The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-04-30

| come from one who is said to count his
conquests with cruel pride, and to
whom tho world gives no higher aim
than to fascinate, and-remain care
less: Am too plainP Forgive me-"
81 forgive you freely-as would for
give you all things, Miss Annes; but
neither you nor the world fully under
stand me. may seem a triier; but,
wcro tho woman l love to love me in
return no smile would be to me SO
sweet as hers, no presence half so
dear"
Mollio had been Watching tho 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 wooiingP Can you not win where
you loveP"
His face flushed little at her words.
and she, watching it, was struck by its
strength and beauty. How did it
chance that she had never noticed eth
er beforeP
II am not left the chance to WOO or
win her." he said, slowly; "sho is an
others promised wife.
"Ah," she said, pityingly; and she
| gave him her hand in q sweet, woman
ly sympathy, never for an instant con-
Meeting his words with herself. He
lifted the small hand revcrently to his
| lips, and, drawing it through his arm,
turned toward tho beach. AS he did so
he found himself facing Ned Tremaine
and Laura Lovel, who were coming in
from the moonlight, and he noticed
that the young mans face was quite
white, while there was half-scornful
smile Oil the lips of the fair belle of the
seaside. But the two couples passed
each other in silence, tho one going
down to the stretch of glittering sand,
the other going in to the dancers.
A week later and Mollic had just
.'me in from long hour, peaceful
and calm, spent with Lee in quiet
nook among tic rocks that overhung
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
cd the book ho had looked up and
found her eyes filled with tears. And
now in her own room she was asking
herself how it was that what she had
but commenced for the purpose of an
all her old resentment against Miss
LoYel and made her thoughts turn con-
stantly, not to Ned Trcmainc. who was
her aiiianccd husband, but to Lee Stone,
who was termed the greatest male ilirt
at the beach. What was changing in
her life? When she now met Ned ard
Eaura 1t did not pain her as it used.
Was it because Il handsomer face, q
stronger and noblcr face then Ned's
was constantly near, ready to turn to
her with devotion, ready to light if she
smiled?
| A servant hrnke her ponderings by
bringing her two mcssages-one bou-
quot of white flowers, with few feath-
cry sprays of fern among their white
ness, and one crimson rose cleaning
| red from their center; and in it was
note from Lee, asking her to go for q
drive with him by moonlight; the 9TH
CT was few angry lines from Ned, ask
ing if she remembered that she was be-
trothed to him while she allowed cY-
cry gossip at the hotel to chatter of her
Irritation with Lee Stone.
81 have been patient, waiting an op-
portunity of speaking to you," he
wrote, "but you will not give me one,
SO L write to ask you if you wish our en-
gagement broken; to all it would seem
So"
She trembled 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 package and
wrote him the following note.
at was | who was first taught w.
ticnco, while my existence was forgot
ten for one who was what you bade me
become-'a society character WHY
should fancy that you wished an in
tcrvicw with me of late? 1t is not so
long since you could not spare mo-
mont for me from Miss Lowell Do
wish our engagement brokenp Perhaps
we both wish it, Ned; at least let us
break it, since | SO displcase you.
send you your letters and ring"
Then, although choking sensation
was in her throat, she pepned q brief
note to Lee:
Il will be pleased to go 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 coun-
try.
Was it strange that he noticed she
no longer wore Mods ring? Was it
strange that he told her of his love, and
that she listened silently, bclicvingly,
with strange ilutter at her hearth
Was it strange that when they drove
back, lingering besi!o the sobbing
ocean, another ring should deck her
finger and another bond should lie upon
her life? We'll, two others walked up
on the strand, two whom the gossips
called lovers; and yet when it was told
that Mollio Anncs was toplacc her hap
piness in tho keeping Of 'the tlirt of
the beach," ono 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-
grct, although she still sometimes re-
members. .- Ihiid'tcIphia CGN.
. .
Bill Nyc cn the Etiquette Of Whist.
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