Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-21

him her hsndina sweet wouaDly sympathy.
never for an instant connecting his words
with herself. He lifted The small hand rev
erently to his lips, and, drawing it through
his arm, turned toward the beach As he
Did so he found himself facing Ned Ire
maine and Laura Lowell, who were coming
IL from the moonlight, and he noticed that
the young mans face was quite white while
there Was q hslfscornful smile on the lips Of
the fair belle Of the seaside. But the two
couples passed each other in silence, the
one going down to the stretch Of glittering
sand, the other going into the dancers.
A week later, and Mollie had inst come
IN from a long tour, peaceful and calm,
spent with Lee in q quiet nook among the
rocks that overbuug 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 be had looked mp
and found her eyes filed with tears. And
now in her own room she was asking her
self how It was that what she had but COM
menced for the purpose of annoying Ned
had IN n brief week slain all her old re.
sentiment against Miss Lowell, and made her
thoughts turn constantly, not to Ned Ire
name, who was her afiaGced husband, but
to Lee Stone, who was termed the creates,
male firt at the beach. What was chang
ing in her lite? When she now met Ned
and Laura it did not pain her as it used.
Was IT because a handsomer face, a 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 ponderings by bring
ing her two messages-one a bouquet OF
white flowers, with q few feathery sprays of
fern amorg their wilderness, and one Grim
son rose cleaning red from their center;
and in it was a note from Lee, asking her
togo for a drive with him by moonlight;the
other was a few angry lines from Ned, ask
ing if she remembered that she was be.
trotbed to him while she allowed every Cos,
sip at the hotel to chatter Of her Irritation
with Lee Stone.
81 have been patient, waiting an oppor'
turity OF speaking to you" he wrote, "but
you will not give me one, so | write to ask
you if you wish our engagement broken; to
all it would seem So"
She trembled a little as 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
a package and wrote him the following
note:
at WAS | who was first taught patience,
while my existence was forgotten for one
who was what you babe me become-'a So
ciety character Why should | fancy you
wished an interview with me of late? 1t is
not 90 long since you could not spare a mo-
ment for me from Miss Lowell. Do | wish
our engagement broken? Perhaps we both
wish it, Ned; at least let US break it, since
so displease you. | send you your letters
and ring"
Then, although a choking sensation was
in her throat, she penned a brief note to
Lee.
~ will be pleased to 90 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 1t strange that he noticed she no
longer wore Ned's ring? Was it strange
that he told her of his love, and that she lis.
tened silently, belieyingly, with a strange
autter at her heart? Was it strange that
when he drove back, lingering beside the
sobbipg ocean, another bond should lie upon
her life? Well, two others walked upon the
strand, two whom the gossips called lovers;
and yet when it was tod that Mollie Annes
wss 10 place happiness in the keeping Of
the firt of the beach" one nan who heard
it turned white as death and shrauk 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 Mollie was too happy to regret, although
she still sometimes remembers.