Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-09-23
Despised and Rejected.

Desplsed and Rejected.
The glittering 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 10 lift the little tlossy
rings of dark halr that lay so careleSsly on
Mabel Nawn's forehead. Her lips were
slightly parted, heI pretty little scarlet
shawled head bent slightly in an attitude of
eager attenuon-attentiOn TO what John
Howland vas saving to her the last night
of her stay at home. 1t was in keeping with
his reserve of nature, his unseltishneSs, that
now, at the very last, he did not seek to
fetter the girl with promises he was
satisfied SIMPLY to assure her of his love for
her Mabel, listening with vague delight
and girlish pride, wondered whether it was
simply satisfaction she experienced to real
iZe that her dear old friend loved her, or
whether the sweet, strange curious feeling
was love.
Of his love for her there could be no
possible doubt. Every syllable Of his dec
laration, SO intense, yet quiet; SO thorough
ly unselfish, yet eager and true, bore its own
impress of truth and tenderness. "But
don't want you 10 promise yourself to me,
my darling, much as ! love you, much rs
want you for my own. 1t would be happi-
ness to Inc to know that you went forth
into the world as my betrothed wife-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 and their lives between
whom and me and the life that offer you,
You will be called upon to choose. If
did not love you so well, could not with
stand the temptation to seek to bind you;
but love you so much that | will be fair
with you, and wait for my answer until you
are sure that you love me alone, beyond
ALL"
She listened, awed by his grave yet i'm
passionate words.
Yes, it was best that they should wait,
until she had tasted the fascinating world
that would open on the morrow-only,
ct inding alone with him under the solemn,
silent stars, Mabel felt sure that the coming
years would make no difference.
His low, rapid tones went on, and he
suddenly took her IN his arms and kissed
her. ''AIy darling, come back to me as you
leave me--come back to put your hand in
mine and look in my eyes and say, in an
swer to the undying love you see there,
come when or how you wiA-say to me,
Yours, yours always and ever, rather than
all the world else :"
And holding her one instant so near his
thIobbing heart that its pulsatons almost
startled Eer, Mabel 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 would open to her.
1t was like fairy-land to the enraptured
girl, that enhancing succession of dissipa-
tions and delights called ''s0ciety." All
her beauty expanded into dangerously
glorious attTaCtlveuess of captivating charms
that set society wild-masculine society.
| Her Aunt Helen, the aristocratic Mrs
Philip Florestan, was bewilGered by the
! girls exquisite tact, grace and beauty
| Wherever Mabel had learned her elegance,
ease, careless e1Ilf)Tesse11le7lt that had made
her country friends a little afraid of her,
that made strangers regard her as proud
and reserved, that perfectly delighted Mrs.
FlOresJan-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 large house
| hold, wnere the fullest of plenty did not
reign, was lady of culture and elegance.
True, it 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-
cisely the angle q la mode. And only
several lessons, and then, after a month of
strict privacy, during which time Mrs
Florestan had made for Mable wardrobe
regardless of expense and gave out mystic
rIous hints of the beauty for whose sake she
was sending out her cards for grand en-
tertainment-then, on the mOmentOus night
of Mrs. Philip Florestan's ball, the gates
opened wide for Mabel's eager feet, and
she arose in the social sky star of the first
magnitude.
A fortnight later, she and Alexis WyllaTd
met, and then the actualities of life began
| for Mabel Vawn Heretofore the romance
had been pure and simple; now, with mr.
| Wyllard's handsome face, earnest eyes,
courtiy manner and delightful tones meet
ing her SO often, she realized that new
element had been introduced into her chal-
ice of nectar. Heretofore she had almost
| laughed to herself at the 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 hi1, just as he had
asked, after her proud, triumphal progress
through temptations that could not allure
her from her Loyalty, her steady faith; that
she would come off victorious, and lay her
laurel at her lovers feet and bid him take
her; tender and true. But-ah these
''buts,' that SO warp our humanity into
! faults, errors and sins-since Alexis WyI-
lard had crossed her path gradually had she
come to fear lest her march among the
booths of Vanity Fair would tot be SO
grandly disdainful and triumphant alter
all.