Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-11-27

NnTOuSn the TellTelnenJ OF SO many years,
and once again seek the gay world he had
| renounced.
A month later and Ethel Mayne's lowell
ness had taken society by storm. To no
wish had her doting father said, and in the
beautiful home he had provided for her,
with all the wonderful accessories of toilet
he had given her with lavish hand, she
shone forth peerless.
Save to her father, for whom she wears
her old radient smile, the girl is an enigma
TO all-even horself-and she wonders at
the icy Coldness which has frozen round her
heart, causing an Indifference to all things.
Yet coldneSS gives way To burning heat, a
heat which seems To scorCh the very heart
blood and spurge upward in mad tamult,
then reccde; leaving her well nigh turned to
stone, as her eye rests upon paragraph in
tina Post, which confirms her most reckless
| fears
1--WE hear that Miss Annie Anstay,
daughter of l.. ID. Anstay, Esq, is shortly
to be led to the altar by Mr.. Ernest Mel
wood"
This was all, vet enough He had called
several times since she had como to the
city, but she had invariably refused to see
hm.
\ rumor of tins had reached her-a ru-
NOR now confirmed-but which had told
her that the engagement had existed even
in halcyon days he had caused her heart s
awakening.
She had served to pass away the time
then. This was all, and what to her had
been the coloring of the rainbow, was in
his eyes but painted tints, to be washed
out by her tears.
Tears, Should she ever weep again?
| Would such a heaveu-suCh mercy be Civ
en- to cool those burning lids? Or, should
one scalding drop force its way upward,
was he worth its fallingl No-a thousand
times no.
And a scornful smile played roond the
beautiful mouth, as drawing her escritoire
toward her, she put into execution a sud-
den determination, and penned the follow
ing lines:
MY Dear Mr.. Melwood:-I was very
sorry to have been so engaged when you
last called, that | was obliged to deny my
self the pleasure of meeting you. This
evening | shall be at home and alone, and
if you have no other engagement, shall
hope to see you. Yours,
''ETnEL MAYNE."
The look of astonishment which over
spread Ernest Melwood's handsome face
grew INTO triumphant smile as he refold-
cd the dainty note, with the crest he had
instantly recognized upon the seal placing
il carefully within an inner pocket and
registering the determination to break all
ether engagements and renew his summers
pleading.
The woman he was to marry had never
found her way into these depths that Ethel
Mayne's blue eyes had penetrated, for, as
he could love he had loved her.
He little thought that in her young beau
" and loving woman's nature, she could
have offered him far richer dover than
that for which he bartered his manhood and
his noble better self.
Her heiress-ship had been all unknown
to him, until lately rImors of her fathers
wealth had reached him-rumors which
their luxurious lavish style of livingproved
truth-and as he assembled the steps of their
elegant mansion, at the appointed time, he
bit his lip in inward rage, while an unac-
knowledged resolve came into his heart
that it should not yet be too late.
Never, never was Ethel Mavne as raw
ishingly, as dangerously lovely as when she
entered her fathers drawing rooms that
night to greet her recreant lover.
Was this, indeed, the girl, he asked him
self, from whom he had parted scarce six
months ago; who, with an air of quiet self
possession, almost hautiness, touched and
dropped his outstretched hand, as she sank
into fdutcuii, with all her old wonderful
grace, saying
''This is almost an unexpected pleasure,
Mr. Melwood, as hardly hoped the pres
sure Of your engagements would permit a
personal answer to my summons. In fact,
| scarcely know why | sent for you, save that
| was alone this evening and having some
what a dread of eraraui, thought, perhaps,
you would break its potent SPELL"
''Your request Miss Mayne, was more
potent than another's command. Indeed,
had my engagements been far more press
ing, you would still have seen me here"
''Ah, engagements are made but to be
broken! Is it not so? If one suffers the
other goes unscathed, and do not much
believe in suffering as the world is to-day
If we cry even for the moon, somebody
will be good enough to get us an artificial
one, which does just as well as the real
thing nowadays.
''Perhaps if one must deal in generalites,
but, to those who have lived in the light
and sweetness of young moon on sum-
mers night, hardly think artificial means
would be the same"
''Perhaps not, if one is young oneself,
with faith untarnished in a future But
after all, prefer gaslight, for though pos
sessing less romance, it is not troubled at
inauspicious times with dark clouds cross
ting its surface, leaving you suddenly in
utter darkness. By-the-way, Mr.. Melwood
may congratulate you?"
Upon what, Miss Mayne?"
But the mans face paled and his voice
trembled as he asked the question.
''Upon what? Certainly a congratula-
tion to man few weeks previous to his
marriage may pass unchallenged, And
when society is to lose so shining a light as
Mr.. Melwood, it surety may congratulate
him upon his gain, even though it prove its
loss."
Bitter-sweet, icely-cutting, was every
word as it fell from the girls lips; and they
stung the man before her, even through the
coat of mail in which he wrapped himself
-stung and drove him to madness, while
her wonderful beauty awakened in him the
old passion in irresistible force.
''Hush, Ethel For heavens sake, hush
Not from your lips can | hear these idle
words Oh darling if You have forgotten