Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-09-05
} LOVE CONQUERED:

meaning prettiness of glossy curls, sea-
blue eyes and straight, Greek features,
but with the beauty of soul and mind,
and rich womanly temperament-and
at II Alice had promised het-
self in merriuge to Oscar WaSne.
"My dear, YOU might have done Bet,
ter, I Think said Mrs: Dillingham;; d
portly matrol; Wh5 had herself been
beauty id her day, and was; in every
nieahing Sf the Word, woman 6f the
World.
'IIow, mamma?" said Alice, simply.
"For you know love him."
"Love," said Mrs. Ellingham, half
scornfully. That's a word that will
do very we'll for poets and romancc's.
I don't believe in it myself. didn' u
marry for love"
"No, mamma" said Alice, mischie
ously, "you married for money; ant
when peer papa speculated in those
horfid Western lands you lost it all;
hhd were compelled to drag out tile
rest of your married life without either
!e1e or money to console you. l have
| heard you tell the story many 4 time
Mrs. EllihgRam bit her Tip and tanned
herself violently.
"That was because Mr.. Ellingham
was too much of fanatic to take my
advice about the investments" she
said, tartly. "But it has nothing to do
with the matter at present under dis
cussion. You have engaged yourself
to Oscar Wayne. who calls himself an
artist. An artist, indeed-lle hhd
better say gerteel beggar. For what
are artists nowadays but starvelings?
And be has gone out to the Territories
to sketch scenery for pictures that no
one will buy after they are painted
and here; in his absence, comes Mr..
Fenwick Fontaine, the richest catch of
the season, and lays his hand nhd his
heart at your feet. Why, Alice, you DIRE
the luckiest girl I ever saw"
"Of course his hand and his heart
can be nothing to me-" said Alice, look
ing down at the plain gold engagement
ring that shone on the forefinger Of
her left hand "For l love Oscar"
Mrs. Ellingham lay back among her
cushions with deep and ostentatlous
sigh.
"Alas, Alicer she uttered, plain
lively, 81 did not suppose you could be
so selfish"
Selfish, mammal!
'Don't you see that you are blight
ing my future as we'll as your own?
Don't you know that 1 have always
looked forward to my daughters mar
riage as means Of establishing myself
in the ease and luxury which are
almost necessity to my declining
years."
"Dear mamma" pleaded Alice. with
a troubled light in her sapphire-blue
eyes and color coming and going
family On her cheek, that is easily
settled. Your home must be with
Oscar and me-"
Mrs. Ellingham loftlly shook her
head.
"On a crust day and third floor
in some wretched tenement-house."
enunciated she. "Neverw
"Yes, but mamma"
Mrs. Ellingham lifted her smooth,
white hand as if to ward off Alice's
words.
"My dear, we will not discuss the
subject, if you please. 1 am quite
willing to allow you time to reflect up
on this momentous question. have
told Mr.. Fontaine that you will give
him an answer at the end of the week.
Until then pray allow my tired brain
and overworked nerves to rest"
And Alice went away to her own
room, secretly avowing constancy to
her absent lover.
"Dear Oscar" she murmured. softly
kissing the engagement ring which his
hand had placed upon her finger; "as
If could ever be untrue to you. Not
all the gold in the world could tempt
me-"
But when the evening mail came in
and brought no letter from Oscar,
Alice did feel little lonely and be-
wildered.
''It will surely come tomorrow"
she said to herself.
But the morrow arrived, and
brought no letter.
cts very strange" said Alice, with
tears in her eyes. "He never failed
before"
'No more than 1 expected, my dear"
said Mrs. Elltngham. ~ shouldn't
be at all surprised If he had fallen
in love with some young woman out
there and settled down for life. I'm
told art is better appreciated in the
west than it is here"
Alice bit her llp-but she did not
speak. Such bitter words were bet
ter left unanswered.
Mr.. Fontaine came at about noon
to take the ladies' out driving. Alice's
first impulse was to decline, but she
remembered that her mother was
fond of carriage exercise, and had
very few opportunities to indulge that
liking-and she said YES"
"Tll drive out to Fontaine Abbey"
said the rich and confident suitor.
"My gardener sends in word that the
white grapes are ripe. and there are
some very fine tropical flowers in
blossom in the conservatory. And
thought Mrs. Ellingham might per-
haps honor me by by partaking of a
little lunch after the drive"
Fontaine Abbey was fine old place,
built in the style of stately medieval
castle, with grounds that s!oped to a
serene, silver river, acres Of conserva-
tories. picture gallery and noble
entrance hail. where knights in armor
kept mailed guard. The carpets
L tho 60 of &;,a