Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-11-19
PLAYED AND LOST

A slight, pale-f faced girl sat silently
towing with piece of needIework on
the low porch of her mothers house
handsome young man lay stretched at
her feet On the lawn another young
couple were engaged in game of GRO
quet. The suns last CLEAN lighted up
Grace Munson's face with a halo Of
beauty, and Bernard Norton looked at
her with undisguised admiration.
There is nothing so lovely as lovely
woman" he said aloud.
The pale cheeks of Clarice Barton
flushed as she quickly glanced at the
speaker 1t was the third time within
the hour that he had referred to her
cousin Grace's beauty.
Grace is indeed lovely" she said.
Il would give half my life to be as beau
tiful."
And I would give half my fortune
to have you So
No sooner were the words uttered
than Norton would have given much to
recall them; but he had spoken un-
thinkingly. Clarice shrank as though
she had been struck, arose quickly and
went into the house.
Il am in a pretty fix now Norton
muttered, as he arose and walked across
the lawn. That was nice speech for
a fellow to make to a girl he expects to
marry And Clarice is as proud as
Lucifer too-high- strung as she is
plain, and that is saying a great deal,
by Jove! | never noticed her lack of
beauty SO much before Grace came A
pity one can't find all things combined
in one woman! Wonder if / ought to
apologize ? Oh, well, I'm going away
in ten days, and she'll forgive and for
get. Absence makes the heart softer
And with this consoling thou 5ht he
strolled ON to Join Grace Munson whose
companion was just taking his leave.
Grace was like delicate flower spark
ling with the dew of morning She
had soft blue eyes, an exquisite COM
plexion, and golden hair. Altogether
she made picture of rare beauty, and
it was no wonder that Bernard Norton
found pleasure in merely looking at her.
That evening Clalice did not appear
in the drawing groom, and Norton was
free to devote himself to her lovely
cousin. Mrs. Barton observed his con-
duct with displeasure; from the first
she had not approved of her daughters
suitor, and wondered what attraction
the careless, frivolous young man haC
for her sensible Clarice.
Next morning note was handed
Norton. Its coAtents filed him with
mingled annoyance and relief.
When you receive this" Clarice
wrote, Il shall have gone to my aunt
for time. You do not love me, Eer-
nard, and it is best for our engagement
to end. Be happy in your own way
and be very sure | shall be in mine.
That was all, and Bernard's self Is.
TEEN was seriously wounded by the
epistle But he consoed himself with
the thought that he was now free to
WOO the charming Grace, and at the end
of the month made formal avowal of
love to her.
Il have loved you ever since we
met, he said. "Clarice saw this and
generously set me free. And Grace,
who had become very much enamored
VI HeT IlduuSOLl6 SullOI, gave ulnl INC
answer he craved.
Two weeks later Mrs Barton and
Clarice were on their way to Europe, and
Bernard was trying TO submit to the
stern decree of Grace's father.
Yes, sir, you can marry my daugh-
ter Mr.. Munson had said, if You love
her well enough to wait three years. I
am opposed to early marriages, No
girl is fit for wedlock before she is
twenty one, and twenty y-tiye is still bet
ter"
1t occurred to Bernard that he was
likely to spend the greater part of his
youth in the capacity of an engaged
man, and he did not improve in hu-
NOR thereby.
Grace was an acknowledged belle,
and for time he was pleased at her
success. But there was secret bitter
ness underlying his pleasure, for he
saw little of his betrothed except in So
cietys whirlpool. There would be no
change in this state of affairs until their
time of probation ended, and feeling in
false position, he concluded to spend
the remaining year in travel.
When he bade Grace good-by he was
struck with the fact that she looked
much older than she did at the time of
their engagement Two years of dissi-
patton had left their mark upon her
delicate beauty.
Be careful, Grace, he said. Keep
some of your roses for me until ] claim
you
He said nothing of her fidelity he
was only afraid she might lose the
beauty he worshipped.
Grace was sorry to lose her lover;
she felt desolate for a whole day, and
cried herself to sleep the first night.