Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-08
Love or LuCre.

vi cOilrSe i nave not uarrleu MN
because was in love with him." said
May Harriott, with a light laugh.
She was sitting in gold.and-dun.
colored boudoir, hung with silken
tluted draperies, and carpeted in pale
gray Aubusson, bordered with scarlet.
The windows were filled full of flower
ing-plants, an exquisite statue Of Hebe
occupied marble pedestal in the
middle of the room, and the panels of
the walls, filed in with mirrors, re-
fiected the young brides every motion
score of times.
Mrs. Harriott WAS dressed in Wat
teau wrapper of rose-colored silk,
which fell around her in pink clouds,
pale Neapolitan corals, carved so
delicately that magnifying- glass
would not have put them to the blush,
hung from her delicate ears, and
clasped the folds of tulle at her throat,
diamonds glittered on her fingers, and
the tiny handkerchief peepiug from
her pocket was edged with lace that
would have made.a princess ransom!
And Mays face, all lilies and roses,
with the glory of gold hair floating
away from it, was jewel well worth
all this expensive setting.
Flora Field, her old schoolmate, sat
opposite to her, secretly envious of
all this splendor, and wondering that
May Haven, who had taught in the
same district school as herself, was
not more elated by this sudden pro-
motion.
swell, them" said she, "why did
you marry him?"
Because L was poor aud he was
rich. Because l was tired Of teaching,
aud he offered me all this"
And May glanced around upon the
Injuries that surrounded her.
"Nobody could be foolish enough to-
suppose it was IA love- match" said
she. "He's ever so much older than
l am, and not at all my ideal! But l
couldn't drudge Oh forever at my pro.
fession, and think I've made q lucky
exchange"
"May you are heartless coquette!"
cried ont Flora Field.
"No, ] am not said May, with a
shake of the lovely golden curls.
"You would do just the same thing
yourself, Flora Field, il you had the
chance; you know you would"
And as May laughed ont a sweet,
defiant chime, she did not know that
her silly words had had another auditor
than Flora Field--that the door lead.
ing into the rich bankers study was
ajar, and that he had heard every
syllable she spoke.
1t was quite true that Frederick
Harriott was not young man. He
had passed the Rubicon of middle age
before he had allowed himself to fall
in love and maryland the flame
burned all the deeper and more tender,
in that the wood was mellowed by age
He had looked upon May Haven as
little less than an angel, and now
II should have known this before"
he said to himself, with ashen.pale
face and trembling limbs. 81 should
have OWNED that spring and autumn
were unsuited. So-she married me
for my money!"
May" he said that evening, II
have tickets for the opera tonight.
Would you Like to go?'
"No, don't think care about it,"
said May, listlessly.
Then we will remain at home and
] will read you that new poem" sug-
gested the husband.
N am tired of poetry" pettishly
retorted May 81 do wish you would
leave Inc to enjoy myself in my own
way once in a whilc!'
"Do / bore you, May2" Frederick
Harriott asked with an inexplicabe
quiyer in his voice.
lawfully! I'm just in the midst OF
this delightful story, apd l can't bear
to he interrupted"
Every well. The oifense shall not
be repeated" said Mr.. Harriott,
quietly.
After that q subtle and sudden
change came over his whole life He
was as courteous and attentive to his
young wife as ever, but May felt TINT
all the heart and soul were gone out
Ct the little courtesies, the scrupul.
ously-rendered attentions,
For while she rather liked it. 1t
was a relief to feel that his eye was
not always Oh her, his thoughts fol.
lowing her. She could go where she
pleased now, and he asked no ques.
tons. She could employ her time to