The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-03


haggard face; eyes unnaturally brilligct
with dark circles around their lids, CoIiC
that be Mabel Stuart, who but a few shor
hours since, had looked in that self
same mirror With face rosy with the
light OF love?
Threw myself upon q couch and tried
to cry-no tears would come, but the
thoughts crowded upon my brain till
feared should go mad. Presently | be-
came obliyious Of everything, and fell into
q heavy, dreamless sleep.
Twas aroused suddenly by kiss; and
starting mp, beheld Helen Egerton bend
ing over me. With o cry pushed hel
from me.
"Why are you here, demanded2',
81? WHAT'S the matter, Nabel?" and
the tearful, innocente yessoughtm mine with
their honest, terrified glance.
pressed my hand to my head. Could
I be mistaken? Was Il all horrid
dream2 Hooked W quickly, and caught
an exultant CLEAN in the clear orbs. With
q mighty effort controlled myself.
"Sit down" said, calmly.
She took the seat motioned her ID, q
little paler than usual, and her eyes fell as
they met mine bent upon her.
"Helcn," / began, firmly, "from this
time forth We are strangers"
She sprang up and came toward me.
"You are IN admirable actress" said,
sneeringly. "Tou would make your for.
tune on the stage"
She opened her lips 10 speak.
"Hush" ] exclaimed, 6erCely, "and
listen TO me. You were my friend; low.
ed you; would almost have died to spare
you pain; Heaven only knows what ]
would have done for you"
"And l." she said, coming toward me
again-"am not your friend?"
"You may spare yourself any un-
necessary falsehoods," l said In a
hard voice. 81 was at the masquerade
last night"
The color fled from her face, leaving it
almost as white as my own.
"Perhaps you will tell me-" | went on,
keeping my eyes fixed pitilessly on her,
"that the piece Of acting Witnessed in
the conservatory was part OF the pro-
grammeP" And l actually laughed.
"Oh, it was vastly well played" l con.
tinued, "And 1-poor dupe-looked in
upon the drama Of THE Loan OF Lover
looked on, while the actors, who were
nearest to my heart, were deliberately
wrecking every hope OF happiness | had
ia the world. Ay, truly you are my
friend"
Have you seen Philip" she said,
family, after pause.
l caught her by the arm.
Philip l said, augrily, "what right
have you to call him Philip" Then,
loosing my grasp, bowed mockingly.
II beg your pardon, you have every right
in the world. No, have not seen him,
but you need not fear; give you my
blessing. You can go!" and | pointed 10
the door.
:s:Without word she left the room.
Scarcely ten minutes elapsed when
card was brought me with "Philip Law.
renee" engraved on It's snowy surface.
The clock struck twelve. It brought back
the past night so wildly that feeling Of
faintness came over me; but thrusting 1t
bravcly aside, descended to the library,
where he always went. entered noise.
lessly. He had in his hand picture OF
himself. which had teen lying GU the ia.
BILE, and was contemplating it.
"This was my lido" commenced,
without any preliminary words"
"Was? Is, | hope" he replied, turning
toward me.
"Ah," I said, taking the picture from
him, aud not noticing his outstretched
hand. "Yes, it was my idol; now-"I
let the picture fall-it was an ivory type
and break into dozen pieces.
"Why, Mabel, what do you meant" he
exclaimed in establishment.
"This," said, looking straight in his
face. "rhat my IDOLS broken. thought
to give you a surprise last night" | con-
tinued, presently, "and went to the ball;
there tho tables were turned very unex.
pectedly, and was the one surprised.
You did not know there were spectators
when the little scene was enacted In the
conservatory, but there were two-Mr.
Seymour, at whose love for me you have
so often laughed-and myself"
"Mabel-" began Philip in an expostu.
lating voice.
"Do not say anything" interrupted,
sadly. sit would do no good. Here is
your ring, may you be happy, and may
your new love prove as true as your old"
l was trembling in every limb, but he
saw by my face that would hear moth
ing. Still he ventured to say, his voice =
that voice which had been such music to
my ear-broken with emotion
"Mabel, ! may have been false, but l
loved YOU"
Iput up my hand aud shook my head.
"hlen do not show their love in that
manner. You had better go; we cannot
mend matters, You do not wish it,
neither do l."
He held out his hand I did not touch It,
but looked at him quietly. He turned
and left me in silence. heard the door
close alter him, and it seemed as II 1t had
shut out life, and light and love forever.
One year passed. My father had been
informed that my engagement had been
broken, but thinking I had my own way
with everybody, as had with him, con.
Guided that It was my own fault, and
troubled himself no moro about It.
So the year dragged YEARLY on; the
wear which saw the marriage OF Helen
Egerton and Philip Lawrence, and made
me the betrothed wife Of Henry Seymour,
whose untiring kindness won my heart,
not quite so fresh as 1t once was, nor per-
haps so deeply loving, but Just as honest
and just as true.
Couldn't Cut II Short,