Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1901-01-17
TO HER LOVE.
BY Elaine Cartwright.

- GZlt
Colonel Hadley. viii you 4>
to dinner?" and-added : l3s
slyly, ST have
your other side"
Ray Hadley box, y
conventional remark al rs 500 n
full arrangement.
Pretty Ethel Lovejoy was disap
pointed; to win even a passing compli-
ment from the hero Of the our would
have been a feather in her cap, but.
as she afterwards confded to her dear
est friend. ST might have been fifty
years of age and ugly as sin for all he
knew or cared"
Marjorie had shrugged her shoulders
and laughed. Don't be- too ure Of
that, dear! Although he's a hero. he's
only a man like the rest, and knows a
pretty woman when he sees one"
"Well, he doesn't know how to ap-
preciate one. at Is rate" replied
Ethel, CURLY. Truth to tell the little
woman was a trifie vexed at the Colo
nel's want of appreciation of her own
u~ndeniable charms. However," she
said to herself, I'm not spitefu1, and
I've given him Mabel Denison."
Now, before he went to the war,
Colonel Hadley's name had been
coupled in society with that of Miss
Denison, the great heiress, and one of
the handsomest girls to be met with
in a days march, but he had ridden
away at the head Of his regiment, n
that word had not been spoken which
would have changed the whole course
of Mabel Denison's life.
Calamity did she hide her disappoint-
ment from the Argus eyes of hat So
ciety Of which she was a shining light.
and only her own heart knew that it
was irrevocably given to the splendid
soldier who now returned home cov-
cred with honors, showered upon him
by his country.
Never had Mabel Denison looked
handsomer than on this eventful even
ing. Her Spanish beauty was admira-
bly, set off by her gown of scarlet chif-
fon-a compliment to the hero Of the
occasion.
Her flashing eyes sought the face Of
the man beside her.
Admiration she read there but
love? No. She rose from the table
disappointed, mortif1ed-~a hard express
sion upon the perfect mouth.
It's too good of you, dear, to let her
sing for u.s." gushed Ethel Lovetoy in
the drawing room. 'She has a glorious
voice. Why is it she is not on the
stage? You say h is poor"
absolutely ~penniless, I believe" re-
piled Miss Denison, indifferently. "and
with no references. I took her-well-
because of her voice, and because I am
not as narrow-minded as my fellow
mondaines. I fancy she has a story"
"And you are not inquisitive enough to
wish to know it?"
Miss Denison shook her handsome
head.
No. she said. e'She suits me. She
is ladylike and musical. Why should I
vulgarly pry into her secrets?"
Miss Lovejoy colored. She felt this
to be a slap at her. sStil1, dear-as an
unmarried woman"-she began.
Mabel Denison smiled. st am old
enough to take care of myself" she
said. 1T am twenty-eight."
Three years older than mel" ex-
claimed her friend, who had passed her
thirtieth birthday. "Of course. DEAR"
she added, "you ear afford to please
yourself. You are so delightfully."- rich.
Now, Il but Mabel Denison was tired
Of hearing Miss Lovejoy's narrowing
tales of poverty, and crossed the room
to the piano, whereat her companion
sat, her fingers straying over the keys
in a dreamy reverie.
"Mrs. Smith, she said, ct want you
to sing my favorite selections from the
opera Of 'Carmen'-Colonel Had1ey is
here"
She got no further. Mrs. Smith, pale
and trembling, rose from her seat, her
hand upon her beating heart. Colonel
Hadley-is he here? Ray"-and then
she fell back in a dead faint.
eft was the most dramatic scene in
the world, Miss Lovejoy said after
wards. "There was the girl-a beauti-
full young creature-lying in a swoon,
and Mabel Denison standing over her
ke-lik Nemesis and in came Colo
mel Hadley. What is she to your said
Mabel. She is my wife he answered.
Oh! how stern he looked. But how
she comes to be here, I do not know
left her Then he broke off. You
know what she is. She is my paid
companion said Mabel. She is here
tonight to sing for Miss Lovejoy's
guests
":Ah!' said Colonel Had1ey, 7
thought there was not UGH another
voice in the world!' and with that he
took her up in his arms, and, with the
merest apology to me, carried her right
out down to his carriage, which was
waiting for him. What do you think
Of that for a ta1e?" And then-tri-
umphantly-"Now we know the reason
he wouldn't ook at poo Mabel Deni-
son asst season. I suppose she really
is his wife" Her listener, who was a
great society dame, drew herself up.
Colonel Had1ey and his wife dine with
is tonight" was all she said, and
Ethel felt sat upon.
Down in their cottage the hero Of
the I'LL sat alone with his beautiful
young wife. The evening shadows were
falling. Tomorrow they would return
together to the Great Babylon, where
thew too mist taxa THAR nloooS rido