Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-04-19


that she loved him more than her life
and that she would be his forever?
Ralph did not doubt for moment that
Miss LYONS professions of love were sim
cere. Other actresses might be tickle,
but his Lucy was purity and cOnstancy
personifed. He was ready to challenge
the world to mortal combat for her fair
name.
Such is the blindness of infatuation.
AS he sat musing his imagination re-
chilled the form of his beloved. An,
well he remembered every smile, every
graceful feature. And would he ever
forget any Of those sweet words that
filed his soul with unutterable happi-
nessp lie had first seen and admired
Miss Lucy Lyon as she appeared on the
stage in her various roles OF light COM
edy. icr youth and beauty, as well as
her clever, lively play, captivated him,
and he obtained an introduction She
| proyed to be as charming in the green
room as on the boards, and he sought
and easily gained permission to call upon
her at her hotel. 1t was but short
time before he became quite intimate
with her. 1t must not be thought, how
ever, that she permitted any familiarities
on his part She was propriety itself In
her conduct toward him, and this only
made the sway she obtained over his
heart more absolute. Had she behaved
otherwise his sentiment would have
proven only neeting fancy, and never
rpened into the passionate love he now
felt.
Miss LYONS engagement in the city
came TO an end, but when she departed,
her admirer kept up an eager corre-
spondence, to which she replied with APP
parcntly equal eagerness. AS yet not a
word of love had passed between the
two. But when Miss Lyon returned,
Ralph, whose passion had been famed
| by her absence into an all-cOnsuming
| flame, no longer restrained himself, and,
without care for prudential cOnsidera-
tion, declared his love, offered his hand,
and was accepted. OF course he was
accepted, some cynical people might say.
What actress, or what other poor girl,
for that matter, would not accept the
hand of a suitor who was at once hand
some, clever, young, wealthy, or the
| highest social standing, and who pro-
fe Ssed to love her with all the ardor OF
noble and generous heart? But this con-
sidcraton never entered Ralph's mind.
! He was in love, and not for moment
did he doubt that his love was returned
with equal fcrvor and disinterestedness
He went home that night as in
dream. Never before had the stars shone
so brightly, nor the atmosphere been so
clear, nor the flowers eXhaled such sweet
odors The cabman who had driven him
home was not little surprised when his
"fare" gave him a fvedollar note, and
told HIM to keep the change. Cabby
knew nothing of love, and probably as
cribed the Doctors lavishness to intoxi-
cation. He took the five dollars, how
ever.
We'll, DR.. Warringham was intoxi-
Gated. But he was intoxicated with
that strong wine which every one quaffs
at least once in his life. Miserable he
who never tasted the strong wine OF
lovel
All night the Doctor, in his dreams,
was in paradise. But next morning he
came down upon earth with one foot a
least For the first time since he had
seen Miss Lyon it occurred to him that
his family would hardly think of her as
he did.
How was he to tell his mother that he
proposed to marry an actress?
The thought was anything but agreea-
BILE. and Ralph was in that frame of
mind when men will not suffer them
selves to be bothered by disagreeable
thoughts He brushed it away as he
wOnld fly.
Notwithstanding those haunting, dis
agreeable ideas Ralph had succeeded to
70 hiicc mortal
men arc destined to come, when he sat
by his study window that afternoon,
smoking, musing, dreaming and some-
times feigning to read.
The form of that young gentleman In
the rocking chair by the open win
dow would have been splendid subject
for a painter.
Ralph Hutchinson Warringham was
decidedly handsome. His features had
the regularity almost of the statues OF
antiquity. His broad forehead indicated
the cleverness which everybody admitted
he possessed. His well-deI eloped chin
gave to the face an expression of energy
and pertnacity, while the full lips and
the blooming complexion were signs that
healthy sonsuality was not wanting.
His hair was of chestnut color, and he
had the good taste not to follow the bar
barrie fashion which crops gentleman's
hair as short as that of a jail-bird His
dress was elegant but SOBER as becomes
d physician. Ralph Warringham had
decidedly the exterior of gentleman.
The same air of good breeding and re-
fnement could be Observed in his sur
roundings. No loud, gaudy cOlOrs
marrcd the harmony of the impression
which the furnishings of his study made
upon the observer. Everything in the
room, the tables, desks, chairs, book
eases, were solid but simple. Every
thing was evidently for use, not for mere
show For this very reason, the ensem-
bic was so much more artistic. Even
the picturcs on the walls might be said
to be there for use They consisted OF
portraits of celebrated physicians and
subjects relating to the medical profess
sion
Ralphs rcverie was interrupted by the
entrance of his brother Waiter But
the two brothers were no sticklers
for etiquette in their mutual intercourse.
After brief salutation Ralph fell back
into his musing attitude, while Walter
stretched himself comfortably upon the
sofa.
A short pause ensued. At last Walter
said;
81 wish you would obige me with a
cigarette, Ralph"
"Hclp yourself, dear boy" the Doctor
replied, pointing to the cigarettes that
lay on an artstically engraved cigar.
stand Then his eye followed again the
little blue clouds of smoke that curled