The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-05-15
At Cross Purposes.
"Good-by, Mabel"
"Good-by, sir"

And the voice was cold and hard,
and the face stern and immovable.
Haughtily 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 n moment,
then opened the door and went out,
carrying with him wounded heart.
and leaving 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. Its
hours dragged wearily along, un-
cheered by the hope of his presence
to tighten them. And. worse than all,
IL was for no real cause that they
were separated.
A word--a "trife light as air"-had
fioated 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 in n 100 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 prize.
Her beauty and accomplishment won
many a lover to her side, and Norton
was greatly envied.
No one would have eryied him now
as. with a heavy heart. he paced back
and forth in his room. through the
livelong night. thinking only of the
happiness wlIch 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
a trait of Ronald's character. and he
defended solely for this reason.
Mabel supposed he was uttering his
own sentiments. and her eyes flashed
and her heart beat angrily as she lis
tened.
Could this be the man who was more
than friend to her? Could she honor
a 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 gentle
men continued their discussion.
1t ended by her sudden rising. and
Laughing command to dismiss the sub
ject.
The gentlemen apologized and
obeyed. and after a short time of gen.
eral 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 drawing-room. looking at the pic
tures he had seen 100 times before,
picking up and laying down the ele-
giant 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 a popinjay was more than Ron
ing and talking with him as If Ronald
was 1000 miles away.
II 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. II
was only eight minutes! What in the
world was Styles staying so late for?
II was very absurd in Mabel to make
herself so fascinating to everybody.
Poor Ronald. in his excitement
stood glaring at them in utter disre-
gard 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 sink
ing 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
remarked.
Ronald stood transfixed. The change
In her was SO sudden. so marked. he
Dould not understand 1t.
But what could he say? To speai
of love at such q moment was impossi
BILE. But he could not go silently.
"Mabel-Miss Leigh" he began. des
perately.
"well. sir" was the cool answer
from the cool belle.
"May THAT Is. will you allow me
10 speak Of myself?"
mo. sirT came clear and short
Ts'Not now" said Norton. hurriedly
ttomorrow--another timer"
~Neither now nor ever!s Was thu