The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-18
FOR MARGUERITE.

w.
Gerard, I'll marry you at once, If 1t be
soon, for I can't wait forever, but as you
don't apparently wish for success. them
with lovely, willful smile and the pretti-
est of petulant moues-"goodby!
The man listened, his handsome face
turning white, as If carved in stone.
Success with you is only another name
for
Money" the girl interrupted, with
that lovely light laugh again. II know
it, Gerard, and despise me for 1t If you
will. If yeu had been brought up in pow
erty, II you had wanted frocks and pretty
shoes and dances and pleasures of every
kind-and, oh, thousands Of things that
you couldn't get-then you, too, would
spell success with an Ma very big M
and call it money! You would, I know
you would" she ended bitterly.
The man sighed heavily. Fate was in
deed against him now, and his career,
light and hopeful as it looked short time
ago, seemed sadly dull and somber, now,
and whyp Because Of that lovely face that
was turned away from him so petulantly,
because Of the hooking words that fell
like little strokes of whip across his low
ing heart. And while he thought the
music In the distance ceased its soft throb-
bing, the dance was over, and he had had
his answer, he supposed.
he would say one more thing before
they parted, he determined suddenly. he
would have at any rate clear understand
ing with the woman he loved 30 madly.
And after that then the venture-to the
right or to the leftl
He put out his hand to stay her as she
would have risen. "I want to ask you
. one thing more," he said, so gently that
her wandering attention was fixed on him
once again.
"If I went into the business, my ia
ther's business, which, as you know,
hate-E gave up my dreams Of the bar
and life which should love-a life
which would be poor perhaps, but full OF
promise-if had the prospect Of success
In the business of which you speak 80 high
ly, what thenp"
She turned to him with q new Light
sparkling In her beautiful eyes. Had she
conquered at last-everythirg every hope,
every ambition at her feetP
"Then," she said, her voice tender with
feeling and her soft eyelids dropping above
the brilliant eyes, "then should say no
more" And her tones trembled into Sd
lenoe, and her white hands played nerv-
ously with tho violets at the bosom OF her
delicate gown.
The snow fell outside very softly, wrap.
ping the sortlid city in tenderest white
coverings and Transforming it into king.
dom OF crystal and pearl Inside one OF
the greatest of it's many fair houses there
were revelry and the ripple OF silvery
. voices and the ring of tuneful laughter.
One Of the lands richest men entertain
ed his guests and feasted them right roy
ally, 80 that they spoke increasingly well
Of him an6 of MS entertainment and OF
the beauty'of his peerless wife.
She stood in the great drawing room In
purest white, with diamonds on her snowy
neck and beautiful stars in her golden
hair, and around her a little company OF
the gayest and wittiest and cleverest kept
her court and pleased her with their SAL
lies until her clear laugh rang out above
all the gentle badinage around.
The husband heard the silver ripple OF
laughter, and 1t awoke some Of the old
thoughts, the old memories that he had
striven to lay by, as a child lays by Its
dear old toys when playing days are over
and done with.
And all of a sudden he felt very weary
and tired-tired Of the lights and the SCENT
Of the great banks Of roses that his wife
had ordered the skillful florist to arrange
tired Of the music and the faces and
the crowd, and he slipped away unnoticed
to his quiet study and sat there awhile to
dream.
he had gone into the business that he
had heartily disliked-for Marguerite
and it had proved a success in his hands.
They spoke of him for knighthood this
year. It did not elate him much, but his
wife was delighted, and be was not tired
Of pleasing her yet. Only he had pleased
her 30 much once, ne had given up so
much for her sake, that every sense had
been curiously deadened to him since, and
60 the worlds wear and tear came and
went, and he felt but little Of it.
And his ideals9 They were laid away
very safely and secretly-the steps he
would have climbed with 30 much vigor
and perseverance were moss grown now
and gray with molding age. There was
not much to work for now-so much had
come to him, he supposed by his own en-
deavors as well as by good luck-and he
had no child to leave it to. And his wifes
How tenderly she had earessed him at
the time Of the sacrifce-how gently her
pretty fingers had smoothe.the wayl Che
was 90 much accustomed to it all now, and
he had ''lived it down." as she once said
playfully to him. She was always sweet
and always beautiful, and every one said
he was the luokiest man In London. Per-
haps 1t was true.
he got up and sauntered back to the
drawing room. His lovely wife was chat
ting with young barrister as he passed.
"My husband would have been just like
you today" he heard her say in that ex.
quis!te voice Of hers, "f he had not taken
my advice. He took it, and you see the
result"
The younger man looked round. he
saw the beautiful rooms. the brilliant
crowd, the flashing of countless gems, the
peerless beauty Of the woman who spoke,
he heard the music rising and falling In
the distance and breathed the delicate
scents Of rarest blossoms.
Again he saw the word "Success" writ
ten OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES that he, begin
ner, q novice, could never hope to emulate.
Suddenly the worn face Of the master met
his eyes. II see the result" he said quiet
ly.-Augusta Hancock In London Lady.
Green Helps the Eye.
Green ia the color most beneficial to the