The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1882-02-10
A LESSON IN LOVE,
BIZ MA. RAsIN.S

A ulS II tuo way ~ uhppoucus GUu-
stapt Everton had paid very earnest and
devoted attention to Elsie Rivers and
Elsie, admirlng him, believing him the
most splendid specimen Of humanity she
had ever seen, thinking all his devotion
| very true and real, imagined that she
loved him most desperately.
Constant Il am sorry that could not
| give him q name more suitable, he being
50 terrible firt that the girls declared
he had q new lsdy-love every three
months) loved Elsie as much as he ever
did any one, but that was not very
great deal.
When Elsie found that his Iover-llke
attentions were abating in their ardor,
she felt very unhappy, and said TO her.
| self: 4
81 never can love any one else, and If
he ceases to care for me, shall be quite
broken-hearted."
With very fair prospect of becoming
broken-hearLed, for Constant grew less
and less attentive, she still went into
society and seemed 10 enjoy its pleas
ures. ~
Possibly she went to the parties hop
ing to meet him; but, nevertheless, If be
was not there, abe danced with great ap-
parent enjoyment; Tand although she
sighed many times when by herself, and
/ think shed some tears, yet when in
company she was certainly very gay
| little creature.
At one of the parties OF the season she
met Frank Stone, was introduced, and
danced with him several times. She
met him twice more, she danced so often
that lost the count.
She like him, oh,yes; but could never,
love him; was not all her heart given to
Constant? So she said to herself, prid-
ing herself on her constancy, for he had
neglected her for q month.
Did Frank like Elsie? Yes; but | do
not believe . thought of her ever crossed
bis mind after he had said good night In
the drawing-room. She was like all
other girls TO him, pleasant, that was
all; he was not thinking any particu-
larly.
One day in January Elsie went skat-
ing; she looked decidedly pretty In her
skating suit; and seeing her prettiness
reflected In the glass, she wished she
wished she might meet Constant. She
mad vague hope slowed away some
place in her heart that some day she
would meet him, and she would look 80
sweet and pretty that bis love Il doubt
II he had ever felt any would come
back, and he would make her the hap
piest girl alive by contrasting his pas
sion and asking her to be his wife. She
forgot that he had seen her in her very
prettiest times; for II girl does not
look well when dressed with the very
best care In her most becoming robe,
with the sparkle of anticipated pleasure
shining in her eyes, when will she?
Well, she reached the pond, and was
enjoying herself, notwlthsta nding she
bad not met Constant, when coming to
thin place, the Ice broke, and she
found herself going into the water.
Just then, of course, just then, or L
would not be writing this story, she saw
Frank stones tall and erect form at
some little distance. With all her
strength she called
"Oh, Frank, Frank, save me ~
When she had been weeping her tearz
! over the Inconsistency of Constant, she
] sometimes wished she was dead; but
with girls Inconsistency, when the OPP
portunity for dying arrived she wanted
|. to be saved. Perhaps the GOODNESS o.
the style was her objection.
Frank, hearing his name called 50
. earnestly, looked up, saw q figure dis
appearing under the ice, and with hii
most rapid skating, arrived In time t6
/ see her come up; but before he could
do anything, for the ice was breaking
all round, she went down again. By
4 the time she came up again, he wal
! ready with his scarf. Fortunately fol
Elsie, she caught 1t; and by slow de
, grees he drew her toward spot whers
the ice was flrEner, reached over, caught
her hands and safely landed her upoI
!. solid ice, by the time five or six gallant
q gentlemen arrived to know what was
l. the matter. Like the inconsideratenesl
:, of the feminine tribe, she was no soon
!: or placed ON substantial basis, thar
" she tainted.
"Who is she ?" said one gentleman
a looking at Frank.
j Frank twirled his moustache, and re
piled
"Really. we did not have time for al
% Introduction
y He did not recognize her, hov
% should he? When he had seen he
g she was in party costume, axed NJ
" with multitude of little curls AMI
% flowers, bright color glowing in he
% cheeks; now she lay in her shor
~ y skating suit. looking almost q ehil'
% in size, her face whittier than the 10
- and almest as frozen.
VI eve will have to carry her to tn
% hotel, " said gentleman number two
or 81 will carry her myself" Fran
Y answered; and STOPPING down tool
= into his arms the wet and insensibl
< form and skated away as rapidly .
D his burden permitted, the Others fol
SSo lowing. or course his arms ache
~ when he reached the hotel, but some
:. how he felt pleasure which repai
a. him for the ache. She was deposits
al n.ne.., n had and Frank Withdraw Mhil