The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-01-09
that when he did propose to her, as he
was sure to do, her sister would refuse

and dog-in-the manger 'character-al-
together failed. Bob began by indig-
nantly- repelling all insinuations
against her lover, and went on by re-
fusing to listen to them at all. Alice
then took q bolder course. She stopped
to a design of unparalleled meanness.
She strained every nerve, used every
artifice, every charm, every subtertuge
to win Ronald Armleigh back from her
sister to herself. Now, nobody had ever
seen Alice Baines really exercise her
charms upon a man before. And all
who witnessed this attempt OF hers
were wonderstruck by the extraordi-
nary powers of fascination which she
could discover at will. Poor little Bob's
simple, commonplace talk stood no
chance against the new and attractive
brilliancy of Alice's conversation.
Armleigh listened to her with delight.
He was clearly impressed. An intel
lectual man himself, he could appreci-
ate intellectual talk, especially when it
was set off by a sweet and musical
voice. Then, too, the whole expression
of her face seemed changed The calm
immobility, which usually had graced
it, was there no longer. 1t had given
way to a new and radiant vivacity. In
her eyes, when she addressed Armleigh,
shone a brilliant something, which al
most looked like challenge. TO meet
that look from such quarter, and not
to feel the pulse quicken and the heart
leap, would have demanded superhu-
man restraint. Ronald Armleigh had
many fine qualities, but restraint OF
this description was not among them.
He was clearly being fascinated by this
new development in Alice's charms.
What ''people" say is not always OF
much moment. They are given to
speaking without knowledge and crit
icising without judgment. But what
'people" said upon this particular mat
ter did happen to have some ground
work of reason and good sense. They
asserted that if Alice Baines had taken
this line in the first instance, nobody
could have found faultwith her. 1t
would then have resolved itself into a
contest l'outrance between the two
sisters for prize to which neither had
greater claim than the other. But to
have acted as she had done, to have
taken no pains originally to strengthen
her hold upon Armleigh, to have let
her childish sisters affections become
deeply engaged with him. and then
when he was on the point OF making
that childish sister happy by declara-
ton, to use every effort to draw him
back to herself-at the risk of wrecking
poor Bob's happiness, and, perhaps
breaking her heart-why, this was as
cruel a thing as jealousy, in its most
extreme form, could devise. Such con-
duct toward a friend would have been
odious; toward sister it was shame
full, objectionable. Heaven grant the
effort might meet with that failure
which it handsomely merited!
Heaven, however, did not grant It
The effort proved successful. Bob'f
white face and miserable expression be-
trayed that, long before Armleigh's Ell
eagement to Alice was announced
Bob's little dream of happiness was
over. Alice had dissipated it finally and
forever. But twas not merely the loss
of her lover, though this was chief, but
also her sisters conduct in the matter
which cut Bob to the heart. Until this
unhappy affair, Bob had experienced
nothing save the tenderest kindness
the most caressing care, from Alice
And then-on sudden-to be sc
treated by her, it was as incomprehensi'
BILE as it was unnatural and cruel.
Only once had Bob ventured on a
timid remonstrance. Alice had
answered her thus, hardly, and almost
with scorn:
"Why were you not happy and con-
tent with Gerald? Gerald is far more
suited to you than Ronald Armleigh
You would never have made Ronald
happy"
Bob had burst into tears at this un.
feeling retort, and, without apology o.
any attempt at solace, Alice had left the
room. No other word on the subject
passed between them.
The Gerald of whom Alice had spoken
was an old admirer Of childish Bob's,
and, until Armleigh's appearance, had
been that young lady's first favorite.
He lacked all Armleigh's brilliance OF
manner and distinction Of bearing. Az
a love-maker he was his hopeless in:
ferior. Many people called him stupid.
That he was not. If rather slow Of
speech and silent of temperament he
had plenty Of good sound sense, and,
withal, possessed . kind, true heart and
loyal disposition, which far outweighed
his external disqualifcations. Every
one could see that he was devoted to
Bob. Bob had liked, had even been
very fond of him. She might, perhaps,
have thought that she loved him, had
not Ronald Armleigh taught her what
love really was. But now her eyes were
opened. She knew love now. She
knew, also-how many have known it
thus? THAT with the loss Of her beloved
had gone from her the capacity of that
first sweet sentiment; that its sublime
inspirations, its deep intensity, its pure
delight, would never throb in her quick
ened pulses again.
Rob did moi; feel bitter against her