The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-23
this tickle, faithless woman had deceived


me?
How long the painful reverie contin-
ued have no idea. 1t may have been u
few seconds; it may have been an hour
Cannot tell. 1 was dead to all feel
ing save that of my humiliation and
Shame. Impulse led mo to seize my hat
and leave the house, hide my head from
the sight of men and ever af, II cut So
ciety.
Still musing, l turned to take my
hat, when loud, merry laugh from the
parlor woke mo to my senses. Laugh
ing! They were laughing over it, I
could stand it no longer. Pain and sor-
row fled, and Only the wcu:ld to my
honor remained.
Surprise and establishment gave way
to resentment and anger. Anger became
hatred. Dashing my poor hat upon the
floor, l rushed to tho door. My blood
seemed to boil within me. Unconscious
ly clinched my fists.
Again that gay laugh. Surely my
name was mentioned that time! They
were laughing at me, were they? All,
trif1ers, beware! He laughs best who
laughs last.
Thought upon thought rushed upon
me and drove mo nigh to desperation.
What an ass, what a dolt had been!
And hereatter-curse it all!-I would
be laughing stock for all the busybody
gossipers of the city.
Il wonder what George will saw
when he finds it all out?' heard Ma
bel say, and then she laughed again,
even hearticr than before
"Oh, fancy he will be the most as
tonished man in the city," answered
her companion, joining in the laugh.
have often read the old fablo about
the last straw breaking tho cancels
back, and this last jeering allusion to
myself, that hcartless laugh, cxasperat-
ing i'll its mocilery, was tho last straw.
Unable further to restrain myself, |
flung open the door and rushed into the
room. Without a word l sprang toward
that man, and not even pausing TO
glance at his face l caught him fercely
by tho napo of the neck and dragged
him TO tho center of the room.
"Georgen shriekcd Mabel, regaining
her voice.
Let go, | say cried tho fellow at
my feet, shaking me off after mighty
effort. George Froham, are you era
zy?"
Tom Holbrook!" exclaimed, recog-
nizing prominent member of my own
set You scoundrcl! Pip
George, George!' cried Mabel,
grasping me tightly and trying to hold
me back. Are you mad? What's the
matter?''
The mattcr!' almost yelled, re-
leasing her hold. Can you dare to ask
me such question:"
"Can l dare? What do you mean,
George? I don't understand you"
II mean" replied, THAT 1 have
been standing by that door and have
heard the loving words -
What" interrupted Mabel, "you
Yes, | continued, II heard the
tender names and loving words you
whispered SO affectionately to one an
other You, Tom Holbrook, rascal that
you are''---
A sudden idea seemed to strike the
fellow, for, disregarding my hot words,
he actually smiled. "Ah, taught" l
yelled. iii teach you to laugh, sir
AS lOr lnlS girl mere -
turned toward Mabel as l spoke,
when TO my utter CONSERVATION 1 saw
that she, too, was smiling. 1t was too
much. With loud cry raised my
hand to strike the fellow, but Mabel
clutched my arm so suddenly and close
ly that the blow was checked.
George, George!" she cried, LET
me explain this to you!"
Explain?' queried. do you
mean to say that you will try to clear
yourselves in my cyes?''
"Of course l WILL, she answered.
still smiling. Il had no idea you were
such an Othello. Tom and are to play
lovers parts in tho performance at the
Odcon next month, and we were merely
rehearsing the lines. Don't you seo:''
You take in amateur theatricals
Why, l thoroughly debut you never
told me a word about it,
mo, George. They had all agreed
not to mention it to you, and 1 was 60
ing to surprise you the day beforehand.
But" she continued teasingly, Mr..
Othello No. 2 has spoiled all the fun.
Now dom you see, dear?'
And | Saws. j. Block in Philadel-
phia Inquirer.