The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-08
MAE'S SACRIFICE.

II any shadow Of unhappiness or jeal.
ousy spoiled the brightness of Mae Lisbon's
life, not one of the gay group of which she
was member seemed to know it, for she
was not girl to "wear her heart upon
her sleeve
And yet, among all that merry party
just setting out for prolonged horseback
ride among the surrounding steep, noun
tainouslike hills, on that beautiful autumn
afternoon, there was not another heart 50
crushed and hopeless and despairing as
that which beat under pretty Mae Lisbon's
dark blue riding habit.
But she laughed brightly as she reined
her prancing horse to ono side tn make
room for Paul Beresford TO pass with Miss
Elise Turley, whom he had just assisted
to her saddle with an air of tender emo.
ton that wrung Macs very heartstrings.
"I'm expecting every day to hear their
engagement announced" said Joe st.
Giles, Macs escort, with significant
glance and smile toward the handsome
pair. "It's clear case of mutual fasoina.
ton. Don't you think SO, Miss Lisbon?'
lit does look that way" she returned
quietly.
So they rode on, talking, laughing, jest
ing, sometimes the whole party keeping
together for awhile, the scattering in cou.
pies To explore tho picturesque scenery oi
the valleys or the winding roads that went
twisting boldly, and sometimes danger
ously, around the rugged hillside slopes.
Gay as Mae LisbOn's bright face an
sweet. ringing lughter declared her to he,
her heart was heavy with its weight OF
woe, and she stole away from the others
for u time that she might lay aside the
mask Of happiness which, while in their
presence pride compelled her to wear.
After riding along for awhile she came
to sort of gulch or dry creek bed, deeI
and narrow, which she unhesitatingly
made her horse leap over, for Mae was q
fine and fearless eqpestrienne.
Going some distance farther, she dis
mounted, and throwing the reins over hci
arm, went on to explore a deserted mining
cabin which nestled picturesquely amone
some rocks a little way beyond.
Here she sat down, and before she knew
1t, was lost in the labyrinth of her OWL
intensely painful thoughts.
She knew that st. Giles words were
true, though they had been spoken half in
jest, and that Ii could not be long ere al
engagement between Paul BeresfOrd anC
Elise Turley would be formally announced
And how she, Mae, loved him!
But, thank heaven, he had never guessed
1t, and now he never would.
She would cheerfully have given years
of her life to be loved by him. But he had
passed both her love and her loveliness
by with unseeing eyes to lay his heart al
the feet of that fair, dazzling blond beauty
who would soon be his bride
What u grim old sphinx fate is!'' she
cried out at last, "a half sob in her break
ing voice. 81 would die for his love. Ye,
all can do is to hide the truth from him
TO keep it from speaking in my eyes anC
sobbing in my voice when 1 come neal
him, while another woman holds thai
precious love OF his in the hollow of heI
dainty hand without an effort, and will
doubtless pass her whole life at his side
without even knowing or half appreciat
ing the priceless blessing that it is. Oh
| If some"--
She stopped abruptly, shocked, horri
lied, by terrific crash of thunder which
seemed To rend the very rocks apart.
| Heavens, how foolish have been no
to notice this bcfore!' she exclaimed, he
pretty uplfted face paling with oonsterna
ton. But such lovely day as it wa
when we started. Who could have dreame,
Of such u change a. this! What will the,
think has become of me, wonderY Oh,
must hurry or / shall miss them all, an,
have 10 find my way alone through thi
binding storm. wonder If st. Giles !
alarmed about mc''-a little smile, despit
the grave situation, nickering around he
charming lips-"Do, / think not, rs h
knows what u reckless rider often am. {"
| All this time she was leading her hors
down the uneven slope to the road below
where she mounted and went flying a
swiftly az the storm would allow, in tn
direction whence she had come
| Reaching the narrow gulch, however
which such short time before she ha
crossed 80 easily, Mac found it now n rush
ing torrent, from which her horse Dire,
back with quiveripg nostrls and unwill
ing feet.
| Good graciousl What am 1 going I
do!' she thought impaticntly. "Oh, her
ts my bugle. Perhaps l can at least i
some of them know my whereabouts.
And lifting the little silver bugle, whic
she carried to her lips, she blew one lonp
tbrill, clear blast, then paused, listcnin
intcntly for some response.
IL came sooner than she expected.
There was an answering call, and IN,
meDt later Paul Bcrcsford came into vie,
around n little promoDtory = hundre
yards away.
Mae drew back ss be approached, 10
amazed To utter a sound.
Why, Miss Lisbon lac cried. comm
up To her. Good heavens, arc you 10.
toof IL somehow got separated frol
Mis- Turley after crossing this creek I
nnd some particular specimens If autum
bowers for her, and now IL seems out
the Question 10 recross IT, I never ss'
anything like this BEFORE he addc
rloomiiy, his handsome face clouded wit
The most perxpicxcd anxiety.
oh, we must recross 1t. We must N
psck to our party, Mr.. Bercsforsir' 4,
cislDlcd Mae ~ N sudden ralization {
their position flashed ,lpon her ns,,rcl