The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-21
AtCfoss Purposes.
"Good-by. Mabel"

"Good-bY."
Ronald Norton stood moment, Their
opened the door and went out, carrying
with him wounded heart. and 1eaving
behind one too proud TO acknowledge its
pain
But Mabel Leigh found out her mis-
take. she did not extract the same
sweetness from life that she had since
knowing Ronald Norton. It's hours drag
ged YEARLY along.
A word-a "triAe light as afr''-had
foated between them at a time when
they both took 1t up and were too proud
TO own repentance.
Ronald had never said the words that
would have bound them together, but IA
q hundred different ways love had spo-
ken.
Ronald felt that the time had come
when he must tell Mabel of his hopes
ard desires, and secure the prize his
heart coveted.
He knew Mabel TO be slow to anger,
but strong IN her wrath when aroused,
and he, on this night OF all nights, had
unwittingly offended her by the strong
| side he mad taken in a discussion
Love of argument had always been a
| trait of Ronald's character, and ne de-
Tended solely for this reason. Mabel
supposed he was uttering his own senti-
ments, and her eyes flashed and her
heart beat angrily.
! Could this be the man who was more
/ than a friend to her? Could she honor
| a man who cherished such sentiments.
/ Shaded from the light, she leaned her
| head against the cushions of her chair,
/ and thought while the gentlemen contin-
ued their discussion.
! It ended by her sudden rising, and
| laughing command to dismiss the sub
/ iect.
Ronald fingered among the last, eager
to secure few moments to himself
NervousIy he walked around the draw
ing-room, looking at the pictures he had
seen a hundred times before.
How brilliant Mabel looked. leaning
against Sylesi How she could endure
such a popinjay was more than Ronald
could tell, and here she was laughing and
talking with him as If Ronald was a
| thousand miles away.
It certainly wasn't polite to stand with
her back to him. and it must have been
for half an hour. Here Ronald pulled
out his watch. No it was only eight
minutesl What in the world was Styles
staying SC late for?
Poor Ronald. in his excitement, stood
glazing at them in utter disregard Of
courtesy.
At last Styles bowed himself out
Mabel turned, but her brilliancy had
vanished. Instead of the smile with
which she was won't to meet Ronald, her
face was cold.
Ronald stood transixed. The change
in her was so sudden, so marked.
But what could he say? To speak Of
love at such a moment was impossible.
'Ndabel-AIiss Leigh" he began.
''WeH, sir?" was the cool answer
May THAT is, will you allow me to
speak of MYSELF"
mo, sir" came clear and short
Not now" said Norton, hurrisdly,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS timer"
Neither now nor ever!" was the re-
ply.
Ronald felt a chill like ice through his
heart. Mechanically ne followed her, took
his hat in the hall and held out his
hand
"Ah, if she had but taken it, IT never
would have let her go TIL she had heard
his hearts message. But Mabel turned
with her formal "Good-5y'' and left
him
But Mabel Leigh was paying dearly
for her words. On her knees, in the
room where she had so cruelty dismissed
him, she wrung her hands and wept Bit
ter tears. The flush of anger was gone,
and in its stead a sense Of the wrong she
had done, and the sorrow she must en-
dure.
Her pride would not suffer her to recall
him; his would not allow him to ask
it.
Mabel bore her burden for few days
until it began to tell upon her health
and spirits.
What is the matter with you. Mabel?"
asked Eta Styles, dropping in one day.
srbO Of
SELF
"Oh, don't know" answered Mabel
well, suppose you go with US to Aus
tralia."
Australia! A sudden JOY shot through
MabeTs heart. She had been longing
and planning to get away, as far away
as possible. from the spot which had
grown uncomfortable TO her.
How soon are you going?" she asked.
by next Saturdays steamer"
ST VIII go"
ooh. that is too goodr' cried Eta,
springing up and embracing her II
coaxed mother all could to go with Us,
but she is too timid. Father has cross
ed so many times he viii make a splen-
did escort"
The day on which they sailed was
cloudy and gloomy-in fit keeping with
MabePs spirits. She had hoped to the
last that Ronald Norton would come TO
her and say: "Stayl" but she had never
seen nor heard from him since that
night
She had borne up wonderfully since
deciding to 20 abroad, for the relief OF
getting out Of sight Of all eyes and CIV
ing way to her grief was what she lived
for
Their party had CONS early on board.
and retired at once to their staterooms
so that Mabel was alone
Alone she felt, separated from her home
and friends. every moment bearing her
farther ard farther away from her coun-
try and-Ronaldi
She lay listening TO the creaking and
groaning Of the ship. the hustle and
strange noises which never cease upon a /
voyage. and never thought OF them a
all Her beart and brain were filed with
bat one image.
Among the last Of the passengers who /
came aboard the vessel was a gentleman /
with a grave. handsome face and re-
serveI afr. which gave a sort o. fascinat- I
ing melancholy 70 him; ard although /
perfectly courteous. he kept eloof from I
al. seeming to prefer his book or silent
meditation to all company. Hour after +
hour he spent gazing UPON the foaming /
pillows the matches sunsets, the lovely +
mooniights OF ocean
Poor Mabel and Eta were both de- /
prive6 OF these en5oyments. Eta being 4
dreaGfuuv seasiek- and Mabel too worn 4
and miserable TO leave her room.
They had been cut nearly a fortnight 4
when Ar styles insisted on Eabsl's 90 f
eD1