Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-07-18
Ninton'S Confession.
BY JENNY WREN.

BY JENNY WREN.
Eyes, Fred, a wife with mo"ey is now
become IL necessary evil. Therefore
behold your humble servant prepared
TO turn Benedick. Nay, more-I have
fouad a WIFE,
Fonnl wife? You are surely jok
ing! You have hot the look Of married
man.
"Nor am |. You dragged the fullest
meaning on: of my words. | merely
meant to say that know the young
lady whom / intend shall figure as Mrs
Ninton Romainc. \ pretty name,
rather-is it not:-Gnd not such bad
looking possessor OF the title, ch? But
a truce to joking. Mabel Hathaway is
at present IN this very hotel and it is
Mabel Hathaway whom ] have come
down here to marry. BY Jove bate
the word and hate the sentiment but
what else is to be done? ain in no end
of debt and trouble besides. | WAS
brought up with the idea that an heir
ess WAS my destination, and why should
l swcrve now from the path OF duty? >
"Ninton, cid fellow. this talk does
ten our college days, when, between
the putfs of our cigars, We two would
discuss love and its probabilities, while
between us and the pages OF our
Euclid pretty faces were always fit
ting, to the serious detriment Of the
lines?"
Eyes, / remember" slowly yawned
the other, leaning laZily back in his
chair, and sending a great puff of smoke
through the open window. But I put
away all that nonsense when put away
Euclid One hears of falling in love.
I don't think it is a practical idea. But
to return. You have been in the field
some time. Do you know Miss Hatha
way, or must ! look elsewhere for an
introduction?
Yes, know her, but it would be a
little too bad if, with your handsome
face and winning ways, you stole the
prize to whom other men with less at
fractions could offer heart"
What! sentimental, Fred? Am APP
preaching yoar manor? Ii SO, will
renounce my plans, and take the earliest
train out of temptation tomorrow"
Th t will be unnecessary, laugh
ingly retorted his friend. - have
already succumbed to another fortress !;
but"
"No butts Fred. Give me the in
PRODUCTION; or, if you won't, doubtless
some one else will. You don't suppose,
if marry her, / would treat her like
brute, do you? No! No queen should
receive greater homage. Good night,
old fellow Think it over"
And Fred Salisbury did think it
over, remembering the great, noble
heart he knew Vinton Romano to pos
sess-the wonderful tenderness he had
seen him show even wounded dog
the princely generosity with which the
mans nature was replete; but failed to
reconcile it with his outspoken inten-
ton to marry for money.
But some one else was thinking it all
over, too-some one to whose ears the
spoken words had been waited through
her open window, on the clouds of to-
bacco smoke the wind had brought her
some one on whose cheeks the bright
scarlet burned, and whose eyes flashed,
as she heard all-no less a some one
than Mabel Hathaway herself. She had
not meant TO listen, but each word had
been borne to her, clear and distinct.
on the evening air, as she sat, still in
her evening dress, flowers in her hair,
and Jewels cleaning on her throat, a
rarely pretty picture in the moonlight.
My money? Is it TO be always my
money" she thought, tears springing
to the dark eyes she would have scorned
any but the moon to see. "Other girls
are loved for themselyes-is no man TO
love me?"
And. with this thought ringing its
changes, she at last laid her tired head
upon her pillow to find forgetfulness.
Had she sought it in vain?
Certainly, no trace Of discontinue or
indignation appeared when. the next
morning, her friend, Mr.. Salisbury.
brought up Mr.. Romano to present
Nina permission she had graciously
accorded but few moments before.
1t was the beginning, the sounding
OF the tocsin for the fray but none OF
the gay crowd who made up the num.
Der OF pleasure seekers at the mountain
retreat knew or dreamed that ,hey saw
in the girl, with her exquisite beauty,
lifting her eyes to her com panion, with
such melting softness in their dark. blue
depths. and III the man, tall and Young
and handsome, looking down upon her
while he talked or, with the wonderful
fascination of manner nature had len,
him-two combatants, for the first time
met face to face. Who should gain the
victory?
Days merged into weeks, and Dame
Rnmor declared that Vinton domaine
had won the seasons prize. But some.
how, in these later days, war was
raging IN the mans soul. What had
he done? How small, and mean. and
contemplate his purpose looked, now
that these weeks Lad taught him a les
son he had not meant to learn-the les.
son that the heart at which he had