The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-23

jealous of his smiles on other women. Il
could mean but one thing-love for Alexis
Wyllard, the deepest depths of misery for
John Rowland, the grand, great soul who
had been SO magDanimous, so trusting, who
was 30 true.
a month after the trio had met, Alexis
Wyiard told her, in courtly, gentlemanly
tones, with his pleasant, smiling eyes look
ing at her pale, beautiful face, that she had
III her power to make him the happiest in
the world-would she be his wife2 And Ma
bel, standing there in the dusk of tho dim
lighted parlors, with luxury and elegance
all around her, listening to the second pro-
posal Of marriage that had been told to her
girlish ears, could not help contrasting the
last with the first-Alexis Wyllard's calm.
passionless tones with John Howland's q
eager intensity, that swayed every power
OF her nature before his own strength. A
sudden trembling weakness came over her
IN the silence that lntervcned between his
question and her answer-a silence in which
mo voice told her that week previously
Mrs. Forcstan had told Alexis Wyllard that
II he cared for Maha!ict, fis n nted to marrl
|s9ery she~~:'illss.' naGwcr nee so nclAos6Sns ns
Nor did any subtle feeling warm,asts rilst
the strangeness of this calm, gentlonianly
oner, for all she mentally contrasted it
with the fire and ardrr of another. 1t never
occurred to her that Alexis WyIlard did not
love her for herself She had not the re-
motest idea of her golden value in his eyes;
she only realized, with thrill of excited
aellght, that for her would be forever gone
the old-tmc drudgery and fight with gen-
teel poverty over the epoch of turned
dresses and darned gloves. For she fully
In I,of
that, after all. 1t had not been genuine out
and-out love she had thought she felt for
him
She knew no'' that he had fascinated her.
infatuated her, and yet-yet, in the very
face of that knowledge, with almost sob
ON her lips as she thought of John How
lands face and voice as they looked that,
December night under the stars; as she re.
membercd that farewell embrace and the
nerce hot kiss he pressed on her quivering
lips, she deliberately made up her mind
that, as Alexis Wyllards wife, she would
continue in this revel of gayety and enjoy
ment, which without she felt she would die
OF stagnation. And so che raised her dark
eye anu smiled, and dropped them beneath
hcr White, buc-vcincd, silky. lashed lids
again, and Alexis Wyllard was answered:
anu ne kissed her lips and thanked her for
her priceless gift to HIM.
Twentyfour hours later, when the snark,e
OF diamond engagement ring was SO ne "
ana exciting to her, while she was in the
nrst Hush OF glory Of realizing all that her
future life would hold in the way of the
worldly lights that was sweet as honey on
her lips-twenty-four hours later when she
was sitting alone in Mrs. Florestan's par
lor, a servant showed John Rowland. in
all his glad heart in his eyes at sight of the
girl he loved, for sight OF whom he had
80 1amlshcd that he had to seek her, If only
Tor look On her sweet face.
Mabel, Mabel, don't blame me for
coming; could not stay awayl have
only come for glimpse of you, nv darl
ing. She grew white to the very lips.
'tJohn don't speak so-loud, she added.
as it it were an after thought "And and''
all the girls wonderful courage uproso
and she determined to tell him at once his
coming could avail him nothing-::John
you mustn't call me-such names. for-it
never can be. Look at this |"
She Almost thrust her engagement. ring
IN his face, her dark eyes wearing such a
look OF mingled woe, defiance, love, and
brave recklessness. He glanced from tho
diamond to her face with an expression so
unnaturally quiet that its dead white agony
terrified her.
"Oh, John, don'tI"
Keen blade separates flesh, and hurt her
nearly rs mortally. ':Answer me this
Have | lost you2"
She covered her face with her lev hands.
TIC saw her shivcr from head to foot.
"Answer me. Mabel"
Ills authority commanded her as though
she had been n hayward child arragned in
Judgment. .
eyes"
She whispered it with a gasp; she knew
now how she worshiped him, this lover
who had turned to judge.
"And answer me this: Did you ever
love mc?'
Ills voice quivercd; he was one of those
sell contained men who suffer long and
awfully before the world or the woman
they love knows Of it.
John Oh, Johnl''
1t was enough, She admitted the whole
OF her ambition. that all of her weakness. in
that impulsive cry.
Except that his face grew whittier, and
deeper undcrtone of agony crept into his
voice, he made no sign as he went on,
slowly, positively.
Yes. | sce-I understand and thank
God l am saved from making a woman my
wife who could ever have been so false to
herself as You have been" She heard him
leave the house; she heard some one in the
room which was only separated from the
parlors by portieres of gold brown velvet.
She sat there several minutes, cold, suffer-
Ing such dumb accuteness Of anguish as she
never had dreamed could con ncr-the
pain only woman who deliberately
crushed her best emotion, who has been
colby scorncd, can feel.
And then Mr.. Alexis Wyllard came in,
slowly, gracefully, quietly, as he always
dld, and walked up to her. And, had her
eyes not been covered with her cold fingers,
sho would have seen the stern, contemptu-
Gus look On his handsome facc-thls gen
tleman who did not hesitate moment in
proposing to marry her for her money
value, but Who, "Miss Vawn," kc said,
pleasantly, decidedly 81 regret to be oh
lged to tell you was very awkwardly
ifi,o fnI co,,