Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-12

! questioned "One is tempted to be
come personal when such remarks
come from one who is said to count
his conquests with cruel pride, and
to whom the world gives no higher
aim than to faScinate. and-remain
careless. Am / too PLANE Forgive
me-
i forgive you freely--as | would
forgive you all things, Miss Annes
but neither you nor the word fully
understands me. may seem a tritler
but, were the woman | love to love
me ia return, no smile would be- TO
me so sweet as hels, no presence half
so dear
/ Mollie had been watching the cou.
pie on the sands, going slowly back
and forth, back and forth in the moon
| light: now she lifted her sweet young
face and looked at him with sort Of
wondering pity.
"Do we all wrong you, thenl she
asked gently. Have you failed in
your wooing7 Can you not win
where you lovei"
Her face flushed little at her
words, and she, watching it, was
struck by his strength and beauty
How did it chance that she had motto
ed either before2
81 am not left the chance to WOO
or win her, he said slowly; "she is
another's promised wife.
"Ah, " she said, pityingly, and she
gave him her hand IN a sweet, woman
| ly sympathy, never for an instant
connecting his words herself. He
lifted the small hand revercntly TO his
lips, and, drawing il through his arm,
turned toward the beach, AS he did
so he found himself facin~ Ned Ire
maine and Laura Lowell, who were
coming in from the moonlight, and
ne noticed that the young mans face
was quite white, while there was u
half scornful smile on the lips of the
| fair belle of the seaside. But the two
couples passed each other in silence,
TIE one going down to the stretch of
glittering sand, the other going in to
the dancers.
A week later, and 'Molie had just
come In from a long hour, peaceful
and calm, spent with Lee in a quiet
nook among the rocks that overhung
the ocean. He had been reading 10
her there some of the sweetest poems
given to the world by genius Her
heart had thrilled as he read, and
new, strange feelings had stirred it.
When he closed the book he had
looked up and found her eyes filed
with tears. And now up in her own
room she was asking herself how it
was that what she had but commenced
for the purpose Of annoying Ned had
n one brief week slain all her old
resentment against Miss Lovel, and
made her thoughts turn constantly,
not to Ned Tremaine, who was her
aflianced husband, but 10 Lee Stone,
VINO was turned the greatest male flirt
at the beach. What was changing
her lifel When she now met Ned and
Laura it did net pam her, as it used
Was it because a handsome face,
stronger and nobler face than Ned's
was constantly near, ready to turn to
her with devotion, ready to light if
she smiled
A servant broke her rendering by
bringing her two messages a
bouquet of white flowers, with a few
teathery sprays of fern among their
whlteness, and one Grim son rose
cleaning rcd from their center; and
in it was note from Lee, asking her
to go for a drive with him by mooR-
light; the other was few angry
lines FROM Ned, asking if she remem-
bered that she was betrothed to him
while She allowed every gossip at the
hotel to chatter Of her filtration with
Lee Stone.
Il have been patient, waiting an
opportunity Of speaking to you, he
wrote, but you viii not give ms one,
SO | write to ask if you wish our en-
gagement broken; to all it would
seem so.
She trenibled little as she read,
and her sweet face changed color;
but she went to her desk, drew from
it every letter he had sent her, formed
them and his ring in package and
wrote him the following note:
1T was l who was first first taught
patience, while my existence was for
gotten for one who was what you
babe nae become-'a society charac.
ter Why should | fancy that you
wished an interview with me Of late
1t is rot so long since you could not
spare a moment for me from Mss
Lovel. Do l wish our engagement
broken Perhaps we both wish it,
Ned at least let us break if since l so
displease you. | send you your let
tiers and ring"
Then, although a choking sensation
was in her throat, she penned brief
note to Lee:
&" / will be pleased to go with you; !"
that was all and in the starlight-the
moon rose late-she went with him
out over the beach and far along the
country.
Was it strange that he Hoticed she
no longer wore Ned's ring2 Was it
strange that he told her Of his love,
and that she listened silently, beliey,
ing, with a strange hutter at her
heart? Was it strange that as they
drove back, lingering beside the sob