Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-05-23

that, having made my choice, l must
abide by it and not expect any very great
exertion on their part.
II drifted from bad to worse till
reached state of desperation, and when
saw Mrs. Sweetly gazing fondly into
Dicky Robinson's eyes the other evening
said to myself, 'There is woman who
really lives, and the reason she does is
because she forgets she is married.
"Then it was, Geotfrey, dear, that
tried to force myself to forget that you
had ever crossed my path-that is, of
course, only when l went to some social
gathering. You know you are SO fond of
your cigars.
Next to do was to find some suitable
one on whom I could bestow my afHec
tons. Finally | thought l would try
Malcolm Wharton, whom 1 knew to be
of excellent family and who three years
ago would have given his head to have
stood No. 1 i'll my eyes.
eft was at Mrs. Beckman's reception
that del ned to make my flirting
debut. So, about p. m., when l knew
you would be smoking with the gentle
men up stairs, l purposely placed my
self i'll the path of my erstwhile ac-
quaintance, Malcolm, with such a gra-
cious manner that at first he was puz-
zled, and then, being of a gallant ma
ture, he soon approached me with an
air of attention. I astonished myself by
the sprightly, not to say fiippant, style
of my conversation. My heart went pita-
pat from excitement, and I was constant
ly rehearsing to myself, Now l must
forget Geoffrey.' and so went on and
on, deceiving myself into the belief
that was enjoying myself.
"He became more and more confden
tial and fascinating, treating me in the
fashion that men who are devoted to
other mems wives ordinarily assume. I
tried to be all animation and really
thought that the way he twinkled his
nose in bunny fashion was quite inter
esting. He persuaded me to indulge i'll
champagne several times, and l even
took his arm to tho supper room. There
he was devotion itself and compliment
ed me i'll the most approved style After
staying some time in the supper room
l proposed we should go and hear the
music, but he had evidently had too
much champagne or something else to
be reasonable, and so, to be consistent,
could but follow him wheresoever he
led. We at last found ourselves in the
conservatory and We're seated behind a
clump of palms when his conversation,
which was commonplace enough, had a
ring to it that sent the blood flying to
my face. His voice sank almost to a
whisper, giving me to understand how
miserable he had been in his later life
and how could fill that gap of woe.
Now and then he would look up in my
face to see if there was any evidence of
sympathy that he thought should be
there.
"At last had accomplished the very
thing l had longed for-here he was at
my very feet-and now that possessed
it l shrank from it in disgust. Each
word of his felt like ice being forced
down my back, I could not find express
sion to my thoughts, words froze on my
lips and felt as though the eyes of the
entire room We're on me. The feeling of
disgust changed to one of moclsery, and
he, seeing the change in my manner,
doubtless considered me serious and be-
came more etfusive in his remarks and
manifestations Of love-
"The words what fool you are
seemed to haunt me, but still had to
sit there i'll cold blood and let him go
Oh making an utter fool of himself, for
there seemed to be no way to stop him.
"What l would have done hardly
know, for he had seized my hand as
though he intended to crush every bone
in it. really think he would have at
tempted to kiss me, when you serenely
entered the room, appearing as an oasis
in desert of torment.
81 wreuched my hand loose and walk
ed over as calmly as I could to where
You We're standing and greeted you as
complacently as was possible. You re-
member the night-you were SO worried
about your stocks you did not notice my
agitation.
"There, now, don't you think I ex-
plated my crime?'
OF course there was but one way to
assure her she had. university Courier.