Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-12-20

happiness that golden summer when
they had gathered the roses to fill the
china jar, and kissed each other so
often beneath the bending foliage.
Later on, in winter weather, they had
quarreled, because Mabel was dis
pleased at Arthur's flirting with cold
coquette. So the sweet idyl of love came
to sudden end, and Arthur devoted
himself to the girls that Mabel despised
the most. She did not seem to care,
although she favored none of her other
suitors, but smiled on all alike. Her
mamma did not allow her to take ref
uge, like Arthur, in reckless flirting.
"a young girl should be as pure as
white rosebud. The virgin dew ot in
nocence should not be brushed from
her heart by idle flirtations. Let her
keep her love looks and her heart
smiles for her husband" said the wise
matron.
And therein lay the gist of the lovers
quarrel.
Arthur had flirted and Mabel had
taken him to task.
He was so handsome and so rich that
women kept angling for him even after
his engagement was announced, and
his easy masculine vanity soon drew
him into coquette's tolls. He looked
love into her wooing eyes and kissed
her hand because she tempted him.
He knew he was in the wrong, but he
waXed angry at Mabel's naive lectures.
Mamma says a male hirt is even
more despica BILE than a female one and
that truly noble man will not stoop
to pain a woman's heart merely to
crafty his silly vanity. And an en-
gagged man is almost the same as
married man. Mamma says he has no
right"
But her timid arguments were inter-
rupted by Arthur's angry retort:
See here, Mabel, you're beginning
to quote my mother-in-law to me too
socn and 1 tell you plainly won't
stand it now, nor after I'm married,
either"
You can never marry me unless you
change your tickle ways!" flashed Ma
bel, Indignantly, and Arthur, not to be
outdone, replied:
VERY well, Miss Miller, L can soon
find another sweetheart as pretty as
you are, and perhaps not so jealous!"
Mabcl's blue eyes flashed with anger,
and tossing her beautiful golden head,
she threw his diamond ring disdain-
fully at his feet Arthur picked it up
with reproachful glance from his
large, dark eyes, bowed scornfully,
and went away. After that they never
spoke as they passed by.
But, in spite of their outward pride
and alienation, they had loved too
tenderly and truly to change at heart,
and each cherished a secret hope of
reconciliation. She thought that
Arthur would repent and own his
fiult; he believed that Mabel would
repent and call him back
But in one brief month her father
died, and the heart broken wife quickly
followed her husband to the better
land.
Mabel and little Blossom were left
all alone in the cold world. Riches
took wings, and friends forsook the
orphans. With few dollars, and the
old china rose-jar, they removed to a
humble room they had rented in the
cottage of a poor widow There, for a
little while, Mabel half hoped for
hrthur's coming. Surely, if he had
ever loved her, he would throw pride
to the winds and come to her now,
when she was so poor, and sad, and
wretched.
But the long months came and went
without sign from Arthur, and it
was more than two years now since
their angry parting. She seldom went
out, she did not read the newspapers
she was too busy and too poor-so she
did not even know what had become of