Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-04-30
,be social skkv q star Of the first magni.

".
delightful tones meeting her so often.
she realized that o new element had
been introduced into her chalice OF
nectar. Heretofore she had almost
laughed to herself Mt the idea of any
thing, any one, coming between her and
John Rowland. Heretofore she had
never had but one thought regarding
him, and that was Of her return TO him,
Just as he had asked, after her proud,
triumphal progress through temptations
that could not allure her from her 10y
atty, her steady faith; that she would
come of victorious, 10 lay her laurel
crown nj her lovers feet and bid him
take her; tender and true. But-asl
these "buts," that 80 warp our human
ity into faults, errors and sins-since
Alexis Wyllard had crossed her path
gradually had she come TO fear lest her
march among the booths OF Vanity Fair
would not be 40 grandly disdainful and
triumphant after all.
II was not much wonder Mabel was
fascinated by this man. He had always
been 81 favorite with women, and to Ma
bel, from becoming hi4 admirer, she
grew TO be eager for his coming, heart
sick ut his tarrying, jealous Of his smiles
on other women. IT could mean but
one thing love for Alexis Wyllard, the
deepest depths of misery for John How
land, the grand, great soul who had
been 30 magnanimous, 20 trusting, who
was 70 true.
A month after the trio had nj /, Alex.
is Wyllard told her, in courtly, gentle
manly tones, with his pleasant, smiling
eyes looking ut her pale, beautiful face,
that she had in her power TO make him
the happest in the world would she
be his wife? And Mabel, standing in
the dusk of the dim.lighted parors,
with luxury and elegance all around
her, listening to the second proposal Of
marriage that had been told 10 her girl.
ish ears, could not help contrasting the
last with the lirst--Alexis Wyllard's
calm, paasionless tones with John How
lands eager intensity, that swayed every
power Of her nature before his own
strength A sudden trembling weak
ness came over her in the silence that
interviewed between his question and
her nnswer-a silence IN which no voice
told her that week previously Mrs.
Florostan had told Alexis Wyllard that
il be cared for Mabel and wanted to
marry her, she would dover her mag
nilicently. Nor did any subtle feeling
warn her against the strangeness of
this calm, gentlcmanly offer, for all she
mentally contrasted it with the fire and
ardor Of another. II never occurred to
her that Alexis Wyllard did not love
her for herself. She had not the re-
hottest idea of her golden value IN his
eyes; she only realized, with n thrill OF
excited delight, that for her would be
forever gone the old-time drudgery and
fight with genteel poverty over the
epoch of turned dresses and darned
gloves. For she fully comprehended,
IN that moment of waiting, that, after
oil, il had not been genuine ont-and-
ont love she had thought she felt for
him,
She knew now that he bad fascinated
her, infatuated her, and yet--yet, in the
very face of that knowledge, with nj.
most u sob on her lips as Abe thought
of John Howland's fueo and voice rs
they looked that December night under
the stars; as she remembered that fare
we'll embrace and the fierce hot kiss he
pressed on her quiyering lips, she DELHI
erately made up her mind that, rs Alex
is Wyllard's wife, she would continue
in tins reyel OF gayety and enjoyment,
without which she felt she would die of
stngnation. And 80 she raised her dark
eye and smiled, and dropped them be-
meath her white, blue.veined, silky.lash-
ed lids again, and Alexis Wyllard was
answered; and no kissed her lips and
thanked her for her priceless gift to
him.
Twontyfour hours later, when the
sparkle of n diamond engagement ring
was 40 new and exciting to her, while
she was in the first flush Of glory of re.
al2ing all that her future life would
hold IN the way Of the worldly lights
that was sweet AZ honey ON her lips
twenty.four hours later when she was
sitting alone in Mrs. Flofestan's parlor,
u servant showed John Rowland in, all
his glad heart in his eyes Mt sight of the
girl he loved, for II sight of whom he
had 30 famished that he had to seek
her, il only for look on her sweet
face.
mabel, Mabel, don't blame me for
coming; | could not stay away
have only come for II glimpse of you,
my darling" Shogrew white 10 the very
| lips.
"John don't speak so--loud," she
added, ms If il were an after thought
and md'-all the girls wonderful
courage uprose, and she determined to
tell him Mt once his coming could avail
him nothing-"John, you mustn't call
me--such names, fort never can be,
Look 1T thism
She almost thrust her engagement
ring in his face, her dark eyes wear.
ing such u look of mingled woe, def
ancc love, and brave recklessness. He
glanced from the diamond to her face
with an expression 80 unnaturally
quiet that lts dead-white agony terrified
her.
ooh, John, dou'th
Ills low, steady tones interrupted her
rs II keen blade separates flesh, and
hurt her nearly ~ MORALLY. Answer
me this: Have lost youPe
| She covered her face with her lev