Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-04-27

tempted 70 become personal when
such remarks come from one who
is said to count his conquests with
cruel pride, and to whom the world
gives no higher aim than to fasci.
nate-and remain careless Am |
200 plaini Forgive me-"
Il forgive YOU fIeely-as | would
forgive YOU all things, Miss Annes;
out neither you nor the world fully
understand me. | may seem trifler;
but were the woman love TO love
me IN return no smile would be 10
me so sweet as hers, no presence
half SO dear"
Mollie bad been watching the
couple on the sands going slowly
back and forth, 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, thcni"
she asked, gently. Have Won
tailed IN your wooingi Can you not
win where YOU lover
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 it beforci
81 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 sweet.
womanly sympathy, never for an
instant connecting his words with
herself. He lifted the small hand
rcverently TO his lips, and drawing
IT through his arm turned towards
the beach. As he did so he found
himself facing Ned Trcmainc and
Laura Lovcl, who where coming i'm
from the moonlight, and he noticed
that the young mans face was quite
white, while there was a half scorn-
ful smile on the lips Of the belle Of
the seaside. But tho two couples
passed each other in silence, the one
going down to the stretch OF the
giiitering sand, the other going in
to the dancers.
a week latei, and Mollic had lust
come in from a long hour, peaceful
and calm, spent with Lee in a quiet
nook among the rocks that overhung
the ocean. lie 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 ewes
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 an
noying Ned had in one brief week
slain all her old resentment against
Miss Lovel and made her thoughts
turn constantly, not TO Ned IRE.
maine, who was her aAianced hus.
band, but TO Lee Stone, who was
termed the greatest flirt at the beach
What was changing in her lifci
When she now met Ned and Laura
It did no. pain her as il used. Was
II because a handsomer face, a
stronger and a nobler face than
Ned's was constantly near, ready 10
turn 20 her with devotion, ready to
light IL she smiledY
A servant broke her ponderings
by bringing her two messages-one
bouquet OF white flowers with a few
feathery sprays Of fern among their
whiteness and one crimson rose
cleaning red from their center, 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 IL she
remembered that she was betrothed
to him while she allowed every
gossip at the hotel to chatter Of her
Irritation with Lee Stone.
Il have been patient, waiting an
opportunity Of speaking 20 you, he
wrote, "but you will not give me
one, so / write 10 ask youif you wish !
our engagement broken; to all il
would seem So"
She trembled a little as she read
and her sweet face changed color
but she went 10 her desk, drew
from il every letter hc had ever sent
to her, formed them and his ring in
a package, and wrote bin the fol
lowing note.
"It was / who was first taught
patience while my existence was
forgotten for one who was what
you bade me become society
character Why should ! fancy
that you wish an interview with
me Of later II is not so long since
you could not spare q moment for
me from Miss Lovcl. Do ! wish
our engagement hrokcn2 Perhaps
we both wish IL, Ned at least lct
US break it, since ] so displeasc you.
] send you your letters and ring"
Then, although q choking sensa.
ton was in her throat, she penned
brief note 20 Lee.
- slall be pleased 10 20 with
YOU that was all, and in the star.
Iight-the moon rose latc-she went
with him ont over the beach and
far along thc country.
Was it strange that be noticed shc
no longer wore Ned's ringY Was
u strange that he told her Of his
love, and that she listened silently,
believingly, with a strange futter