The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-02-27

WnOHSthc WOriu gives no niSncr AIM
than to fascinate, and-remain care
less. Am too plainp Forgive me-"
al forgive you freely-asl would for
give you all things, Mis-, Annes; but
neither you nor the world fully UNDER
stand me. | may seem trifler; but,
were the woman love to love me in
return no smile would be to me so
sweet as hers, no presence half SO
dear"
Mollie had been watching the couple
on the sands, going slowly back and
forth in the moonlight; now she lifted
her sweet young face and looked at him
with sort of wondering pity.
.'Do we all wrong you, thenp' she
asked, gently. Have you failed in
your wooing9 Can you not win where
you lovcp"
His face flushed Il little at her words,
and she, watching it, was struck by its
strength and beauty. How did it
or befOrep
II am not left the chance TO WOO or
win her." he said, slowly; ''shc is an
others promised wife.
"Ah," she said, pityingly; and sho
gave him her hand in a sweet, woman
ly sympathy, never for an instant con-
Meeting his words with herself He
lifted tho small hand rcverently to his
lips, and, drawing it through his arm,
turned toward. the beach. AS he did so
he found himself facing Ned Tremaino
and Laura Lowell, who were coming in
from the moonlight, and he noticed
that the young mans face was quite
white, while there was half-scornful
smile on the lips of the fair belle of the
seaside. But the two couples passed
each other in silence, the ono going
down to the stretch of glittering sand,
the other going in to the dancers.
A week later. and Mollie had just
come in from Il long hour, peaceful
and calm, spent with Lee in quiet
nook among the rocks that ovcrhung
the ocean. He had been reading to 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 clos
ed the book he had looked up and
found her eyes filled with tears. And
now in her own room she was asking
but commenced for the purpose oil ar
moving Ned had in one brief week siain
MI her old resentment against Miss
Lovel and made her thoughts turn con-
stantly, not to Ned Trcmainc. who was
her atlianccd husband, but 10 Lee Stone,
who was termed tho greatest male tlirt
1T the beach. What was changing in
her life? When she now met Ned and
Laura it did not pain her as it used.
Was it because II handsomcr face,
stronger and noblcr face then Ned's
was constantly near, ready to turn to
her with devotion. ready TO light il she
smiled?
a servant broke her ponderings by
bringing her two mcssagcs--one boiI"
quct of white flowers, with a few fcath
cry sprays of fern among their white
ness, and one crimson rose cleaning
red from their center; and in it was Il
note from Lee, asking her to 20 for a
drive with him by moonlight; the 9th
or was few angry lines from Ned, ask
ing If she remembered that she was be-
trothed to him while she allowed cv-
cry gossip at the hotel to chatter of her
ilirtation with Lee Stone.
Il have been patient, waiting an OPP
I ortunity of speaking 10 YOU" he
wrote, "but you will not give me one,
so | write to ask you if you wish our en-
gagemcnt broken; to ell il would seem
So"
She trcmbled little rs she read, and
her sweet face changed color; but she
went TO her desk, drew from it every
letter he had ever sent her, formed
them and his ring in package and
wrote him the following note:
at was ! who was first taught pa
thence, while my existence was forgot
ten for one who was what you babe me
become-'a society character. Why
should l fancy that you wished an in
terview with me of late? 1t is not SO
long since you could not spare mo-
ment for me from Miss Lovel. Do |
wish our engagement broken? Perhaps
we both wish it, Ned; at least let us
break il, since so displease you. /
send you your letters and ring"
Then. although choking sensation
was in her throat, she pcnned brief
note to Lee:
Il will be pleased to go with you;'
that was all; and in the starlight-thc
moon rose late-she went with him out
over the beach and far along the coun-
try
Was it strange that he noticed she
10 longer wore Ned's ring? Was it
strange that he told her of his love, and
that she listened silently, believngly,
with q strange llutter at her heart?
Was it strange that when they drove
back, lingering best 20 the sobbing
ocean, another ring should deck her
finger and another bond should lie upon
her life? Well, two others walked up
on the strand, two whom the gossips
called lovers; and yet when it was told
that Mollie Annes was oplace her hap
piness in the keeping of 1.-THE flirt of
the beach, one man who heard it
turned white as death and shrank from
the sight of the beautiful woman beside
him. although men called her fair, and
many said she had won him from his
faith; yet Mollic was too happy to re-
greet, although she still sometimes &C.
members -IHiiddc[gDhtd can.