin she deplores
in all its ugliness, and regretting moth
ing except wronging love that might
have kept her worthy of il. If 1 should
ever find her like that, Wycroft, be-
lieve l should take her back to my af-
fections forgiven"
"Then you would be worthy of each
other" returned Frank Wycroft. speak
ing with the iRtensest scorn. "Really
you are q miracle of cynicism, senti-
ment and inconsistency. / think /
should prefer for the sake of all good
women to pardon one bad, than to for
give her because thought all others no
better than she."
Don't sermonize, Frank" inter-
posed the other;" "I have not your
blind faith that devoutly hope may
never be shaken as mine has been. You
believe that the lady of your affections
is but little lower than the angels, no
doubt, but have you never heard that
ANGELS turn demons when tempted to fall,
Nectar by keeping may change into gall,
Goodness untried Is no goodness at allf"
"Your quotation is very apropos to
the conversation" laughed Frank; "al-
though it might offend me had you seen
the lady who 1 suppose is expecting
me. Are you coming, Wilmuthp''
An hour later they entered a pretty
house where Wycroft's bethrothed re-
sided, and were admitted to the parlor,
where lady was waiting.
She who rose to meet them was a
slim, graceful woman, with handsome
blue eyes and tawny, curly hair. She
was dressed in plain black silk; dainty
white lace scarf was arranged about her
shoulders; and she wore a string of
pearls about her neck and white rose
in her hair.
Dulce-Miss Gordon allow me''-
began her lover, and then abruptly
stopped.
The face of the fair woman had
blanched as white as the rose in her
hair, the fan of pearl and lace dropped
from her little shaking hands, and the
childish, charming eyes were full of
pain and terror, and something very
akin to shame.
Wilmuth-cruel Wilmuth," laugh
ed-a low, bitter laugh-at which
Wycroft started amazed and offended.
pardon me, Frank" he said, in
stantly remorseful for his discourtesy;
81 have met Miss Gordon before-she
is the Beatrix of whom l told YOU"
"Impossibler' exclaimed Wycroft,
IL =
unseemly. Miss Gordon was never
Wilmuth that although you may re-
semble. yet you are not the person he
has been pleased to call BedtriI."
The heavy, dark lashes dropped; the
most lovely cheeks grew scarlet; she
duplicity too evident to be denied.
81 am answered by your silence,
Miss Gordon" he resumed presently
in a firm, relentless voice. "Allow
me to bid you good day, and goodbye
forever"
She made no effort to detain him.
She knew that she had lost him utterly,
but if she cared she made no sign.
As Wilmuth followed his friend he
turned upon her q curious look of re-
gret and disdain.
"Wycroft. l am half sorry for my
rudeness," he affirmed very seriously,
as they went away together. Il hope
you will bear me no i'll will"
1 credit you with more frankness
than civility," returned his companion,
rather grufiy, "You could have re-
served your information until our call
would be ended. However, l am not
disposed to be angry with you. I am
glad l heard the truth at time when
she could not deny It."
" But you will forgive her, Frank"
pursued his friend. Perhaps she
loves YOU"
"A woman never deceives the man
she loves" was the stern answer
"Miss Gordon deliberately allowed me
to think her not q widow. You must
not think suffer, Wilmuth, for / do
not. have no feeling for her what
ever, either of anger or tenderness.
She has passed as absolutely out of my
life as If had never known her. 1t
was my riches she wanted-not me; of
that I am convinced. We will not
speak OF. her again, if you please"
"I wish could have your strength
of resolution" commented Wilmuth.
ruefully.
The slightest shadow of a sneer cross
ed Wycroft's handsome lips.
| "They are worthy of each other" :"
he thought. Some months after, Will
muth met Dulce Gordon again. She
looked at him with the shy, innocent
glance he remembered SO we'll, and
blushed so prettily, as if they had part
ed lovers but an hour before, and in an
instant the anger he had held against
her was gone. Unwomanly and un-
kind as she had been, he was weak
enough to love her still. and to pardon
her freely and fully. If she had not
been q good woman, ne was just the
sort of q man who, because he could
not help loving her, was prone to be-
lieve that others were no better than
she; besides he knew that in spite of
her faults and falsity, the small affec-
ton she was capable of feeling was
fixed on him.
She was Winning and clever, and her
little affected airs and graces pleased
him; so when the kittenish creature
came shyly to his side, and nesting
her velvety hand in his willing palm.
begged him, with tears in her childish
eye, to please not think too badly OF
her now when she was so sorry because
she had made him suffer SO, he saw
none of Topsy's confession of wicked
ness in the charmingly meek acknowl-
edgment, and he took her in his arms
and gave her the kiss of pardon and
| reconciliation.
They were married shortly after, and
perhaps lived as peaceably and happily
as most ordinary welded people do.
Frank Wycroft laughed heartily
| when he heard of the event
Worthy of each other" was the
very significant comment.-N. Y. Dis
patch.
How Men Get Ahead.
A SON of Maine who went West in
earlv vouth. and has here attained