Holbrook argus. (Holbrook, Ariz.) 1900-1913, 1901-06-15
. OOD-BY, Mabel"
49, Ood-by, sir"
SAnd the voice was C

Haughtlly the young beauty turned
aside when she said it, never noticing
the outstretched hand and imploring
eyes that pleaded so powerfully in their
silence.
Ronald Norton stood a moment, then
opened the door and went out, carry
ing with him a wounded heart, and
leaving behind one too proud to ac
knowledge 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. Its hours
dragged YEARLY along, uncheered by
the hope of his presence to tighten
them. And, worse than all, it was for
no real cause that they were separated.
A wOrd-a ''trifle light as air''-had
floated between them at q time when
they both took it up and were too proud
to own repentance.
Ronald had never said the words that
would have bound them together, but
in a hundred different ways love had
spoken. They. knew each held the
others happiness, and were content.
Ronald felt that the time had come
when he must tell Mabel Of his hopes
and desires, and secure the prize his
heart coveted. For Mabel was a prize.
Her beauty and accomplishments won
many lover to her side, and Norton
was greatly envied.
No one would have envied him now
as, with a heavy heart, he paced back
and forth in his room, through the live
long night, thinking only of the happi-
ness which had been within his grasp
and then suddenly failed him.
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 had taken in a discussion.
Love of argument had always been
trait of ROnald's character, and he
defended solely for this reason Mabel
supposed he was uttering his own SEN
timents, and her eyes flashed and her
heart beat angrily as she listened.
Could this be the man who was more
than friend to her? Could she honor
man who cherished such sentiments
as she heard him speak?
Shaded from the light, she leaned her
head against the cushions of her chair
and thought, while the gentlemen con-
tinued their discussion.
1t ended by her sudden rising, and
laughing command to dismiss the sub
ject.
The gentlemen apologized and obey
ed, and after a short time of general
conversation, one by one took their
leave.
Ronald fingered among the last, eager
to secure a few moments to himself.
NervOusly he walked around the draw
ing-room, looking at the pictures he
had seen hundred times before, pick
ing up and laying down the elegant
volumes, and feeling about as cool and
collected as most men would under the
circumstances.
How brilliant Mabel looked, leaning
against the door, as she chatted with
young Styles! How she could endure
such popinjay was more than Ronald
could tell, and here she was laughing
I /
a thousand miles away.
1t 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 minutes! What in the world was
Styles staying so late for? 1t was very
absurd in Mabel to make herself so
fascinating to everybody.
Poor Ronald, in his excitement, stood
glaring at them in~utter disregard of
courtesy. Well was it for him that
Mabel did not see him.
At last Styles bowed himself out. The
expectant moment had come.
Mabel turned, but her brilliancy had
vanished. Instead of the smile with
which she was wont to meet Ronald
her face was cold. Instead of sinking
on a chair for their usual parting chat
she stood still and looked at her watch
81 had no idea it was so late" she re.
marked.
Ronald stood transfiXed. The change
in her was so sudden, so marked, he
could not understand it.
But what could he say? To speak OF
love at such a moment was impossible
+ But he could not go silently.
.Mabel-Niss Leigh" he began, des
perately.
"Well, STRIP was the cool answer from
the cool belle.
MAY THAT is, will you allow me tc
speak of myself?"
,"No, sir" came clear and short.
mot now" said Norton, hurriedly
o-morrow-another time%
Neither now nor everr was the re
: ply, as she made motion to leave him
Ronald felt a chill like ice through
his heart. Mechanically he followed
her, took his hat in the hall and held
out his hand.
All, If she had but taken it, it never
would have let her go till she had heard
, his hearts message But Mabel turned
with. her~1formal "Good-by" and lef
AS he passed the night hours in grief
he thought of her quietly slumbering
careless of the wound she had made
Indifferent to his fttte.
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