Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-06-21
ON IHE REBOUND.

refusing GeOrSo EInersOH! Ii Coulu VIII
the love of such man, I'd never think Of
dollars and cents" said Clarice Mallory
to queenly Adele Rivers.
Adele laughed softly as she lay Ian.
guidly back in the rustic chair and looked
down at pretty Clarice, who sat on stool
at her feet
"Clarice, told George Emerson about
an hour since that / could never be any
thing to him. And Adele turned her
handsome face from Clarice.
"Oh, Adele! How could you be so
heartless? All these months you have
been leading him on. You have made
him believe that you loved him, and this
is how it has ended"
"Clarice, do love him." And Adele
Rivers spoke more earnestly than ever
Clarice had heard her. "But I'm not the
sort of girl that lets her heart run away
with her head. Why, my dear Clarice,
think of his salary having to support two
of us, and I spend that much in mere
trihes now on myself
"But, Adele, we all have to make sac
rifices in this world, said Clarice, rising
and putting her arm around Adele. 1T
will be only for short time perhaps.
George holds an honorable position, and
it is far safer to marry him than one who
is millionaire today perhaps and beg
gar tomorrow.
sob, do go away, Clarice! You make
me nervous If you keep on in that
strain, we will have a scene directly, and
you know how / detest scenes. / think
you're half In love with George Emerson,
Clarice, and, if you feel so sorry for him,
why don't you try to catch his heart on
the rebound"
| Adelle's last sentence was uttered sheer
| ingly, and Clarice shrank away from her
as If she had received a blow.
"Oh, Adeller' was all she said as she
covered her burning face with her hands.
Snow, little brown eyes, don't act so
silly. Come, let us go in the house-it Is
chilly out here" And Adele led the way
out Of the summer house.
| AS the girls walked across the lawn a
! gentleman stepped around from the side
of the summer house. 1t was George EN-
erson. He had been passing the summer
house when his attention bad been at
tracted by the mention of his name. Nat
urally enough, he had stood and listened
and overheard the conversation between
Adele and Clarice.
A look of mingled bitterness and disgust
was on his face as he watched the tall,
queenly figure; but as his eyes wandered
to Clarice Mallory his features underwent
a change The bitter expression was gone,
and the cold, glittering CLEAN disappeared
from the depths of his blue eyes, Perhaps
| his heart was caught ON the rebound.
Who knows?
81 suppose you haven t heard the news?"
said Mr.. Mallory, Clarice's father, to his
family and guests assembled at the break
fast table next morning. George Emer-
sons uncle is dead and has left him an
immense fortune"
Everybody was surprised. Clarice
looked over at Adele, who sat opposite.
Her face was as white as death, but she
made no comment on Mr.. Emerson S good
fortune.
About an hour after Clarice was alone
in the sitting room. There was a sad,
troubled expression in her brown eyes,
and her dimpled chin rested in the palm of
her hand. She was thinking of George
Emerson.
"We all must make sacrifices in this
but little had Adele dreamed that Clarice
was making a great sacrifice when she
begged of her to be true to George Emer-
SON. Clarice loved George Emerson, but
she knew that he never thought of her
other than as friend She knew that his
happiness depended on Adele Rivers, and
to see him happy was all her sacrificing
| spirit thought Of
''If this news had only come day
sooner, Adele would have acted different
ly," said Clarice, with a sigh.
"And would be miserable man for
the remainder Of my life, said pleasant
voice behind her.
"Mr Emersoni" cried Clarice as she
rose in confusion. ~ didn't hear you
coming in"
Perhaps l wanted to surprise you,"
said Mr.. Emerson, smiling. Are you not
going to congratulate me on my good for
tuner"
II wish it had come yesterday" said
Clarice her eyes hidden away under the
dropping lids.
Eyes, that's what heard you say mo-
ment ago, but I'm very glad it didn't.
Clarice, do you want to make me the hap
piest man in creationY" And he took
| Clarice's hand in his.
~ wish l could, Mr.. Emerson" said
Clarice wonderingly.
"Clarice, love you'll viii you share
my fortune with meS Will you be my
wife,
''Mr. Emerson, I thought thought
And Clarice hung her head and tried to
release her hand from George Emersons
grasp.
"You thought was in love with
Adele. Yes, Clarice, men often make
fools Of themselves by loving with their
eyes. Until yesterday / hadn't sense to
know what a precious jewel was near me
all these months" And George Emerson
told Clarice what he had overheard in the
summer house.
"Will you be my wife, Clarice?" he
asked as he drew her toward him.
YES" she whispered, hiding her blush
ing face on his shoulder.
Just then footstep sounded in the hail.
Somebody was coming, and Clarice hastily
disengaged herself from her lovers en-
brace and fed from the room. As she
stepped out in the hall she met Adele,
but she hurried past her, not daring to
trust herself to speak.
George Emerson was standing where
Clarice had left him when Adele entered
the room.
Her eyes were downcast and her beauti-
full face was the picture of sorrow as she
walked over to him and laid her hand on
his arm.
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