The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-10

Edie Williams went to the Crow
ther's garden party with the WORDS
"Wiu he be there?" repeating them
selves in her mind.
Your are looking your best, my
dear" said her old aunt. us anything
the matter?'
"The matter auntie! Does one have
to have a fever or u broken limo 10
look ones best?'
Edie laughed as she spoke
But Mrs. Graytholnes reply was
calm enough.
"Ive known a girl with broken
heart to make "A great sensation IN
ballroom my dear" she said.
Whereat Edie laughed again. This
time, however. she laughed with an ef-
fort, as she glanced at her relative
weather-beaten, kindly countenance.
Had she guessed anything?
But that seemed unlikely. for Mrs.
Graythorne's words were trivial
enough.
II propose, Edith, to spend my al
ternoon mostly under that nice shady
mulberry tree by the fountain. one
does not often see such q nice tree"
Yes, he was there, sure enough; he,
Max Eddington, late of Bidwell, now
of London. and the author of two sin
gularly dramatic books, the fame
whereof had drifted down 10 Bdwell.
And, as Edie expected, he was fearfully
lionized.
quite early Edie told herself that the
rumor Bidwell was just now digesting
with great unction was perfectly true.
Having shaken himself free of his con-
ppatilatipu opuna Max Ed
dington stole off toward secluded
arbor with Margaret Lonsdale, the
heircss.
Someone near E!dic asked someone
else:
will he marry her, do you think"
"T pity him if he does" said the
other. These We're two girls. Edie
sympathized with them both. She, too.
would pity Max if he married the cold
natured Miss LOnsdale. in spite of her
hundred thousand pounds. As for her
own feelings-wel1. she would try TO
bear them.
MY dear Miss Williams, we want
you sadly in a set" here broke in Mr..
Cresswell, q frivolous young barrster.
Are you so very much engrossed in
our literary gents love affairs?"
"Tll play with pleasure" she said.
Do YOU think they will make a match
of it,"
Il think not" he replied. "Girls like
Miss Lonedale. with mothers like Mrs.
Lonsdale, toy with the souls Of genius,
but don't marry genius"
Edie trembled. Mr.. Cresswell was
clever as we'll as frivolous. Besides,
she thought as ne did.
Would she dare" she murmured.
Dare, did you say? Why, Miss Will
lams what is there your braver sex
would not dare? You'd act before the
queen, ] believe, for instance!"
Yes, that was true. F,die told herself.
She was celebrated all over the coun-
ty for her acting, as an amateur. But
where was the bravery in that?
After the set. she was resting and
drinking something with a good deal
of lemon in it. when Max slipped him.
self from behind the rhododendrons and
dropped upon the seat by her.
"Well, Edie!" he said.
She was struck by his expression; all
the hope seemed to have left it.
1T anything wrong7' she asked
quietly.
"Oh, dear, no. I have been in love.
proposed to the lady, been rejected
with something akin to scorn, and-and
i believe that's all"
His bitterness shocked her.
"Oh, Max. I'm so sorry" She said.
Sorry! Not at all. It's a useful ex-
perienCe. Look here, Edie, you and ]
understand each other, as we ought
10 after playing together as little kid
dies, and so forth. Mark me, 1 shall
do something great on the strength OF
this. I'll confess something to you
(He laughed sardonicallyD my first
story was built on a boy and girl love
affair; do YOU remember"
Accomplished actress though she was
an an amateur-lIde colored to the
hairline on her forehead. Did she re-
member?
Yes, / remember" she answered
trying also to laugh. "A little hard
on me, though, Max"
Not at ALL OF course. one is never
serious in ones teens. You never
meant to love me forever, though you
did say you would. And the same
with me, / suppose. Well, as | said
my affair with Miss Lonsdale will serve
a good turn, too"