Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-12-29


those about her.
Once, and once only, the temptation
TO do 50 was strong upon her, and that
was when Pauline-charmingly dressed
and prettier than ever, with that new
pathOs in her great blue eyes-entered
the room. She, the girl of many en-
gagements, was still unmarried; not one
of her experiments" had led to any
definite result; despite her exqu.tte and
undeniable beauty, she remained Miss
DalamOTe still, while GOd.va-Oh,, that
was a moment OF triumph, N deed!
But she did not beCray that 1t was 50;
she res s5ed the impulse and overcame
it, and after a few Indifferent words,
the two friends parted, apparently on
the best of terms.
Pauline had scarcely moved off with
her partner when Mr.. Leigh came up, a
look of Sight perplex.ty on his broad,
benevolent face.
Il say, God.va, you remember young
Liston He has come back and l met
him in the town this afternoon"
Did you speak to him?'
ITO be sure l did, or he spoke to me,
which comes to much the same thing.
l asked him to come here tonight, and
it has only just struck me that per-
haps | did foolish thing. There was
a good deal of talk, you see, about him
and Pauline; not that / ever knew the
rights of it,"
Nor any one else, should imagine.
But what of that"
sgyNrt,r- . ,,,orr ba aN-ootIrr Mo
for her to meet him. Rather an awk-
ward position, you know"
Godiva saw him when he entered the
room half an hour later, and she saw
Paulines sudden flush as their eyes
met. but his face never changed, and
he asked her fer a dance in the most
matter of fact tone in the world, as
though they were mere every day ac-
Quaintances who had parted only yes
terday.
And Pauline gave him dance, he on
II asked for one, and # her manner
was not quite so collected as his no
doubt he remembered that she had been
taken by surprise, while he had not,
and attached little importance to such
misleading signs Of emotion.
"This is our dance, | think?" The
polite indifference of the usual formula
fell coldly upon Pauline's troubled
heart. and fer a moment she could find
no words in which 10 reply TO HIM. She
took his arm in silence, therefore, and
let him lead her to the further end of the
room. There they paused.
you wish to dance this?" he asked,
struck. perhaps, by the sudden p9llcr
that gave a look of unwonted delcacy
to her sweet face. She shook her head
emphaticaIy.
NO l would rather sit It out. I am
tired"
LAS you please" and they passed out
into the hall which was fer the mo-
mert deserted. Here they sat down On
a sofa judtc!ously placed in a retired
corner. and partially screened by a
group Of stately palms.
Il suppose you hardly expected to see
ne here to-n:ght?" Gerald asked,
uuia.ly. as she Sill said nothing. To
tel he truth, her silence puzzled him a
good deal.
How should I? What have 7 known 81
you or your plans s.nce-we parted: p
she sad. bitterly.
DO YOU blame me for that now?"
with an iron;cal emphasis on the last
word. 81 think, under the c,rcum-
stances. l behaved with the utmost con-
sideration for you. I left you free.
What more could I have done?"
And is it also consideration for me
that has brought you back to-night?'
she asked, controlling her voice by a
great effort.
Consideration fer myself, rather. 1
have come back in order to see Mrs. Os-
card in all her CORY
Pauline laughed a little unm;rthful
laugh that It was not good to hear. Il
did not know-you took so much inter-
est n her" she said.
No? I do not forget as easily as some
people I am faithful fellow against
my better judgment
"Fai-hful-to her?"
"Why not? It's foolish, I grant YOU;
but we al, have our little weaknesses.
Even YOU"
Il? yes! My weakness was to re-
proach myself with my conduct to you;
to repent bitterly all the heardess
things l said; to wish thousand times
l could undo the past" She cried pas
sionately.
was it worth while?" he asked,
slowly.
NO, for you had never cared! 1t was
nothing TO you that l had heart and
a conscience after all. You came here
TO see Mrs DISCARD. What is It to
me?"
rs it possible that you did not care
for me a little in the cid days, Pauline?
But no! I was only one of your ex-
periments; interesting, perhaps, but
nothing more
And I? What was I? We're you
ever engaged to Mrs. Oscard that you
should be faithful to her?'
You know that l was"
"God:va? No. We were speaking Of
Mrs. Oscard. not of Godiva."
And God.va IS Mrs. Oscard."
"Paul.naw He turned to her, blank
amazement in his eyes. Is this the
truJn?" he asked, in a voice that
scarcely like his own.
There she is; ask her" the girl re-
piled, as the long procession OF dancers
began to pace across the hall.
NO, I will nc. do that; l WI take
your word for It, darling
He took her hand IN MS, and drew her
TO him for one blissful moment under
the kindly shelter Of the palms. He
gave no explanation Of The past, and
She asked for none He loved her still;
he had always loved her; that was
enough"
Then you wouldn't have him after
all. dearest?" he said presently.
"Have-whom
DISCARD, of course. When 1 came
back that evening