Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1882-02-25
4 JEALOUS LOVER.

"Thcn Won refuse 10 give mo the
promise | ask cf you. Is that so Ma
bel z"
Major Blakncy looked very handsome
everyone allowed, when he WAS in pas
sion; and he was in q passion now. His
large eyes flashed fire a. he awaited the
answer Of the young lady to whom he
had been engaged since last year 3 Lon
don season.
Mabel Stanhope was q pretty, grace~
ful girl of eighteen "Not beautiful, by
any mcans,' her dear friends i'll society
would assure YOU Yet, somehow, no
girl, in or ont of society, had SO many
trilmphs ~ she-nOt the least among
which wa, her present one, which had
brought the rich and handsome officer
of dragons to her feet.
"Not beautiful by any means per
haps Yet to Hugh Blakney she was
''faircst among women," even in the
midst Of his anger against her; but he
nt his lip and steelcd his heart afresh
against the appealing, wistful glance
that Mabcl's blue eyes turned toward
him
"You are so jealous so unreasonable,
Hugh" she stammerel. ''YOu have
taken such u dislike to poor Edgar, aud
Won Will not listen to"
Poor Edgar, indeed y exclaimed the
major. "Your cousin :? Oh, yes l
know all about such cousins-confOund
them Last night L could scarcely get
chance to spenk to you for him; and
to-day why, That is his ring on your
hand mt tins moment, Is it not 2
Mabel started and turned crimson. as
her lovers eyes fell upon the soliteiro
diamond blazing in solitary magnifience
upon her right hand.
1T il that is, he asked mo to wear
1t for him." she stammt red, till he can
THAT is enough -queit enough, Miss
St.nhope," said the MAJOR, growing
angrier with every word that he uttered.
81 will not trouble you to tell me to
go
With thnt he bowed low, turned up
on his heel, and walked suddenly away.
Mabel looked sadly after him, and ther
went slowly homcwards, her blue vel
drawn down over her face, and hel
bright eyes full of tears.
People, had often accused her Of CO.
quctry heretofore, and there might hay.
been some truth in the accusation. She
was very young and very fascinating, IL
spite of that lack Of perfect benut,
whicl, made all her female friends 81
ANXIOUS about her, and being too mex
pcremccd rs yet to understand her Owl
power, sho had used it once or twice
somewhat hecdlessly, if not unmerciful
ly.
But IN Hugh Blakncy she had met he
fate. He was the man of men to her
whom, loving once. she could love trul.
and for ever-only, if he was often goins
to develop ~ jealousy like this .and re
fuse to hear hertxplanationIof its appar
ont cause, why in that case life wit
him would not be exactly "all blue SIX
and roses" thought poor little Mabel
with sigh.
When it WAS hme for her to accom-
panv her mother on her short afternoo
: drive which the doctor had ordered
Mabel looked III vain among the crow
of fasliionables who thronsed the cspa
made at Eastbourne, for the well-know
figure, tall and erect, on the back {
Silver Grey
If he only would have listened till
could tell about the ring p sighed Nj
bel. for the tiftieth time. IA they aligh
nl, iii the darkening twilight, at IL
door Of their house.
a gonticman is waiting. please,
sec You, MISS" said the lady 's-mal,
meeting them in the hall, and takir
charge of Mrs. Stanhope with r
proachful air, for they were later ths
usual by haiti an-hour.
Mabel flew like bird to the drawing
room to meet her lover.
But 1t WAS. only Edgar Roileston WI
came forward to meet her Cousin f.
gar" whose diamond ring she wore.
She drew the ring from her tinge