The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1888-09-22
Majorie's Money.
BY CLYDE RAYMOND.

IL every one could only be as fortunate
as Miss Carroll!' laughed Mrs. Leroy, with
a sort of good-natured envy, as that young
lady came mp and joined the little group
that had been gayly discussing the theme
of matrimony. "Just think of the luxury
of meyer having to bother ones head about
the prospects of favored suitor-never
having to worry oyer the matter-of-fact,
prosy side of love and marriage When
one has million the whole subject becomes
simply one of poetry and romance, and be-
sides, she has all the world to choose from,
you see."
Majorie Carroll smiled as she broke off a
splendid crimson-hearted rose and stuck it
carelessly in her belt against the pure
whiteness of her dress And as she smiled
her soft brown eyes turned, half uncon-
sciously, toward Ralph Taorne.
'Yet even such a fortunate creature as
you deem the heiress to million may have
her troubles, her difficulties,p she ans
wered calmly. "You say she has all the
world to choose from, Mrs. Leroy, but just
think of the multitude of cold-blooded for
tune hunters that may be included in the
number. Isn't that enough to turn all the
poetry of her eXistense into the dryest kind
of prose-"
1t was light, unmeaning speech, uttered
without the faintest tinge of bitterness, and
ending with bright little laugh as the
lovely brown eyes turned, half-chidingly,
upon the pretty, envious little widow.
But to Ralph Thorne's sensitive ear
there was veiled sarcasm in the light
tones, hidden purpose in the frankly
spoken words, and that purpose was to
warn him that his loYe was hopeless, that
in her eyes lie was merely one of the "cold-
blooded fortune hunters" whom she held
in such calm contempt.
His handsome face flushed proudly and
his gray eyes glowed with sudden swiftly
kindled anger. but he made no reply. He
moved out of the little circle moment
after, and Majorie's brown eyes followed
him, with puzzled look in their beautiful
depths, as he strolled over TO the spot
where stood Myrtle Deming-the 1irt par
excellence of the company at Howard
Place-and after a few minutes conversa-
tion, escorted her to the house, from
whence their two voices soon came floating
out to those in che grounds, blendharing
moniously in the notes of popular duet.
$50 Myrtle has drawn him into her train
at last" she thought, her lovely face cloud
ing with regret. "But she will break his
heart. She is the last girl in the universe
to marry such as he. He is too noble
and too poor-for her,"
A faint blush rose to Majorie's fair
cheeks at those last words.
All, yes, it was truel With "all the
world to choose FROM" Majorie Carol, the
in her secret heart, this man-the hand
soonest, the noblest, and the proudest of all
her scores of suitors.
Ii had never occurred to her TO doubt
his honor; therefore she did not dream that
her own little speech, which had no inn
portance whatever, TO herself, had driven
him from her side.
But she did believe now that she had
mistaken those numberless intangible It'll c
signs which she had fancied meant loYe on
his part, and her cheek burned more and
more hotly at the remembrance,
81 cannot have all sunshine IN my life" "
she murmured, with thrill of bitterness
in the sweet, low tones that had never
| IL Al. se
with gold. 1t will be my fate to lose the
only heat have ever cared TO win."
She went into the drawing-room Will
the rest after awhile, but Ralph Thorn'
meyer seemed aware OF thethy, half-won
dering glances which those thrilling brown
eyes now and again inyoluntarily sent il
his direction.
And when the gay evening, with il
lights and laughter and music, was over
and half-dozen bright-eyed bellies wen
trooping up the broad stairs together
Myrtle Deming whispered confidentially T.
Majorie that she had brought over "tha
; proud, distant fellow, Ralph Thorne," a
last, and positively she had never know
until this evening, how thoroughly hand
some and positively fascination he coul
be-"
As the starry, blue eyes of the prett
fllrt which had done such dangerous wor
before, now flashed look of smiling tri
umph into hers, Majorle gave back laugh
ing answer, and passed on to her room.
And how many there would have enYie