The Penn's Grove record., 1895-04-26

1 ~ SS eAt
Y Miriam Gray spoke IN a sharp,
Il quick tone, her dark eyes fash
Ing, her queenly head set to one side,
her gestures nervous, yet graceful.
A pallor swept across Bruce Vent
nor's face, and he lifted his hand to
his mouth to hide the twitching of the
muscles. There was nothing ambig-
uous about her reply; 1t was an unmis-
taxable rejection; 1t was useless either
to plead or argue. He was at a loss
to account for her repressed agitation.
He watched her through the mellow
twilight, and became more conscious
than yer Of her exceeding loneliness
and the hard blow which she had
dealt him.
he had been paying her attention fo
ZONE time, and was SURF that she loved
him. That was why his bewilderment
was so great and his disappointment
so keen. Knowing that his character
was beyond reproach, and that he had
In no wise offended her, he felt Jus +
fed in demanding the reason for her
strange conduct. He knew her too
well to fancy for a moment that she
was trillng with him. She was neither
variable in her moods nor tickle In her
friendships.
Miriam" Bruce ventnor said, his
voice husky, his manner ngitated, 81
have the right to ask your reason for
hls rejection"
mo. you have not" she replied, tn.
l HNI0r anrntn0 ond rnIp~ ~ hou f...
"Stll, I'll tell you. l am prompted by
revenge"
"By revenge" repeated he, in u
dazed tone.
eyes," was her measured reply. ~
want you to suffer-"
sand you enjoy it?" he said, bitter
ly. 'Then you know how much / love
you, 1t seems. l 4 always knew you did
rot question that"
They had been seated upon a bench
outside the small pavilion, but were
now standing. She was suffering moro
than she would have cared to let him
know, and was impatient to get away.
pray, in what way have I wronged
you" he asked. mot In thought
word or act. I consider myself the soul
II honor"
"oh, you doT" and she laughed mock
ingly. "Instead, you are q man with
l ,ut principle"
He groaned aloud In his powerful.
effort to repress his angry Indignation.
II am not avenging myself. but an
Sther," she said, speaking with rapid
ity. "Did you ever know Blanche
Carroll7 Oh, t is not necessary for me
% remind you of your baseness."
She turned abruptly from him, ant
walked rapidly toward the hotel. He
watched her until she had disappeared
III tho gloom Of the gathering twilight
one hand pressed against his forehead,
a hurt, bafied, mysti1ed expression in
his face. He strobe up the beach, then
along a wild ledge Of rocks. as II TO
find solace In the loneliness of the
| lour.
When Miriam Gray reached her room
at the hotel, reaction set in, and her
grief showed how devotedly she
loved the man whom she had insulted.
She flung herself upon the bed and
rricd as II her heart was broken.
"Oh, B%lanche" she exclaimed alouG
between her hysterical sobs, '.you are
avenged, but you will never know what
1t has cost me. oh, why was I to love
him 80 ~passionntely before I heard
lbout his p~eE1idyT"
Early though It was, she retired t.
Ibei, but 1t was almost dawn before
she fell asleep, so intense was her SUI.
'ering.
.
! Three years later again found Min,
am Gray at the seashore. She had not
met Bruce Vcntnor during that inter
val. nor had she heard from him.
She was as handsome Al ever. lno
moro royal in her manner, but her
face aud conversation lacked brill
lancy. She WINS more quiet and reserv-
cd, more charry In her friendships,
ioady to suspect and heartily tired 81
he hollow ness Of fashionable life
Her love affair with Bruce ventnor
bad caused the change. In Furnishing
him for his perfdy 10 her cousin
Blanche she had sacrificed herself. She
could never love another man as shs
tad loved him.
As she was n day walking on the
promenade with her cousin Blanche,
they suddenly came upon Bruce Vent
!.hnr. Hs aa-alona- and stood stu f@