Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-03-29
Six Years Lost.

What would we live on, MAXI"
laughed Sydney Vernon, glancing
down at her elegant morning dress,
with the pretty slipper just peeping
from beneath its hem. It's all very
well to eschew the probabilities of
life, but they are somewhat necessary,
for all that, and have never seen
any great evidences of economy on
your part. and i am quite sure you
have not ON mine"
Max Bayard tugged impatiently at
his moustache as the girl, whom a
moment before be had asked to be his
wife, thus answered him.
He had known her long enough to
| learn to love her with all the strength
IL his great heart; TO worship her
beauty; to follow her constantly with
his eyes, knowing but enc wish, one
hope-that she might be his.
And he fancied. not altogether
wrongly, that his love had met some
return. Her eyes had frightened at
his coming, her voice had learned to
welcome him, until he felt he must end
surance; the more so that Mr.. Clay
ton had lately come upon the scene
rich and childless widower, who
evidently looked with favor upon the
belle of the watering-place, and whom
her aunt (under whose care she was),
if not the young lady herself, looked
upon with, favor in return.
tcl
economy" Max said in answer II
have enough to live on and feed my
horses, though my tailor's bin does
trouble me now and then, confess;
but, Sydney, l will change all that,
dear; | can't, perhaps, give you all
the luxuries to which you are accus-
toned but you shan't lack for COM
forts, that | promise you"
We should be miserable, Max.
miserable, both you and IL" said the
girl bitterly. I'VE have not either of us
been reared in a school of poverty. |
would cry for cake while you could
only give me bread. and you for ale,
while / could give you only kisses.
Come, be sensible, and let us be good
| friends"
Friends? Never!" he exclaimed
II am starving, and you throw me .
stone. Look into my eyes, sydney,
straight and true, and say you do not
love me, and I will go away, and
trouble you no more"
The long lashes dropped low on her
cheek.
Il cannot quite say that" she an
swered but l will say more. prom
Used last night to become Mr.. Clay
tons wife within six months"
Max Bayard's handsome face grew
white to the very lips-a look of dead
ly anger, mingled with something like
.oathing crept into it. Sydney shrank
from it, as from blow.
Don't Max--don't!" she cried. I'll
could not help It'll am very sorry"
You could not help it--you are very
sorry" he repeated, very slowly. |
Gould not help what? Toying with
me for your amusement-playng fast
and loose with your victim, or selling
yourself to the highest bidder?
Which? You are very sorry-for
whom? For the man you led step by
step to the brink of the fowerstrewn
precipice, only to smile as he plunged J
to the chasm below or for him who
wins the prize in the lottery-the prize
for which he has paid the price of ALL
of his fortune? Pardon me, Miss Ver-
non, but he, | think, Is more deserv- |
ing of your sorrow than the man
whom you hurl to the lowest depths
of the abyss
With these words he turned and left
her sitting on the sands, the ocean
making its low moan at her feet.
oh, If II would come on and on,
and swallow me up" she walled in
echo: Il love him-loye him! Max,
you are right; the man | propose to
marry does deserve the pity But you
Oh, my love, you might have spared
lne your hate! did it for the best!"
Six years had passed-six years,
fraught indeed with change.
IF she hae been but true to herself
and mel" Max Bayard had thought, |
when. but few months after the
event which had driven him from his
native land to find forgetfulness in
travel, letter had been put into his
hand, which had followed him from
port to port, Announcing that he had
fallen heir to a fortune which might
have challenged Mr. Claytons In its
magnitude
He had always known there was a |
bare chance OF his inheritance, but
then present possessor had been young
and strong and vigorous, with a SEEM
ingly equal lease OF life with himself
until accident had done the work OIL
disease, and fortunes wheel had come
round TO him.
III only she had trusted met" he
said, bitterly, again and again, la the
lonely hours Of the night, despising
himself that he could not learn TO
hate her.
year afterward he married. His
wife Waa very vounQ and very lovely. .