The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-01-01
A NEW

What a difference love makes in a
man! Practical and methodical bust
ness man as l always prided myself ]
was, / had been changed and altered to
a romantic, n~onsensical lover, and ]
have not the least doubt but that / was
equally as silly-to the disinterested OBJ
server-as any boy of 30. Then, too,
there came the little moments of hope
or fear, doubt or jealousy, and passions
such as l never dreamed formed part
Of my nature. In fact, / had become a
different being. Ennui and apathy van
ished, and in their stead arose energy
and ambition. The old delights Of the
club bored me now. Poker was obnox-
ious, cards stupid, pool and billiards
tiresome, bowling foolish, baseball
had I ever been crank enough to 20 to
see q game? Even the theater and ger
man were useless and empty, except
with Mabel by my side. o love, what
power is thine! To what mayest thou
not actuate even the dullest meni
April's rainy days were fast draw
ing to a close. 1t was Saturday after
noon, and | had not seen Mabel since
Wednesday! All because of that vexa-
tious ''indisposition" on Friday even
ing. In fact, these frequent illnesses,
occurring so often of late, were begin
ming to alarm me, and / intended to
insist that the doctors advice be asked.
Strange enough, these short spells OF
sickness usually came the same day
each week. had noticed that-and
though they lasted but a short time
barely aday, in ~fact-they were enough
to cause me not a little anxiety.
1t was SO nearly a perfect day / could
not resist the temptation, so shortly aft
or 5 o'clock, all work for the day being
over, / closed the Office and turned my
face toward North Charles street. Ma
bel may be feeling better, / thought,
and a promenade on the avenue will dc
her good. A short, brisk walk up the
fine street, and l stood before my fan
GEES home. The servant who opened
the door appeared to hesitate when
asked if Mabel was feeling better, and
after a moments awkward pause an
swered: Miss Mabel is perfectly well.
Walk into the parlor, SIR"
Perfectly well!" / echoed to myself.
"I'm glad of that" Then, turning to
the servant, who had seen me often be-
fore, / said: "'You need not announce
me. / will surprise her."
Carefully depositing my hat upon the
rack, and after a hasty glance at the
glass-love even makes a man vain
tiptoed softly across the hall and gently
placed my hand upon the knob Of the
parlor door. I wa on the point Of en-
tering the room when / fancied I heard
talking. / stopped and listened. Yes,
Mabel was conversing with some one.
Possibly some girl friend, and my pres
ence would be an intrusion or an EN-.
barrassment. / paused. It seemed
strangel Mabel entertaining a visitor
with all the parlor doors closed! There
she was speaking again, but SO low and
soft / could not understand a word. For
fully a minute / stood thus in a guam
dairy, not knowing how to act, when
suddenly Mabel raised her voice, and in
bewilderment ] distinctly heard:
And you will always be true-no
matter what comes. what fortune may
bring?"
"Ah, dearest, can you doubt mep''
came the astounding answer. "Can you
question the depth Of my lover"
l was dumfounded. THE depth
Of What did it all mean? 1t was
no woman's voice that ! heard, for the
words had been spoken by a man-a
man for whom in that one instant
conceived a violent hatred. My God
Could it be possible that Mabel, my
dear loving Mabel, had decei- "No!''
cried in my heart, checking the awful
thought. Unjust have heard wrongly y
The voices had subsidized once more,
and for a few minutes, though I pressed
close to the door and strained every
nerve, | could not distinguish a solitary
word. Presently the sounds became
more audible and the words clearer.
With caution ! pressed anxiously for.
ward.
But ! wanted to surprise You, love, .
said Mabel affectionately.
well, dear, You have done 80 mosi
effectually, came the equally affection.
| ate response.
Good heavens! My hand dropped Il
my side, and / staggered across the hal
es IL ! had been shot. / was stunned.
Utterly bewildered, I stood az one II
. dream. My entire life seemed in tina
ono minute TO pass in frightful vision
before my gaze. Was this the retribu
ton OF a just fate, that /, who had al
ways been d hater of womankind, /,
scoffer at all things feminine, SHOULD
Fall % deeply In love, dream-sat
dreams-that love reciprocated and thel
suddenly learn that the woman I cher
ished and believed true and faultiess, fo
whom no sacrifice had been or WA to-
! great, this woman had trifed with me