The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-02-03
Select Storp.
A ROYAL WOMAN.

ing conundrum to Miss Dale-Scarcely less
difficult to solve than why she should have
been born at ALL And, then. too, this
day was the anniversary of her engage
ment, and the date of her loss.
Sixteen years ago bethrothed to the man
of her choice, fifteen years ago parted,
not by death-that would have been light
in comparison-but by Well, she
never let the words escape her lips, so we
will pass them over also.
He had loved another; he never could
have loved her; so it was all right in the
largest sense, and Miss Dale felt like a
reprobate whenever bitter thoughts of her
old lover crowded into her mind True,
a man who had professed SO much might
aye manfully explained his change Of
feeling, instead of abruptly ceasing to visit
her and marrying another; but the mantle
of Mss Dale's charity was large enough h to
covereven this delinquency, and the no.
BILE, lsge hearted woman went her way
as bravtly as she could.
Everybody said that Doctor Leigh had
forsaken Miss Dale from motives of expe-
diency. Miss Clarendon, the young lady
he had married, was the only daughter of
very we,lthy and popular physician,
and, besides the money his daughter would
inherit, was the practice, which must
necessarily fallinto the hands of his SON.
in-law.
That Doctor Leigh was ambitious Miss
Dale knew, but someway she never could
bring herself to believe that he had thus
sold himself Had he not on innumerable
occasions expressed his horror of marriages
Of convenience? And yet, while Miss Dale
did not overrate her own character, she
could not help compare most unfayorably
the woman he had married with the wo-
man he had deserted; and for this there
was good reason.
Miss Clarendon was recognized belle
at the time of her marriage. She cared
for nothing under heaven but society, and
this fact everybody who knew her at all
was acquainted with. She was petite,
graceful, coquettish, possessed of excellent
taste 10 dressing-in short, social butter
fly, with not single domestic proclivity.
The first time Doctor Leigh and Miss
Dale had met since the doctors marriage
was precisely a year after their most sin
gular parting, and on the first of January.
She had dressed herself to receive calls as
usual, for Miss Dale was one of the women
who could suffer and not struggle-could
die and make no sign.
Her elegant parlors never looked more
cheerful, and the hostess was never more
charming to her guests as on this, to her,
the saddest day of the year.
Of course Doctor Leigh would not call
upon her, she said to herself at every new
ring of the bell; and yet understand it she
could not Something kept whispering to
her that he would come, in spite of the
constant protest Of her reason.
That something was loves true intui-
ton, as stable and unerring in its rule
over the heart as the law of gravitation to
the world.
When at last he did arrive, Miss Dale
knew he was approaching before his hand
touched the bell, and, while she waited
his entrance, schooled her heart to meet
him with the indifference their change
position demanded.
ssMiss Dale p
doctor Leigh p
That was ALL Their hands met, and
their eyes searched each others faces.
Miss Dale's was smiling, courteous, ap-
parently happy. With the most profound
politeness and most thorough indifference
she pointed to seat.
Doctor Leigh was pale and careworn,
almost haggard For an instant Miss
Dale's heart was filled with joy-but only
for an instant. He had suffered-was
suffering. She had not borne all the sor-
row. But this feeling was short-lived
1t died almost at its birth, and the next
sentiment was one of such tender pity
that it required all her self-possession to
keep from showing him that in no respect
had she swerved from her first allegiance;
but pride and principle did its work, and
the most critical observer would never have
guessed, as Miss Dale sat by her old lover,
that she had ever cared whit more for
him than any other man in the room. 1t
was evident at once that Doctor Leigh 6
visit was not of the usual New Year s
type.
81 trust you will excuse me for calling
to day." he at last remarked, when his
companion was quite at liberty to listen.
doctor Leigh will always be welcome y
she replied, as the gentleman hesitated.
''Let us have no common places, please, T"
ne answered ''I have come on very
sad errand Pardon me if I ask you to
90 with me to another room.
81 cannot leave my guests, Doctor
Leigh she said, with dignity. eff your
message is important, let me hear it now.
We shall not be overheard. y
Then you think you are strong enough
to hear what 1 have to tell you in this
crowd p
81 am strong enough for anything, !"
she replied, looking straight into her COM
panion's eyes.
every well, then. / was summoned
an hour ago to the bedside Of your friend,
Hugh Claverick. y
"He is i'll ~ Miss Dale inquired, with
out emotion,
''He is dying r was the quick response.
'tDying, Miss Dale, and he wants you. "
ssPoor Hugh ! l feared as much when
| saw him last. | will change my dress
and 60 at once, if you will be kind enough
to take me there.
As Miss Dale excused herself to her
guest, and made ready to accompany him,
the doctor asked himself over and over
again what this could mean. She had
received this announcement with perfect
self possession, which, the doctor felt con-
fdent, was not the result of an effort.
When she returned to the parlor they
were quite alone. She drew on her gloves
coolly, saying as she did so:
ava, have pot told mo anufb;ar of fha