The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-05-10
AT CROSS
PURPOSES.
A Love Story That Ended MT Sea
ON Moonlight Night.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

vVV@"s-e'V@-s-s@ ~'s"s'G@'s-sN%S-s@A q
"Goodby, Mabel"
"Goodhy, sir"
And the voice was cold and hard and
the face stern and immovablc.
Iaughtily the young beauty turned
aside when she said it, never noticing the
outstretched hand and imploriny eyes
that pleaded SO powerfully in their sill. ne.
Ronald Norton stood a moment, thca
opened the door and went out. carryin.
with hlm a wounded heart and leaving
behind one too proud to acknowledge its
pain.
But Mabel Leigh found out her mis-
take. She did not extract alc same
sweetness from life that she had since
knowing Ronald Norton Its hours drag.
gcd wcarily along. unchccrcd 10y the hope
Of lis presence to Tighten them And.
worse than ALL it was for no real cause
that they were separated.
y word-a "uiAc light as air"-had
tloatcd between them ut a time when they
both took it up and were too proud 10
own repentance.
Ronald had never said the words that
would have hound them together. hut in
hundred different ways love had spoken.
They knew each held the others happi-
ness and were content.
Ronald felt that the time had come
when he must tell Mabel Of his hopes ana
desires and secure the prize his heart COW
ted For Mabel was a prize. Her beau
ty and accomplishments won many Il lover
to her side, and Norton was greatly en-
We'd
No one would have envicd him now as
with heavy heart he paced back ana
forth in his room, through the Hvclong
night, thinking only of the happiness
which had been within his grasp and then
suddenly failed him.
"IIe knew Mabel to be slow 10 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 discussion.
Love Of argument had always been a
trait of Ronaid's character, and he de-
Tended solely for this reason. Mabel sup
posed he was uttcrng his own sentiments,
and her eyes flashed and her heart beat
angrily rs She listened
Could this be the man who was more
than a 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 gentlemen contin-
ucd their discussion.
1t ended 10y her sudden rising and
laughing command to dismiss the subject.
The gentlemen apologizcd and obeycd,
and after a short time of general CONVEX
sation one by one took their leave
Ronald fingered among the last eager to
secure 4 few moments to himself. Merry
ously he walked around the drawing
room, looking at the pictures he had seen
hundred times before, picking up and
laying down the elegant volumes and feel
ing 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 popiniay was more than Ronald could
tell, and here she was laughing and talk
ing with him as if Ronald was 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 min
utcs What in the world was Styles stay
ing 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. Wen was it for him that Ma
bel did not see him.
At last Styles bowed himself out. The
eXpectHnt 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
chair for their usual parting chat she
stood still ard looked at her watch.
4 had no idea it was SO late" she re-
marked.
Ronald stood transfycd. The change in
her w9s 50 sudden, so marked, he could
not understand
But what could he say? To speak Of
love at such moment was impossible.
But he could not 20 silently.
"Mabel-Miss Leigh" Lo began dcspc..
atcly.
"Won. sir?" was the cool answer from
the cool hello.
May l-that IS, will you allow me to
speak OF MYSELF"
"No, sir" came clcar and shor4.
"Not now" said Norton hurcic4ly, "to-
morrow-another timc?"
Neither now nor ever" was the reply
as she made q motion to leave him.
Ronald felt q chill Ike ice through hl5
heart Mechanically lie followed hcr,
took his bat in the hall and held out his
hand.
All, IL she had but taken it, it never
would have let her 80 till she had heard
his hearts message. But Mabel turned
with lor formal "Goodhy" and left him.
As he passed the night hours in grief
he thought Of her quietly slumbcring,
careless Of the wound she had made, in
different 10 his fate.
But Mabel Leigh was paying dearly COR
her words. On her knees in the room
where she had SO cruelty dismissed him
she wrung her hands and wept bitter
tears. The flush Of anger was gone and