The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-09


stood on the hotel terrace, watching the
moonlight on the sea and strand, and
one solitary couple pacing slowly along
beside the waters. Both knew who
they were, for a few minutes before
they had seen Ned Tremaine place that
pale pink scarf about the shoulders Of
Miss Laura Lovel as he led her across
the terrace, too much engrossed in his
task, it would seem, to notice MolIie or
her companion.
"Oh everybody firts more or less at
a seaside hotel; one has nothing else to
do. YOU know MolIio answered Lee
with a little ripple of laughter, and he
looked on the pretty face to which the
moonlight was so tender, his voice sink
ing almost to a whisper as he spoke to
her.
'It is a cowardiy pastime for man, "
he said softly, land for a woman it is g.
cruel one"
A-ain she laughed, while arran ging
the bracelet on her arm; touch of
mockery was in the ripping voice
"AnI you-is it pleasant to know
that You are cruel and cowardIy2' she
questioned. zone is tempted to be-
come personal when such remarks come
from one who is said to count his con-
quests with cruel pride, and to whom
the world gives no higher aim than to
fascinate-and remain careless. Am
too plain7 Forgive me-"
81 forgive you freely-as I would
forgive you all things, Miss Anness: but
neither you nor the world fully under
stands me. Imay seem a trit1er; but
were the woman l love to love me in
return no smile would be to so sweet as
hers, no presence half so dear"
Molhe had been Watching the couple
oa the sands going slowly btck and
forth, back and forth in the moonlight;
now she lifted her sweet young face
and looked at him with a sort of Won
dering pity.
'Do we all wrong you, then" she
asked, gently. Have you failed in
your wooing2 Can you not win where
you love2'
His face flushed a little at her words,
and she, watching it, was struck by its
strength and beauty. How did it
chance that she had never noticed it
bcfore2
Il am not left the chance to WOO or
win her." he said, slowly; ''she is
another's promised WIFE"
''Ah," she said, pityingly; and she
gave him her hand in a sweet, womanly
sympathy, never for an instant connect
ing his words with herself. He lifted
the small hand reverently to his lips,
and drawing it through his arm turned
towards the beach. AS he did so he
found himself facing Ned Tremaine and
Laura Lovcl, who were coming IN from
the moonlight, and he noticed that the
young man' face was quite white, while
there was q half scornful 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 the glittering sand, the other
going in to the dancers.
A week later, and Mollie had just
come in from a long hour, peaceful and
calm, spent with Lee in a quiet nook
among the 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 closed
the book he 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 COM
menced but for the purpose of annoy
ing Ned had in one brief week slain all
her old resentment against Miss Lovel
and made her thoughts turn constantly,
not to Ned Tremaine, who was her aft
anced husband, but to Lee Stone, who
was termed the greatest firt at the
beach. What was changing in her ife2
When she now met Ned and Laura it
did not pain her as it used. Was it be-
cause a handsomer face, a stronger and
a nobIer face than Ned's was constantly
near, ready to turn to her with devo-
ton, ready to light if she smiIed2
Aservant broke her ponderings by
bringing her two messages - one a
boquet of white flowers with a few
feathery sprays of fern among their
whitcness and one crimson rose gleam-
lag red from their centre, and in it was
a note from Lee asking her to go for a
| drive with him by moonlight; the other
was a few angry lines from Ned, asking
if she remembered that she was be-
trothed to him while she allowed every
gossip at the hotel to chatter OF her
filtration with Lee Stone.
II 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