Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-01-08


Heaven knows wish I could give her
up as easily as she has me, but can't
do it and it costs a desperate effort to
wear the Indifferent face do"
As Janet Gray, Mabel was more fas-
cinating than she knew, and Norman
McGregor, the unsuccessful suitor, found
her constant coldness prompted more by
nature, he felt, than by the requirements
of art, bitter thing to bear, now that
he was compelled upon every night to
suffer from it.
Even the rclenting, demanded by the
plot Of the play in the end, was one in
which she put 50 little animation that he
drew no comfort from it, and was only
withheld by pride from giving up the
character which brought him torture
every night.
The afternoon of the last rehearsal
came, and all final arrangements were
being completed.
Mabel, wearing a gossamer over her
bewitching Scotch costume, was putting
some finishing touches to the stage de-
corations, while Mr.. Fremont prepared
evergreens for her, while this converse
ton carried on in the gentlemen's dress
ing room met her interested ears:
''Hallo, Tom" exclaimed Hal Burton's
familiar voice, as some one entered the
room; "glad to see you back, when did
you Gomez"
To-day, at twelve"
ASorry you staid so long, my boy; we
have missed you woefully in this affair,
and l told Hackett last night if I could
only lay hands on you, we'd have Nor
man McGregor,' at your service, done up
in style. The character is very distaste-
ful to me"
"Pshaw, Hal, my talent doesn't lie in
that direction"
s'By the way" remarked Hal, sud
denly, as if recalling something, "did
you get my note before you left2"
"Why, yes, / did; but must say
don't understand yet the cause of your
overwhelming politeness. That little
appeal. May I come soon again, was
quite beyond my comprehension"
'sWhat are you driving at, Steele9"
''The note Of regret you sent the night
before l left
''My note of regretl Is the boy madG
I wrote you note in regard to that
horse of Browns; told you I had no in
tention of standing in your way, and
hoped you'd be successful in getting her.
Is not that the one you received?"
'sNo such note has ever reached me,n
Tom answered, decisively, while Hal,
illuminated by swift idea, broke into
a fit of laughter
IT have it now," he said. II wrote
Miss Mabel Benton note the same
morning, and in my haste exchanged the
envelopes. How very carelessl But my
overwhelming politeness, that is rich"
and he lapsed into another merry peal,
in which Tom also joined.
'sBut what can Mabel think Of me9''
he wondered next. as he remembered
that all allusion to the horse had been
made through the pronoun ''her."
His eyes flashed as sudden idea sug-
gested itself to him, but ere he had time
to follow it out he was called upon the
stage
The play proceeded smoothly to the
end; no lack of life characterized Mabels
acting in the last scene as before. The
interest she threw into it seemed to
spring straight from her heart. Her
downcast eyes, the natural flush upon
her cheek, the trembling Of the little
hand which lay within his own, told
Hal a glad truth; and when at the last
she raised her eyes, it was to find in his
a look of exultant gladness.
'sYou ran away from me this after
noon, Mabel" whispered Harry, as they
stood that night in little entry back of
the stage, waiting for their cue. II
wanted an explanation of your late cruel
conduct toward me; won't you give it
to me nowa
Blushing and trembling, she vainly at
tempted reply.
'sWas it because Of that note I wrote
to Tom Steele a'' be inquired, with
merry light in his eye.
eyes, it was, Harry; but I don't think
it fair for you to tease, " as her eyes
dropped beneath the laughing light in
his.
''Then you know, Mabel, to what il
referred 2"
Eyes. overheard you tell Tom
Steele"
"What reparation do you intend to
make for your unmerited treatment of
me, Miss Bentonw he next whispered, as
clasping one arm about her he drew her
close to his side. sIhave been very mis-
cradle of late; more wretched than you
can imagine, and deserve rich reward
for the suffering you have caused
Some one else has suffered. too, !" she
whispered, with swift glance from her
long-lashed eyes.
"Ah, Mabel" be cried, impulsively,
IF such is the case, promise to take what
! give you, and give what I ask in re-
turn
"What do you demand2n
'sYour heart for mine, " was the quick
"are you willing to make the