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

Despised and RejectGve.
The glitterlng myriads of December's
stars were shining in the dark blue above.
The keen frosty air was calm, with not even
enough breeze in it to lift the little flossy
rings OF dark halr that lay so carelessly on
Mabe! Vawn's forehead. Her lips were
slightly parted. he1 pretty little scarlet
shawled head bent slghtly In an attitude of
eager attenllon-attention to what John
Howland was saying to her the last night
OF her stay at home 1t was in keeping with
his reserve of nature, his unselhshness, that
now, at the very last, he did not seek to
letter the girl with promises-that he was
satisfied SIMPLY to assure her of his love for
her Mabel, listening with vague delight
and girlish pride, wondered whether il was
simply satisfaction she experienced to real
lze that her dear old friend loved her. or
whether the sweet, strange, curious feeling
waa love.
VI his love for her there could he no
posslDle doubt. Every syllable Of his dec
,aratlon, so Intense, yet quiet; 50 thorough
~ uhselrsh, yet eager and true, bore its own
impress or truth and tenderness s.But r
uont want you to promise yourself to me-
my darling, much as l love you, much az I
want you for my own. 1t would be happi
ness to me to know that you went forth
into the world as my bctrothcd wifc-the
next sweetest joy to knowing you really
were my wife-but for your sake, Mabel
darling, will ask no promise from YOU
until you have seen other men who will no
doubt offer you much more, except love.
than can -men and their lives between
whom and me and the life that offer YOU.
You will be called upon to choose. If I
did not love you so well, could not with
stand the temptation to seek to bind YOU
but love you 80 much that will be fair
Win you, and wait for my answer until you
are sure that you love mo alone, beyond
ALL" va"
She listened, awcd by his grave vet i'm
passionate words.
Yes. it was best that they should wait,
until she had tasted the fascinating world
mat would open on the morrow-only,
Standing alone with him under the solemn,
silent stars, Mabel felt sure that the coming
years would make no difference.
Ills low, rapid tones went on, and lie
suddenly took her in his arms and kissed
her. My darling, come back to me as YOU
leave me--come back to put your hand in
pine and Look In my eyes and say, in an
swer to the undying love you see there,
come when OR how you wil-say to me.
Yours, yours always and ever, rather than
all the world elsel"
And holding. her one instant so near his
throbbing heart that it's pulsations almost
startled her, Mattel took and gave her fare
well kiss under the brilliant December stars
that tomorrow night would shine on him.
lonely, waiting-on her, treading the rose
strewn path that woul>' open to her
1t was like fairy-lanl to the enraptured
girl, that enhancing succession of dissipa-
tions and delights called ''society." All
her beauty expanded into dangerously
glorious attractiveness of captivating charms
that set society wild-masculine society.
her Aunt Helen, the aristocratic Mrs.
fhihp Florestan, was bewildercd by the
girls exquisite tact, grace and beauty.
wherever Mabel had learned her elegance,
ease, careless e'1e1o''esseanent that had made
her country friends little afraid of her.
That made strangers regard her as proud
and reserved, that perfectly delighted Mrs.
florestan--that august lady could not
imagine. She only saw for herself that her
brothers child, brought up to assist in the
manifold and mental duties of a large house.
hold, whore the fullest of plenty did not
Ietst, ,ss'5tis lady of culture and elegance.
true, 1t needed several lessons to teach
Mabel better style In which to sing her
songs, In which to improve her touch on
the piano, before she could manage her
train, and toy with her fan and bow pre-
cisoly the angle a la mode. Aud only
several lessons, and then, after month of
STRICT privacy, during which time Mrs
F'lorestan had made for Mable n wardrobe
regardless OF expense and gave out mystic
rions hints of the beauty for whose sake she
was sending out her cards for grand en-
tertainment-thcn,o on the momentous night
OF Mrs. Philip Florestan's ball, the gates
opened wide FOR Mabcl's eager feet, and
she arose in tho social sky star of the first
magnitude
a fortnight later, she and Alexis Wyllard
met, and then the act,lalitics of life beuan
Tor Mabel VaHn. Heretofore the 1omance
had been pure and simple now. with hIr,
Wyllard's handsome fpce, earnest ewes.
conrtly manner and delightful tones meet
ing her 80 often, she reslizcd that a now
element had been introduced into her chal-
ice Of nectar. heretofore she had almost
laughed to herself at tho idea of anything.
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 hi.., lust as no had
sskcd, after her. proud, triumphal progress
( through temptations that could not allure
her from her loyalty her steady faith that
she would come off victorious, aud lay her
laurel at her lovers feet and bid him take
her; tender and true. But--ah these
puts, that SO warp our humanity into
faults, errors and sins-sincc Alexis Wyl-
lard had crossed her path gradually had she