The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-09-17

Oey lie AFFORDED. vane stephenson Was
different from the style of men from
whom she came in customary contact,
and she had fallen in love with him.
She had heard in vague sort OF way
that he had been sattentive" to some
unknown girl not in society, but she did
not hold there was any definite engage
ment. Stephenson had been rather care
full about leaving her unenlightened on
that point. do not know whether II
would have made any difference with
her if she had known. Her belief was
that any woman was entitled to tel
low" If she could get him. For her
own part. she did not despair OF .get-
ting" this particular one now. She was
clever enough to know what she was
about in suggesting his coming to the
Springs. The hourly propinquity of a
fashionable hotel at country resort,
the horseback rides in common, the
rows, the moonlight saunterings-they
were doing their accustomed work.
And Bell-Bell at home in the hot
city with complaining Jessie and Tom.
who could '.get nothing to do, and all
the children-Bell with hollows deepen
ing under her sad eyes-was forgotten.
Miss Lawton's marriage to Vane
Stephenson was among the first of the
autumn weddings. 1t made quite a
ripple of excitement. Lawton pere had
become reconciled, having had no al
tentative left him. The artistic coterie
decided that '.Beauty" had done good
thing for himself.
Hang that fellows luckw said one
knight of the palette. 81 thought he
was engaged to some girl as poor as
himself waiting to make his fortune to
marry her."
"Oh-engaged! don't think that.
Spooney, perhaps.
And thus here, too, among his asso-
ciates, no one knew of Bell. Immedi-
ately after the wedding Mr.. and Mrs.
Stephenson had gone abroad. Vane had
seemed rather anxious to get away
from old scenes for time. When they
returned the following spring Vane one
day met Tom upon the street. Since
his ring. his letters. his photographs
and his few little gifts to her had been
sent back without a word or line. it
was the first time any one belonging to
Bell had crossed Vane Stephenson
path. Tom was going to pass on. He
was very shabby. Tom had always been
more or less shiftless, and money in his
Golfers had never been plenty, but Vane
had not seen him look like this before.
He stopped and put out his hand, pal
ing a little. Tom did not seem TO no.
tice the hand.
s.How-how is Belle" asked Vane, I'M.
comfortably.
Tom looked at him with sudden
fame is his usually mild blue eyes.
'.What do you want to know fors
She is nothing to you.''
'Look here. You may say what you
like to me. But / WANT want-to
know if Bell is well and happy"
''Then you wont be gratified. said
Tom. with bottomless contempt "As
to her being happy-if you mean
whether she regrets you, I don't sup
pose she does. She knows what you
are now. doesn't she9" He stopped
with sneer. Were poorer than ever,
and she has to work harder. What is
it to you? You've put yourself in q
soft place. haven't your Well. let Bell
aloner
He went on up the street. the momen-
tary dignity of his anger collapsing and
leaving him as limp and shutting Is be-
fore. Vane Stephenson stood q mo-
ment motionless, lost in-what thoughts
who shall pretend to sayP-N r Her
curry.