Milford chronicle., 1885-05-15

Il was rather my own loneliness that
caused me to weave a romance out of his
tender, sympathizing attentions, OF
which he, perhaps, never dreamed. And
yet, " musingly, while the soft flush grew
deeper in her delicate cheek, 81 have
always had faith that he would some
time return my-affection, if we were to
meet often, or if no other love should
suddenly come between.
''Then I'll take back all my hard
thoughts against him, and hope you'll
soon meet again." exclaimed Annabel,
gayly, to hide her own emotion, for this
fragile little creature was very dear to
her. "And now, SylVie, for our tea, >" as
q bell tinkled cheerily below; ''and then
will help dress you for the party, as
want you to look your very prettiest
this evening"
Annabel's critics would scarcely have
recognized her that night, had they seen
the soft blush on her cheek, the sweet
love-light in those brilliant eyes, as she
fastened a cluster Of Mark Thorne's flow
ers in her dark hair, and another in her
bosom, kissing them first, and, like any
ordinary girl in love, murmuring over
and over to herself the name that would
soon be hers.
"Ah this must be the love I have
heard so much about and have always
laughed at, she thought, smiling softly
at the radiant image reflected in her
mirror. $50 you're a victim at last,
Miss Annabel But, then, 1lly hero is
Mark-Which makes all the difference in
the world, she added, laughing.
Just as II every other girl on earth
doesn't think the same of her hero when
she falls in love
A little later, as Annabel and her fair
visitor, each very lovely in her own par
ticular style, entered Mrs. Crittenden's
elegant parlors, there was a general
buzz of admiration. Sylvie Charming
looked pure and spiritueLle in pale,
gauzy blue, while Annabel, in delicate
shell-pink, was indiscribably bewitching,
but she was always the acknowledged
belle wherever she appeared.
'Look, look, Annabel |" whispered
Sylvie, agitatedly, as they turned away
after greeting their hostess. ''Ihere
he is-the one I was telling you OF this
afternoon Isn't he handsome ?"
(Which one?" asked Annabel, follow
ing her eager glance with interest.
'HThat? Oh, no, you must be mistaken,
dear That is Mark Thorne."
eyes, Mark Thorne-that was his
name, returned Sylvie, her slight form
trembling with excitement. Oh, An
mabel, how glad he seems to meet me
again Don't you see?"
For one brief second Annabel stood
dazed and speechless, then:
81 will leave you to meet him alone,
dear" she whispered, and hurried to the
dressings IN, from which she did not
emerge 2 ain for a good half-hour.
When did re-appear, SylVie was
amG me first to join her.
How long you have been away r she
remarked, with a happy smile lighting
up her sweet face as she met her friends
inuuiring glance. "Mr. Thorne seemed
disappointed at your leaving just as he
came up. Oh, Annabel, do think my
foolish dreams may come true, after all
Why. what has become of your howers?"
with a little start of surprise as she sud
denly missed them.
ooh. 1 took them off in the dressing
ROOM" said Annabel, trying to speak
carelessly. 'I felt sick and faint a little
while ago and thought possibly they
caused it.
But, for once, a mute agony shone IN
| the depths of those fearless, saucy gray
ewes when Mark Thorne passed her by
with the coolest of recOgn tons and a
glance that told her how immeasurably
She had fallen in his esteem. But,
Welding to an irresistible impulse Of her
heart, she tapped his arm lightly with
her fan.
"Let us be friends still, MIR. Thorne,
she began, almost pleadingly, as he
courteously obeyed her timid signal and
stepped back q little out of the gay,
moving throng to a place by her side.
t'Friends p he echoed, bitterly. Then,
lowering his voice, he added, cuttingly !:
''Was it really necessary, Miss Ray, to
descend to a coquette's cheap trick and
cheat me with false hopes for the mo-
ment. that my humiliation might be all
the more crushing when it came For
caught sight of you this 8Eennffns5." +"
"AIay you not be mistaken ?" she
asked. gently. 'I had no intention oi
deceiving you for single moment.
did wear some flowers, it is true,
but"
''Pardon me, he interrupted, coldly.
s'I am not blind, Miss Annabel."
Her red lips quivered piteously for an
instant. but she lifted her small, dark
head with a naughty movement.
s'Verv WE'LL" she returned, with 6
l. T.sn ar
customed to such misconstructlons.
can bear it from you also, suppose,
Fortunately for me, perhaps, my nature
is not so sensitive and loving as my lit
tie friends there" with a motion of hel
fan toward Sylvie, who was dancing no
far away, cor I could not have survived
all the bard things that have been said
of me. By the way, 1 imagine she il
greatly changed since I saw her few
months ago, she continued, as naturally
as if she had not purposely led up t.
the subject. ''Some love-romance,
fear. and she is so delicate that a disap
pointment of that kind would surely XII
her,"
Annabel's eyes were fixed earnestl.
upon her little friend as she spoke, bu
she did not fail to perceive tne suodei
start her listener gave, nor the quick
startled look which he also turned upol
the gentle, spirituelle girl.
Presently Annabel saw them dancini
together. and the tender devotion Q
T6orne's manner, and the perfect, indie
scribable content expressed in Sylvie'
lovely face, seemed to afford her som
satisfaction, for a pleased smile hitte'
across her lips, albeit it was quickl
followed by the heaviest kind Of sigh
OF course the sudden ending OF Anna
, bel's affair with Mark Thorne, furnishes
! more than the usual amount OF gossip
Some declared that she was cup to he
Old tricks again, while others, in vie'
OF the gentieman's marked attentions t
! pretty Sylvie Charming, hastened to al
! their belief that, at last, Miss Annabt