The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-09-22

the rose which had fallen from her belt a
the bottom of the staircase; still less die
she dream whose hand had lifted it from
the polished oaken floor, and whose lip
had tenderly pressed its fading crimson
leaves.
"a fitting souvenir of my faded love
DREAM" muttered Ralph Thorne, bitterl,
as he hid it away close to his heart, ant
went out under the silent summer stars I,
walk and smoke and think, until the gold
en- light paled and died before the risin,
dawn.
In the week that followed-the last weel
that they would all be together at TIN
charming, picturesque old Howard Place
there was no untangling of Che ugly kno
which had so suddenly spoiled the silken
sunny strands of Majorie's life.
Ralph was corteously polite TO her; bu
recklessly DEVOTED to Miss Deming; and
though Majorie's fair face was still swee
and unclouded, there were hard and bite
and misanthropic feelings finding lodgmen
in her heart for the first time in her life
and perhaps she was reckless enough, il
some unguarded moments, to give then
utterance.
In just such mood she was strollinl
through the grounds-so full of retired
hooks that Myrtle Deming was once heard
to declare that Howard Place was flirt's
paradise-when the sound of her own
name suddenly caught her wandering at
tention.
Eyes, lovely as she is, and all that,"-
some one was saying, and Majorie easily
recognized the voice-''it's ten to one Ma
jorie Carroll would have become, in time,
a soured old maid; she was getting so con-
foundedy suspicious about all men being
fortune hunters, you know. But this
Quixotic resolution of hers about giving up
all her wealth to charitable institutions',-
Majore gave great start, and bit her red
lips savagely to keep back the cry of as
tonishment she came near uttering-"will
no doubt save her from such fate as that.
For fellow could easily love her il she
hadn't dollar, you know, only she can't
be convinced of it while she has the
money"
eff she does that" replied another
voice-one that made her heart bound
madly, for it was Ralph Thorne's, and
there was strange, glad thrill in it that
surprised her. "But it can't be possible.
Who told your She would meyer do such
a wild, mad thing as that"
"But she will, tell you," retorted the
other impatiently. ~ had it from Mrs.
Leroy, and she had it straight from the
heiress' own lips. She is perpetually tor
mented by the fear of being married for
her money, and she vows she will resign
every dollar of it rather than run such a
risk. In month from now she will
probably be as little of an heiress as that
pretty Miss Myrtle whom you admire so
But you can ask Mrs. Loroy-you needn't
take my word for it unless you like"
And then rustling of leaves told Ma
jorio that the half-offended news bearer
had taken his departure.
"To give up her wealth l-resign the mil
lion that lifts her as far above me as the
starsp' she heard Ralph exclaim when he
was alone, that glad thrill deepening and
vibrating in his voice. "Heavens! can it
be true? If it eyer does happen, then-ah,
then will be the first to tell her of that
love have hidden so well. Majorie Ma
jorIe!-if YOU"
He stopped, his handsome face flushing
and pallng by turns in his agitation. For
a light step had sounded behind him, and,
wheeling about, he had suddenly found
himself face to face with Maiorie herself.
SIS it true hat-that--" He could
not finish the question he began, feeling
how wild, how improbable it was.
But Majorie came toward him, her brown
eyes glowing, her sweet lips smiling and
her little jeweled hands held out half
pleadngly.
'That am going to resign my wealth."
she finished gayly. "No. may haye made
some foolish remark on the subject to Mrs.
Leroy, but never dreamed that it would
be taken seriously-made anything of at
all. but"
She stopped with startled and troubled
look.
For the instant she uttered that denial
Ralph had drawn back from her, proud
and cold as ever.
For a second Marjorie stood hesirating,
wavering, then:
pardon me If | seem unmaidenly," she
uttered falteringly, her beautiful face
bathed in hot bushes; "but i heard what
you said when you thought yourself alone,
and, Ralph, believe me, -
~ cannot consent to appear in the rolt
of fortune-hunter," hereturned haughtily
"Miss Carroll, forget that ever"
''Ralph! cannot-will not-do not wish
to forgetw she exclaimed passionately, hall
bitterly. 81 meyer entertained such 6
thought of you for single moment. only
thought you did not care for me-that Yor
did !oYe Myrtle Deming-"
"MajorieP
His pride was yanquished now. Those
| blushing cheeks, the deep brown eyes sud
denly grown bright with tears, and that
trembling, faltering Yoice-nothing else
was needed to make him understand his
great, unutterable happiness.
"Never tell me again that pretty cir
who owns a million in her own right ism
the most enYiable being on the globe,
whispers Mrs. Leroy, as she kisses the fail
bride-the owner of said million-just thre,
months later.
A CANDIDATES TRIAL.
| Simnkins L MasprieYed. Maria 10 seI