Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-20


who had received a mortal wound.
''Ralphr'
Montacute started at his cousins
voice.
You here, Harry?" =,
Yes, all alone. Sit down beside
me, old fellow; why are you not Win
the boating party?"
II did promise this morning to make
one of them; but-but-somehow
don't feel like it tonight
Liyingtone took his cousins hand
and pressed it with firm. loving
grasp.
II know all about it, Ralph" he
said mildly. Don't be east down
she isn't worth one pang of memory;
The world is wide; life is long-you II
outlive this blow, if you only have pa
tience to wait.
Montacute's head dropped on Harry
Livingstone's shoulder.
"Oh, Harry. did love her-l loved
her dearly!'
Take courage s she is not worth
it."
And the stalwart soldier. soothing
away his boy cousins woe, was as gen.
tie as a woman, even while he wonder
ed 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
Major Livingstone to Miss Sedley.
Pauline herself was more than aston
ished, she was elated and overjoyed.
Major Livingstone was a man who was
sought and courted by all the bellies Of
society," man whose magnetic eyes"
as she herself had phrased it, and ten
derly modulated 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 dur
ing the long golden September twi-
lights, 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-rQom 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
that still remained of the season"
He will propose tomorrow, or per-
haps the day AFTER" 'he whispered to
herself. ''0h, surely, it must come
soon"
1t was the evening before the break
ing up of the gay party that had en-
livened the seaside hotel all summer,
and a brilliant ball had been gotten up
to celebrate the close of the brief, hap.
DIV season. Pauline Sedley had dressed
for this festivity with unusual care
somehow she felt that it was to be 8
crisis in her life. She wore a lemon
colored Grape dress on lemen-colorec
silk, like a fair, aureate cloud. and hel
hair was looped up, In its shining
braids, by slender chains of gold. Hel
toilet, she knew by the murmur thai
, pervaded the ballroom the moment
She entered, was asuccess-and Harolc
Livingstone handsome eyes rested up
on her face with evident admiration.
But the evening passed away, throb
bing its brilliant hours In music anC
perfume. and Harold never came nea
her. She had cavaliers in abundance
she was the cynosure OF all eyes-bu
he, the man of all men, kept obstinate
ly aloof!
Take me to the balcony. l an
sitting for want of fresh al" she said,
almost pettishly, to the partner with
whom she had just glided the rsdowa
Thank you. / need detain you NJ
longer"
And Mr.. Guildersleen. feeling him
self abruptly dismissed, left Pauline by
the side of Major Livingstone and stalk
ed away in high dudgeon.
Harold" she breathed. softly. will
a pleading glance upward into hi.
eyes, ''you have not been near me al
the evening"
II have been very busy with tn,
oompanionship of my own thoughts.
he answered coldly, ''I start for En-
rope tomorrow morning"
''For Europc!"
ITO be gone l hardly know how
many years. may visit India and the
East before Ireturn."
"Harold!
He bent his head in cold courtesy.
II beg your pardon Miss Sedley-did
you speak?"
''You will leave me, Haroldp
II shall be obliged to leave many
kind friends" he returned, indiffer
emily.
There was a cold chill at Pauline.
heart-a dizzy blindness before hel
eyes. but still she commanded herself
With her it was no idle matter of eti
quette-it was struggle for life anC
death!
And you can leave me SO calmly,
HaroldP"
He lightly whispered the bars of 9
popular tune:
Beware, beware of the gay cavalier.
Who loves. and rides away.
Harold" she cries, forgetting in
the moment of agony all her feminine
training. all her womanly impulses. 81
thought you loved me? Oh, Harold, ]
cannot let you go!'
Il am not aware, Miss Sedley, Of
ever having given you any encourage
ment-"
encouragement! she answered bit
terly. What has this ivelong sum-
mer beenp What has your whole
course of conduct toward me been:
Oh, Harold, if you leave me now you
will break my heart"
Pauline" he said, sternly, .try
to recall a night in August
when Ralph Montacute, pleading
for more than life, stood before you.
As you said to him then, I now say to
you: One must amuse ones self at a
place like this, and you certainly ought
to understand the difference between a
mere Irritation and sober earnest
am holding to your lips the bitter cup
that he drank to the dregs. How do
you relish the flavor Miss Sedley. /
have the honor to bid You adieu-for-
ever!'
And Pauline was alone on the flower
wreathed balcony-alone, with the stars
shining above and the sorrowful music
of Strauss waltzes throbbing and
moaning from within. Truly she had
received her lesson!