Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-05-05
GWendoIine Dane.
A LOVE STORY.
BY MRS. w. Ii. PALMER.

III was warm morning 10 Au-
gust. On the broad piazza ola large
hotel a group of ladies and gentle
men were seated, idling away the af-
ter break fast hour.
what lovely day TO battle! l
mean to stay in the water for hours
saidJul;aMarQuand, "a fair, elegant girl,
in simple white gown. care you
going in, Miss Dane?"
She turned toward wendoline
Dare, who sat little distant, lean
ing her e bows on the railing and
looking absently off at the water.
GwendoIiue turned almost sharp
ly upon the interlocutor.
Really, | haven't decided. 1
don't suppose your pleasure depends
upon my company"
The two girls looked at each other
the one fine, keen, controlled con-
yentional, the other.
Poor Gwendoline, accustomed to
supremacy, unused to restraint, was
no match for Miss Marquand, who
replied with delicate malice:
"Oh, it's great deal more fun
when you are along"
"Why ~
Julia Marquand smiled her sweet
smile and turned her heavenly blue
eyes toward Alex Vincent, who was
talking to Miss Chatworth, and try
ing not to hear what Gwendoline and
Julia were saying.
The blood rushed crimson over
Miss Danes face and throat. She
understood the silent reply. Julia
Marquand's "fun" consisted in MAX
ing her jealous.
" am fortunate in serving you
for an object of amusement" she
said, with unconcealed temper
She rose and walked away TO the
end Of the piazza. A moment later
they saw her, beach hat in hand, TAX,
ing her way alone toward the rocks.
"You bad better follow, Mr.. Vim.
cent. You may be needed to pre-.
vent q suicide" remarked Miss Mar.
quand, sweetly.
81 think you could drive most
any one 10 suicide if you set out,
he said, gloomily, leaving Miss Chat
worth and standing by Julia Mar
quands chair.
cob, l haven't so much influence
as you think. Over you, for in
stance, l have none at ALL"
" Isn't that a rash conclusion ?"
"No, Alex. 1t rests on a sure
foundation"
What, pray ?"
Your conduct last April she
said, dropping her voice.
You are severe-too severe.
| know broke an engagement with
| you without apology but consider
the 'spubs' you had given me during
the season."
Il was only acting the part O
prudence"
True. I was a beggarly fellow
without any visible means ofsupport
in that long ago."
And now vou have competence
and keeper So convenient to in.
herit them together"
Vincent bit his lip. Julia Mar
grand had got hold of the story o.
Gideon Danes will somehow, and
she chose to insinuate whenever op.
portunity offered that Alexis engage.
ment to Miss Dane was his means o.
securing the fortune. That other
wise And there she paused. But
there were mutual friends who re.
membered that Vincent had beer
''sweet" on Julia Marquand in day:
gone by.
-" Well, | must look after my keep.
err it seems" he said, lightly, lifting
his straw hat to the ladies and Sc.
ting out in the direction Gwendolin.
had taken.
Alex had New Englander's hor
ror of scenes" He could not bell
admiring Julia Marquand's tact anc
repose in contrast to Gwendoline'
impulsive self betrayals.
Gwendoline, on her great planta
ton, mistress of all she surveyed
was the most brilliant and seductiv
creature he had ever known; Blu
Gwendoline in society was-he ad
mitted-a little too demonstrativ
for correct taste.
! Her jealousy of julia Marquan,
he told himself, was absurd. He ha
fancied Miss Marquand-he did no
deny that he had once fancied bel
But she was mo goodn at mate
and had "snubbed" him. 1t tickle