Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-03-07


s'Rex. And he's got box for The
Loves Of Henrietta tomorrow, and he's
asked mother and me to co.
I'm so glad,' said George, but with
singular want of enthusiasm.
And Madge stole furtive look at
her, and the corners of her mouth
quiyered.
A month had passed. Once more
George stood at the same window,
softly humming. She was waiting for
Rex, and her face was very pale. 1t
was the same face still, but there was
difference, the difference which
marks every girls face when she be-
comes a woman.
She had learned her lesson and borne
her punishment in silence.
Today she had nerved herself for a
supreme effort that she might do no
wrong to the sister who had stepped
into the place she had voluntarily re-
signed
She had thought love not worth the
sacrifice of art, and If art without love
had turned to dust and ashes In her
hand who was to blame but herself?
She was waiting for Rex-Rex, who
had fallen such helpless victim to
or word to spare for her the whole
month. 1t was this that had first
taught her what she had lost and that
had afterward nerved her to play her
part-for weeks experience had
taught her that it was only part-of
careless indifference and entire alb
sorptlon in her art.
When it seemed too hard for her, she
reminded herself sternly of her own
words, 81 am satisfied with my life as
it is"
''They shall never see am not satis-
fed" she said and struggled on.
Today there was a set, stern look on
her face, for this was to be the su-
preme ordeal, and at present there was
no one to see her. But as she leaned
her head listlessly against the window
there came from the hall the sound Of
a familiar whistle, and instantly her
expression changed. A smiling, ex-
pectant face greeted Rex as he entered,
and she scrutinized him with playful
anxiety.
''The funeral and wedding marches
are side by side ON the piano. she be-
gan, with an affected attempt at seri-
BUSINESS, "but / was waiting to choose
haf
face"
what does my face tell your he
asked.
She looked at him critically.
"That the momentous question Is to
be asked no later than this evening""
she replied. Good luck attend you"
Wrong. Try again.
'Ts it possible it is to be postponed
till tomorrow morning?' And she held
out her hand with playful gesture of
sympathy.
Wrong again. see must tell you"
He had seized the hand she had offer
ed and was looking her straight in the
face
''What do you say to the question
having been asked already?"
The last month had wrought many
changes in George. She had, for one
thing, learned to keep her face under
control, and only the slightest trem-
bling of the eyelid showed that she
was taken by surprise.
''My dear brother to be-" she said, re-
gaining possession of her hand, Il con-
slider have been grossly i'll treated in
having this fact sprung upon me so
suddenly. l had heard Of delightful
little book called The Right Word In
the Right Place'-a help to those peo-
pie born devoid of tact. / was going to
purchase it in the assurance that
should find a paragraph entitled, What
to say to future brother-in-law,' or
words to that effect, and now you
pounce upon me like this and crush me.
feel unfit for conversation. You had
better co. And she turned majestical-
ly away.
81 WILL Only you must first allow me
to make one remark You did not ask
what Madge said to me-" He paused
impressively. "She has refused me-"
1t was flis trump card, and he was
growing desperate He took advantage
Of Georgie's back being still turned to-
ward him, and, creeping softly behind
her, took one glance at her face before
she knew he had moved.
1t was enough. @s
"Georgie,' he cried, hasn't the play
gone far enough? l am tired Of acting,
and want you, Georgie-I can't tell
you how much want your There was
passionate entreaty in his voice.
what did you mean," she asked
slowly, "by saying you were tired of
actingT l don't understand"
mo; l know" he answered guiltily.
'I've got to tell you. NIadge and
have been playing at being lovers dur
ing the last month. have even asked
her to marry me, and she has refused.
1t was the natural climax to the play,
she said, and she told me to do 1t. be-
cause nothing else would put you off
your guard. had to know whether
you loved me or not" he ended des-
perately.
at was very cruel" she whispered at
last.
"Ah, George, don't!" he entreated.
II thought of that, but, honestly. would
you ever have known you loved me If
we had gone on In the same old way 2"
There was a moments silence.
II should never have known / loved
you," she answered softly. Chicago
Times Herald.
Rest Your Eyes.
The moment you are instinctively in