Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-10-01

q
venture to ask why?"
did you ever kill or MAIN butter
hy?" demanded Pauline suddenly.
GA great many times I am afraid in
the thoughtlessness of early youth.
But why do you ask?"
Because have just done the same
thing"
Mr.. Melville glanced questioningly
round.
"Oh," laughed Pauline, cit wasn't
real winged insect, Mr.. Melville. [ was
but speaking metaphorically. After all.
it's a matter of no particular conse-
quence--only lesson the child needed
to cure him of something very like pre-
sumption. It's little Ralph Montacute;
he had the impertinence to tell me that
he loved me. The idea of child like
that taking advantage of the encourage
ment one may have thoughtlessly given
him to imagine-but it's too ridiculous"
Faith, don't see the ridiculous side
of it," said Melville, sternly. "Monta-
cute is young, but he is manly fellow,
and-pardon me, sovereign lady of all
hearts-but you did encourage him
most markedly"
81 never thought of anything serious,
lisped Pauline, with an artlessness
truly angelic. at was only the chance
amusement of an hour"
Melville shrugged his shoulders
"a good deal like the story of the
frogs and the boys" he said "But to
dismiss all less pleasant subjects-wbat
do you say TO row on the sea by star
light?"
81 shall be delighted"
And the merry group vanished into
the enpurpled darkness, their voices
ringing on the air, long after their forms
were imperceptible.
| Then, and not till then, tall figure
raised itself from the bamboo settee, or
couch, just within the wide open win
| dows, where the cool muslin curtains
waved softly at every breath of the soft
summer night breeze, and Maj. Harry
| Livingstone coolly walked out upon
the piazza, igniting his cigar as he did
| so.
"The coquette!" he muttered between
his set teeth; "the heartless firtI Now
begin better to comprehend poor
Ralph's varying moods of late. She has
broken the poor boys heart, and cares
no more for it than if she had cracked
one of the china cologne bottles on her
dressing table! Well, this is strange
world If Pauline had taken hand
kerchief or purse from Ralph's pocket,
the iron hand of the law would be down
upon her Immediately; but she steals
his heart right out of his bosom, and
society looks on with smiling face and
folded hands
"Why is there no law, made and en-
acted, to punish such heartless crimes
as this? For crimes they are-black,
treacherous crimes, even though perpe-
trated SO charmingly by beauties like
Pauline Sedley and her sister coquettes!
And this fair, innocent boy, whom I
loved like brother; the coolest heart
might have spared him. By Cupid and
al his attendant deities, 1 will be re-
venged on Pauline Sedley for this!''
At almost the same moment Ralph
Montacute came slowly up the piazza
steps. The ightness and elasticity Of
his gait were gone; he walked like one
who had received mortal wound.
"Ralph!"
Montacute started at his cousins
voice.
"You here, Harry?"
eyes, all alone. Sit down beside me,
old fellow; why are you not with the
boating party?"
Il did promise this morning to make
one of them; but-but somehow I
don't feel like it tonight"
Livingstone took his cousins hand,
and pressed it with a firm, loving
grasp.
81 know all about it, Ralph" he said,
mildly.
don't be cast down-she isn't worth
one pang of memory. The world is
wide; life is long-you'n outlive this
blow. If you can only have patience to
wait"
Montacute's head dropped on Harry
Livingstone's shoulder.
ooh, Harry! I did love her-I loved
her dearly!" ..----..
"Take courage-she is not worth it,"
And the stalwart soldier. soothing
away his boy-cousin's woe, was gentle
as woman, even while he wondered to
see that Ralph took it SO keenly and
bitterly to heart.
From that day the gay little world of
the fashionable watering place was as
tonished at the devotion accorded by
Maj. Livingstone to Miss Sedley. Pau
line herself was more than astonished,
she was elated and overjoyed. Maj.
Livingstone was man who was sought
and courted by all the bellies of society
man whose magnetic eyes" as she her
self had phrased it, and tenderly-modu-
lated voice, were enough to set any
feminine heart in blaze. He walked
with her, he rode with her, he read
poetry to her, he sat with her during
the long golden September twilights,
until Pauline felt that life beside him
was the brightest boon Providence
could accord. She haughtily discarded
her other suitors; she cared no longer
for ball room or picnic parties-to her,
the whole world held but one man,
and that was Harry Livingstone.
But still he kept just outside the
charmed circle of love-making; he did
not propose. And Pauline, growing
almost sick at heart, counted the days