Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-08-02
MIRIAM'S MISTAKE.

hotel; grand equipages whirled over the
glittering sands; ship in full sail was Wis
Ible in the channel; the sun was sinking
INTO the water line Of the horizon.
Miriam Brice ventnor said. his voice
husky. his manner agitated, II have the
sight to ask your reason for this rejection"
He was locking at her with SO much d.
ectness that she did not care to have her
yes meet his.
"No, you have not" she replied, the
eolor coming and going In her face. "Still
I'll tell you. am prompted by revenge"
"By revenge"
"Yes," was her measured reply. IL want
you to suffer-"
"And you enjoy iti Then you know how
much love you, it seems. always knew
you did not question that"
They had been seated on bench outside
small pavilion, but were now standing
She was suffering more than she would
have cared to have him know and was i'm
patient to get away.
"Pray, in what way have wronged your
be asked. mot In thought, word or act
consider myself the soul of honor"
"Oh, you dor" and she laughed mocking-
ly. Instead, you are man without prin-
ciple."
He groaned aloud In his powerful effort
TO repress his angry indignation.
~ am not avenging myself, but another"
she said, speaking with rapidity. "Did
you ever know Blanche Carrollf oh, 1t is
not necessary for me to remind you Of
your baseness."
When Miriam Gray reached her room at
the hotel, reaction set In, and her great
grief showed how devotedly she loved the
man whom she insulted. She flung her
self upon the bed and cried as If her heart
were broken.
"Oh, Blancher she exclaimed aloud be
tween her bysterical sobs, ''you are avenged,
but you will never know what 1t has cost
me. Oh, why was / to love him so passion
ately before / heard about his perfidyf"
Early though It was, she retired to bed,
but it was almost dawn before she fell
asleep, SO intense was her suffering.
Three years later again found Miriam
GRAY at the seashore. She had not met
Brice ventnor during that interval, nor had
she heard from him.
She was as handsome as ever and more
royal In her manners, but her face and con-
versation lacked brilliancy. She was more
Quiet and reserved, more chary In her
friendships, ready to suspect and heartily
tired of the hollowness Of fashionable life.
Her love affair with Brice Ventnor had
caused the change. In furnishing him for
his perfidy to her cousin Blanche she had
sacrificed herself She could never love
another man as she had loved him.
AS she was one day walking on the beach
with her cousin Blanche they suddenly
came upon Brice Ventnor. He was alone
and stood still for minute. the meeting
was SO unexpected to him. The board walk
was so high and narrow just there, and the
ladies could not get away.
He lifted his hat, looked mournfully and
reproachfully at Miriam, as II half inclined
to speak. then sprang from the walk and
strobe toward the nearest pavilion.
Miriam recognized him and was touched
at the look he had bestowed upon her.
"who was that superb looking gentle
manS" asked her cousin Blanche Did he
bow to you or to mef"
Receiving no reply, she looked up into
her companions face
"Why, Miriam, how pale You are" she
exclaimed, "and how agitated."
"Blanche, do you mean to say that you
do not know this manY asked Miriam, her
voice a mere whisper.
~ never saw him until today" was her
Cousins reply.
"Ohp' cried Miriam, catching her breath,
one hand unconsciously clinched. rs he
not the man who trified with your"
"Brice Ventnori" exclaimed Blanche.
"Why, no, child"
The blood receded from Miriam's lips, and
n low moan escaped from them. She grew
so weak for little while that she was
forced to lean heavily upon Blanche, who
conducted her to one of the rustic benches.
She famed her, rubbed her hands and
spoke to her In soothing tones. When her
cousin had sufficiently recovered, she said:
Miriam, what is this mysterys"
"Oh, am so afraid that have wronged
him, for supposed that was avenging
you. His name is Brice Ventnor."
"Ehp exclaimed Blanche who was be
ginning to comprehend. "He Is not the
Brice Vsntnor that knew" and her voice
shook with emotion. "Can It be that there
are two gentlemen of the same namef
remember hearing him say that he had
some cousins Oh, am 80 sorry, and So
so-glad."
Miriam Gray looked at her friend in q
sort Of stupor.
Sorry, dear, because of what you have
suffered and glad because everything will
yet come out all right"
Miriam mournfully shook her head.
"He will never forgive me-" she said.
HE is proud and sensitive. My words cut
deep; all the more so because undeserved.
gave him no explanation-no chance to
defend himself"
"You can explain now," suggested
Blanche.
NO" replied Miriam in q strained tone,
proud look coming to her face.
She wrung her hands and moaned, and
nothing that Blanche could say carried con-
ISOLATION with IL. Her love had been but
dormant-it reasserted itself Brice Vent
nor had been blameless She had deeply
wronged him. She was paying the penalty
for her haste.
III would tell him al" advised Blanche
"He may spurn me-" cried Miriam
through her sobs. HE may be as cruel and
unreasonable as was and with more of an
excuse IL happened three years ago. He
may love some one else now; nay, he may
be married to another. There is nothing
for me to do but to remain silent and-en-
aure."
Her grief was 30 great that Blanche ceased
her efforts to pacify her.
The orchestra was playing q quadrille,
the dancers were gliding gracefully to and
fro, lights flashed, diamonds sparkled, fans
glittered, eyes beamed- Miriam Gray sat
on the veranda by an open window, looking