Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-12-13


that her interest," was pretended :
and. second, that jacks conversation
mas " fpolish.s
Then he felt unaccountably chilled
by the greeting Of the splendidly
dressed Mona, who calmly gave him
the tips of her gloved fingers, with =
pretty little assurance of being glad
to see Mr.. Hays. and the information
that Cecile had been expecting him
Stree the early morning train.
Cecile ~ he said reproachfully
And you. too, Mona ~
"Oh. dear, no, Mr.. Hays. 1t is
quite too exhausting to expect any
thing. One honor at time is quite
SUFFICIENT
Philip was shocked and silenced for
the time. For one distressing half
hour he tried TO assume his right to
position with his betrothed, but she
Kept Jack Christie persistently between
them; and, angra and hurt, he sought
his sister Cecile.
Cecile,n he said, what a change
there is in Mona What is the
cause -
4 wonderful change. never saw
girl improve so rapidly. | suppose
is really the belle? Jack Christie and
Ed Forsyth and half dozen others
are raying about her. Positively they
are, Phila
Very kind of them, butt
Well, so il is, you know; very first
families, and all that kind of thing I;
upon my word, / believe Mona will
make a sensation next winter, and
mamma is quite satisfied now,
But Philip was not. No, not at all /;
very far from il, indeed. That night
at the hop, Mona looked grand enough
for queen; cr gofd..n hair Was ione
up in some pietu, sque style; yards of
satin and lace making track of glory
behind her. and ewels flashing from
her threat and wrists But all in vain
Philip pleaded for dance; Mona had
been gagged every set since break
fast; and she reminded him, rather
maliciously, Of the necessity of obsery-
ing the usages of society. So he had
the satisfaction oil watching the social
triumph of the future Mrs. Hays.
But he was not the victor, and il
hurt him Sorely to be dragged at the
chariot wheels, when he should have
been holding the reins. Before the
world, however, NOna's behavior was
perfectly irreproachable. Not even
his mother suspected any estrange-
.ment for Mona was respectful, kind,
always mindful of the proprieties-but
she took marvellous care never to be
left alone with him.
Three miserable days of continual
disappointment, and then Philip de-
termined to go back to New York and
see Mona no more until he could do so
in her own country home. Perhaps
there he could regain his lost ground !;
but even this determination was very
humiliating to the proud young man
who only one month ago had himself
dictated the very course which was
making him SO wretched.
He could not help blaming himself,
and he did it very thoroughly and re-
Dentantly. Philip Hays was not the
first man who has been sorry for not
letting wei aloner However, he
babe his mother and Cecile good
bye" and gave the regulation kiss to
Mona. who received it with perfect
Dlacidity, and gave him many kind
wishes for his journey; for, as he was
to leave very early in the morning, he
did not expect to see the ladies again
before his departure.
As they passed out Of the parlors,
Mona turned, and for a moment a
flash of the old tenderness made her
face beautiful, her lips parted, and she
hesitated moment as If she would
speak, but finally passed on and away.
Poor Philip lie took bis cigar and
sat down on the dark, silent balcony.
miserable enough. But in about half
an hour a timid little figure stole
through the deserted room and without
warning laid her hand upon his
shoulder.
He turned rapidly. all the great pas
sion which had grown to higher and
deeper intensity in his suffering. burst
out in one imploring whisper Of
Mona -
"Philip -
Well, you know the end. Philip
did not like the fashionable Mona az
all his whole heart cried out for the
sweet, natural girl, whose worth he
had net realized until he thought her
lest Tai g.ed cmls short DIRE SEES, and
RULED apron never again looked
homely in his eyes.
Ever afterward he had the most
wholesome fear OF Mona becoming fash
ionable; and Mona TO this day, when
Philip is in opposition, blandly reminds
him Of his one experiment in man
aging women, and assures him that
in the long run he would not like his
own way. even if he got it. And so he
takes hers, which, after all, have no
doubt, is the most sensible thing he
could do.