Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-11
small table which stood between him

There was once q man like yOurSelI,
young, rich, full of the JOY of living.
The world and all that was in it were
at his feet He was gentle-natured,
goOd-hearted, and would have trusted
and believed the devil himself. The
gentleman in black did not seek for
credence on his own account, but the
best instrument of torture and tempta-
ton he could find was woman. Don't
look so shocked, Charlie. No trace or
horns or hoofs disfgured her exquisite
proportions. and if a smell OF brim-
stone lurked anywhere among the
folds of her simple little muslin frocks
q dash of sweet, odorous violets eilectu-
ally disguised it. She was the loveliest
scrap Of mortality that ever drew a
man to perditiOn. For a glance from
her sapphire eyes, for a smile from her
delicious baby mouth. that man OF
: whom / speak would have cut off his
right hand. But she-dear little inno-
cent as she was-wanted no such grew
some playthings as severed limbs
] Rather did she prefer such pretty trities
as hands can give"
Lamont paused and lit fresh cigar
1T began with flowers and theater
tickets. She would sit through play
with her starry eyes fixed on the stage
and the fair blossoms-his flowers
/ held against the whiteness CT her girl
/ ish breast. until his arms ached to clasp
her 10 him. But he always feared 10
even hint his passion 10 one 50 inno-
cent and pure. One day he met her in
the street and, charmed by her girlish
! admiration, bought her string of
milky pearls. After that the flowers
! dropped off and brooches that cleaned
with rubes, rings and bracelets of dia-
! monds and strings of gems for the
/ decking of her slim white throat show
! cred intc the lap of her frock And all
! this time. while every smile and pout
| and merry laugh were forging the pitt
/ less bands OF mad passion round MS
heart. he had not 50 much as brushed
his lips across her pinked-tiped fin
gers"
This went on for months. For this
girls sake the man | tell you of gave
I'D the society where he WHs popular,
! deserted the friends who would have
been true to him through everything,
broke the heart Of a little, quiet, brown
eyed thing away in a country parsonage
and sent his own mother sorrowing to
her grave. Then, when the girl with
the big eyes and the tiny mouth had
/ all-his manhood, the fulfillment OF his
! life's career. his money and his fair
, fame-he offered her the last thing he
had to give-his name. He went to
her one night, beggared, i'll, weary,
and asked her to marry him. She
laughed in his face. God! how that wo-
man laughed"
Lamont dropped his face between his
! hands and groaned as the memory of
/ the past came back to him. From be-
/ tween his hands. in muflled tones, he
finished the story.
she dashed him with the cruel tom
que of contempt and mockery. She
/ cried that no bankrupt in pocket and
in friend. should be her husband, and
/ then. with virtuous Indignation flash
/ ing from every feature. she ordered him
from her. saying that his very presence
would endanger her good name. They
never met again"
Silence fell. Lamont, with hidden
face. was breathing heavily in his 81
fort to regain his self-control. Ch"-''N
Marten fiddled awkwardly with his Gig
arctic, more moved by the old mans
/ emotion than he cared to show.
! Presently Lamont rose to his feet.
81 beg your pardon" he said very
/ quietly. and holding out his hand.
"But now You know why I hate wo-
men"
] Ii was on the tip of Charles tongue
/ to pursue the subject and ask his friend
why he tarred all the sex alike, but
perhaps Lamont guessed his purpose,
for he moved briskly toward the fire
| place. saying in a light tone:
MY dear fellow. | must be off, it's
past two o'clock. Well, just one more
short drink"
His eyes wandered carelessly among
the score Of photos that Uttered the
mantelpiece, in company with invita-
tion cards, cigars, gloves and bric-a-
| brac
by the by. what is the name of your
future-wife?'
He spoke very slowly ard drew
breath almost between each word.
"Oreacia DuIverton. You'll find her
photo somewhere there, in evening
| dress and some flowers in her hand y
muttered Charlie. wrestling desperate
" with an obstinate bottle of soda.
Ralph Lamont's fingers seemed by
instinct to pick out the picture Of Miss
Dulverton.
"Iovely face-divine eyes. hasn't
sbe?" gasped Charlie, coming up, pant
ing but triumphant, with his guests
drink in his hand.
Lamont took long look at the pho
tograph. which was a vision OF soil
curls. wide. sweet eyes, a tremulous
rosebud mouth and glorious throat
and bust. 49,.
Miss Dulverton must be very beau
tiful." he said. laying the portrait down
AGAIN. "My drink; don't think l want
II after ali. thanks Good night we
shall meet in the park tomorrow, as
usual" ..
GLOW oueer dear old Lamont was to-
rigbt thought Charlie a moment la
ter as he set the untasted b. ana $ uQ" own
on the table. Il wonder whether ne
quit right. I've always heard tnat
there was something wrong with ms
brother. Jerry; he shot himself o: some
thing but Lamonts always been as
steady as Father Time.
A week later snort society had new
sensation and. as usual, man and a
woman were at the bottom OF II. Ire
woman in question was the loVeiy ore
acia Dulverton, the bride-elect OF the
rich young Charlie Marten' ana Ine
manEwonders would never cease-" was