Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-06-29

of Frederic West, one of Hendricks s old
and tried friends.
West was an Adonis, and admiration
was lavished on him everywhere, but
he fell into the trap Sada laid for him,
and no wonder. Sada was noted for her
powers of fascination The Springs saw
the other side of it. The gossips said
that "Miss Banks was caught at last. "
Hendrick looked Oh for some time in
silence. Then he gave his one sign.
With his eyes calmly fixed on Sada's he
said
You are only playing with Fred,
but he Is in earnest" And Sada's
heart grew heavy and hopeless. West
was no longor encouraged. Stung by
the change in her manner, he loved her
more wildly than ever.
One evening Sada slipped quietly into
the music hall. 1t was apart from the
hotel and cottages-a place Hendriok
frequented of late when the rest of the
company were busy with their own
amusements elsewhere. He loved to seat
himself at the piano and let his fingers
wander over the keys as they would in
the gathering darkness. II must hear
him play when he fancies he is all
alone. Perhaps may find out some-
thing he is hiding from me, she whis
pered as she stole into the room and con-
cealed herself in dark corner
Soon Hendriok came in. All, how he
played! And as Sada listened and lis
tened her soul thrilled in response to the
music. The small cares of life fell from
her shoulders. Every lofty ambition she
had ever cherished came back and pos
sessed her. She was filled with beau
tiful new joy. She longed to 60 to Hen
drick, to put her arms around his neck,
to say II knowl l know!"
Some one came into the hall, and
Sada shrank farther back into her dark
corner. The intruder was Frederic West.
"Old fellow, want to ask you some
thing" West said to his friend. "You
know how love Sada Banks. Why
has she changed so suddenly? What
makes her hold me at such distance
now?"
At the sound of his voice Sada was
stirred with deep shame for what she
had done. 1t had been so cruelty un-
necessary, SO unworthy of her better
selfl Then she listened, with every
nerve ON edge What would Hendrick
say? Was this to be the hour of her tri-
umph? Would Hendrick frankly explain
that he was hers, and she was his?
Fred" Hendrick answered gently,
forgive me for what am about to tell
you. l cannot say the same things to
any other man, but you will understand
me. Sada Banks has led you on, think
ing to avenge herself upon me. She
would do anything to make me suffer.
She loves me. She will wreck her whole
life one day because she loves meP'
A fierce anger took the place of shame
in Sada's heart. Oh, what would she
not give if she could strike down this
man who had laid bare the weakness of
her soul to another. AS West left the
hall she went quickly to Hendrick.
II heard all that you told that man
about me, =" she said in voice so frigid
that she shivered as she spoke. ''It may
be just as we'll for your self love to tell
y
not care for you in the least. never
did. Ihave only amused myself playing
at friends with you, just as l have
amused myself making your friend love
me! Why" and she forced laugh,
with only mockery of merriment in
it, 81 have been for years the promised
wife of my cousin, good man, man
~ 60 Sc
already fixed. "
Perhaps it was her laugh that be-
trayed her, or perhaps it was the better
view of her face which the first beams
Of the rising moon gave him at that mo-
ment, but Hendrick knew that she had
lied
The next day she stood before him to
say farewell He looked intently into
her face as though reading it. She car
ried his look with her until she died.
"What did he mean to say to me?"
she sobbed as the train hurried her away
from him. "What did he mean?" she
asked herself again when, two days
later, she stood beside Tom and called
heaven to witness that she would love,
honor and obey him till death should
part them one from another.
Foolish, happy Tom! She said to him
thee moment they met, eff you will
marry me tomorrow, you may, and he
had taken her at her word
"What did he mean?" she asked her
self again and again as the years went
by. She is asking yet. One day, when
she is born into that other life, where
souls know as they are known, she may
cease to ask it, but not till then.
Meanwhile she is not unhappy. Good,
faithful Tom walks beside her and
smooths her way. Tiny arms twine
themselves about her neck. Prosperity
attends her. 1t is only the ever present
question that keeps her just a little short
of satisfaction. n.-Kate Fields Washing
ton.