The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-01-09

the room once more she encounters pair
of dark brown eyes fixed upon her with
such strange, unusual light in their
depth that she pauses, and the rich color
comes in great wave into her cheeks.
Paul Conrad makes quick, eager step
towards her. but she throws up her head
and walks to the table and in voice that
strives to be natural says: "Good morning
Mr. Conrad. | did not hear you enter.
81 have not been here long, he returns
simply in his manly voice, and it is impos-
sible for Mabel to discover whether he was
witness to the scene between she and her
husband or not
In the Spring before our story opens the
Mayhughs, finding themselves much in
debt, had been obliged to resort to taking
boarders But to obtain them seemed hard
work, and in July We find them with only
one. Paul Conrad, wishing to spend the
summer far from the madding crowds of
the great City of New York, and wishing
to write of the manners and customs Of the
New Englanders before going to his South
ern home in Columbia, had taken up his
quarters with Dudley and pretty Mabel
Mayhugh, in their neat but humble cot
tage.
Dudley Mayhugh, himself, he merely en-
dured, that's ALL There could be nothing
in common between the dissipated gambler,
and the gentle refined Southerner, even
though he had good blood in his veins and
well educated. Mabel he had learned to
love as only man of his age and his ma
ture can love. In his thirty-five years of
life he had seen some of the fairest women
of our own and foreign lands, but no where
had he found such mate refinement and
purity For her sake he had had many a
hard battle with himself to keep from Civ
ing Mayhugh good thrashing, but know
ing that if he were to do so her name
would be dragged through the mire of a
gossipping country town, he had refrained
and until this morning had never showed
bv word or deed what he felt for her. 1t
came like shock to them both But
what woman under Gods stars could not
understand the look in those tender brown
eyes bent upon her as she raised hers, tear
full to his face. An electric shock passed
through her, the exquisite joy of the knowl-
edge numbed her for an instant and the
quick flush on her cheek told him she un-
derstood. They finish their meal in silence.
The marble pallor of Mabel's fair face does
not change. Once while handing him
something their hands touch. Hers were
as cold as ice "You are not we'll this morn
ing Mrs. Mayhugh, your cough was worse
last night, let me call by the doctors for
you" he says in a gentle tone, oh so gen.
tie. "Oh l am quite well thank you 1t
is only the heat, and will not trouble you,
and in lower tone, Dudley will say | am
growing fanciful." "Fanciful indeed p
he says hotly, ''can't he see you are dying p
But presently he is his cool, courteous self
again, and retires. How Mabel gets through
that day she never knows. Paul Conrad
remains away. She hears nothing more
from Dudley, and it is time for him to be
home for his supper before going on night
duty at the great cotton mills of Fallen,
Fallen & Co., where he is employed as
foreman.
The day had been excessively warm and
and as it draws to close, signs of an ap-
preaching storm are evident, breeze has
has sprung up, vivid sheets of lightning
appear and are followed by Gods water
wagons, which, in my childish Imagination,
I use to wonder why they made such a
noise, when | was told the streets were of
gold and the walls Of jasper. The storm
has come on fast, the wind is higher and
the lightning more frequent and vivid, but
as yet no rain has fallen. Mabel alone in
the cottage, save for the woman in the
kitchen, is nearly frantic with fear for her
husband and Paul Conrad "0h what
shall do" she thinks as standing near the
window, she watches the great sheets of
lightning as they food the streets; but not
sound comes from her lips. have very
little respect for a woman who, at the first
signs of approaching danger, commences to
wiring her hands and cry. But how few
are there who do not do so? Presently
the storm comes on in all its fury. The
rain comes down in torrents and Mabel
Mayhugh, standing at her cottage window,
little dreams of what will take place, nay,
of what is already in progress e'er the sun
again shines, this worn old world to warm
Amid roll of thueder the door opens un-
perceived by the silent watcher at the win
dow, and Paul Conrad enters with drip
ping garments, and face white and hag-
gard. His great loving heart goes out to
her as she stands there at the window with
slender hand on either side of her face
vainly trying with her deep blue eyes to
pierce the dense darkness without For
getting all else save he loved her and she
was in trouble he steps up and gently
draws her hand away. "Mabel, little
Mabel, with face against the pane" he says.
At the sound of his voice she turns and as
their eyes meet she realizes for whom she
has been watching and with the knowledge
that he is safe great peace fills her soul
He sees the light in her eyes and tries to
draw her to him, but even in that moment