The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-04-11
CEOILE'S CHOICE.

with Vandorn at supper last night
Cecile."
You ought to know that / never
firt," said Cecile.
"At least" said Jack Prince, q lit.
tie abashed, "you let him make love
to you"
"Mr. Vandorn is too much of a
gentleman to take such a liberty.
She replied, coldly. II believe he
recommended me to take lobster salad,
and was surprised that I didn't care
for cold fowl. We had some friendly
conversation outside of those topics.
perhaps, but no nearer approach to
love making"
We'll. he looked as if he were
feeding on ambrosia, and talking of
slove, still love-" muttered Jack.
81 won't have a fellow like Van
dorm poaching on my preserves, Z"
warming again. Another provoca-
ton of the sort, and / shall feel forced
10 speak to him, Cecile."
DO, if you wish to incur my last
ing displeasure, Jack Prince. l be-
lieve it is the end to which your un-
reasonable jealousy will lead you yet.
The sooner it comes the better for
both of us, perhaps"
.'Cecile, Cecile, cried Jack, q sob
in his voice, "don't you know that it
is because 1 love you so? some
times wonder if you have any heart
at all. You have never given it to
me, or you could not speak of our
parting in that passionless tone. How
can feel safe when other men, hand
somer and richer. and-better, I don't
doubt, would be glad to snatch my
prize from mel"
Cecile turned her face and looked
at him with steady eyes.
Jack, l tell you plainly, there is
danger that you will wear out my love
if you 90 on like this. never doubt
you. Why can you not have the
came faith in me? I will not submit
to the tyranny you would impose upon
me if you could. If you cannot be
satisfied, let us make an end of our
engagement at once.
But to make an end of it was the
furthest thing from Jacks intention.
He loved her to distraction, and he
wasjealous as IN ogre yet these facts
did not prevent him from going down
where his sister was entertaining her
guests, and devoting himself to the
prettiest girl in the room until his
own day-star should appear.
Cecile saw it all from the stairs.
She knew it only required her en-
trance to bring her devoted slave to
her side, but in her absence he could
amuse himself very well. How In
consistent to refuse her the freedom
which he took himself.
Zone morn, Peri at the gate
Of Eden stood. disconsolate-"
quoted laughing voice. "Choose your
Eden, Miss Ludmore the rooms there
where everybody is absorbed in doing
the agreeable, or a taste of outside
frost, and my ungallant attendance.
She chose the latter. Ungallant
Mr.. Vandorn might be, in so far that
he employed no empty batteries, but
he had the tact to interest his COM
panion. Cecile forgot herself, forgot
the chains of ownership which bound
her to Jack, and was in deep sympathy
with the rough life on the coast of
which he was telling her.
And it is only among the fisher
men and their womenkind that all the
heroisn lies. They were telling me
of ship which had gone to pieces.
The men Aesitated about launching
the boats. 1t DID not seem possible
that they could live in the sea which
was running. There was girl there,
wealthy and educated, they say, and
who must have had little of the
Amazon in her nature, fancy. She
walked up to the group where they
were consulting, wrapped in her
storm-cloak. I'll take one of the
oars she said. Il want such and
such men, naming them, to man the
boat. If the rest of you are not too
much afraid you might get out anoth.
er Sne.' She was so cool about it that
they were ashamed to make any more
objections, though every man knew
there wasn't one chance in four of get
ting back alive. They couldn't dis
suade her from going with them,
either, though they tried. Well, they
succeeded in reaching the ship, took
in as many as they dared of the i'm
periled souls aboard, and were re-
turning when the boat was capsized
in the surf. The girl swan ashore
with a child whom she had lashed fast