The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-12-23

and-by, Mabel"
Either the triumph which lurked in
his tones, or the slight, and, it must be
confessed, discourteous shrug of his
shoulders, aroused all the pride In
Mabels heart and feeling of anger she
could not restrain. Haughtily she
answered her lover:
Understand me, Louis. I shall
never send for you-do not even dream
of such possibility. When you want
me, you will find me here; but you will
&C ne back to me Of your 0,on accord,
or''-she choked little-'.you will not
return at all! Excuse me now, am
going upstairs"
She turned and laid the ring upon the
table, then with sudden thought, ''Oh
no! not yet-not yet" she slipped it
back upon her finger, and passing
Louis, whose back was turned toward
her that she might not witness the pain
in his face, Mabel reached the door.
There she paused.
"Good-by, Louisr'
But no answer came, and woman
like, the girl yearned to hear his voice.
"Good-by, LOuisr' again; this time
the tones were lower, and, as she spoke,
the man passed her and bowed only as
his hand touched the latch of the outer
door.
"And you are going without kissing
me Goodbye" asked Mabel, pale now to
the lips. 'Itwill be the first time, dear,
If you do" she added, pitifully enough,
all her pride gone, and only her great
love for this unworthy lover remaining.
II cannot kiss you, Mabel Anthony,
because you do not love me, and you
are giving me up SO coldly. All, It is
hard, indeedr'
mo, Louis: it is goa who give me up"
was the low reply; and. with no other
word, she passed up the stairs.
A mGmont Louis stood irresOlute, then
the door was opened and closed, and he
was gone.
what a time Louis has staidr' muir
INJURED Mrs. Grey, US Mabel entered her
room later. .And here's Harry fretting
because can't hold him in my lap. My
head is very bad this afternoon. Can't
you keep the little fellow quiet?"
The six-year old boy climbed into the
hTlIS WHICH WcIc IlcNcT tOO W hOIu
him, and presently forgot the pain in his
crippled limbs as his cousin sang to him
sang while she thought her very heart
was breaking.
.'Such comfort as you are, dear
niece" resumed auntie, few minutes
later. what should do without you?
Louis doesn't want to hasten your
marriage, hope; it would kill me to
part with you"
Mabel stifled back sigh.
do not be troubled, auntie mine"
she said, cheerily. I'm not going to
leave you just yet"
"YOu look doleful about the face,
dear child, in spite of your words and
the smile. Oh, Mabel, has anything
gone wrong with you?"
II found my manuscript returned,
auntie, when l came home to-day, just
before Louis called. Isn't it enough to
make one doleful to receive her rejected
brain-labors as frequently as do?'
"How strange, that editors cannot see
the merit of your writings?" complained
auntie, who thought her niece the
personifcatiOn of all things great and
clever. Mabel smiled.
Because there is no merit to be seen,
I presume, auntie, DEAR" she replied.
II must try, try again; but, meanwhile,
! would have been glad if my manuscript
had been acceptable just now when l
need money so much. There's the doc
tors bill, you know. l don't like TO
owe cent, but Harry must have atten-
ton so frequently. Oh dear! it is hard
times for us, auntie, but we will hope
for the best"
christmas is coming, too, and VIII It
slim purse 1 have for my boy this
yearr'
Auntie sighed heavily as she ceased
speaking, and Harry, gone fast ASLEEP.
was laid down from the loving arms
which had held him; and then at lasl
little by little, as the shadows gathered
closely about the two who sat before tha
fire, Mabel told the sad story Of herself
and lover.
There were tears, of course, and
words of sympathy and love from aunt
lie. Mabel withheld as much as she
could of her lovers fault, and smoothed
over for him all she was obliged to re
late; but auntie guessed all the selfish
ness, and loved her niece the more;
Time passed. November gave place
to December, and the days fast rolling
themselves into weeks brought the
Christmas time near at hand.
All this long time no word had come
to Louis from Mabel Anthony, as he
had confidently believed would be the
case ere even one week had passed.
He had passed her house many an
evening, even going up the stoop for
glimpse of the familiar parlor wherein
he had passed his twilight hours with
Mabel SO very often on his way from
his Office.
He had seen her, all unconscious Of
his watching, sitting before the low
CRATE, the child Harry in her arms, and
the freight lighting into distinctnes,
the fair sweet face he loved.
How often had his impulsive hand
touched the bell with the thought: II
will 60 in! ! will confess myself in the
wrongr'
But before the bell was pulled would
come the foolish pride and its thought
"No: If yield she will never respect me
again. Patience! Mabel will send for
me sOOn."
So the time had gone by, until at last
Louis had left the city on some bushes.
matter not to be interfered with by love
or love affairs, and some weeks passed
ere he returned.
Then it wanted but a week before
Christmas time, and the longing for .
sight of Mabel had increased tenfold.
II am stronger this morning, auntie
and will sit quietly before the parlor-fire
while you are al church."
The glad Christmas morning had
dawned at last, and Mabel, recovering
from severe illness, which for two weeks
past had Frustrated her, was assisted
downstairs by her aunt, who was un-
willing to leave her dear invalid.
you're quite sure you will be COM
Portable, dear childp" asked Mrs. Grey.
''Do smile dear, and let me know that
you are happy"
Mabel readily smiled at her anxious
aunt's request, as she replied:
II ann happy, auntie. Oughn't I to
be, after this good change in my for
tuneP' holding up an envelope which
contained check for some manuscript,
at last accepted, with also the request
that miss Anthnoy would kindly favor
the editor again."
She and Harry laughingly called it
ss(Ihr;ctv,,ao rr;ft >, 81 kfolol oI1ol