Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1901-05-09

yOuI CHOICE. 1 Will make you happy,
and in time l will give you all the
wealth you want, just because l love
you and want to do everything l can
TO show you how much.
And after came much more talk of
the same sort, it is not possible in
cold blood to tell of the half secrets,
the yelled glances, the bushes, the
kisses, the fervent hand clasps accom-
panying such a time the inception of
a home, and lifetime OF happiness.
However, late that night Lloyd Har-
vey left the house and faced the rough
blasts, firm in his conviction that he
had found the tenth girl, nay, the
thousandth girl.
He was poor, that is in money, but
rich in youth, strength and manly at
tributes, and had a bright future be-
fore him. Now he felt that it would
be glorified by her presence, and that
with her bright eyes to nerve him to
his task, he had Titanic strength to
accomplish his plans and wrest from
the unwilling world all that he desired
Of it.
So matters ran along. The wedding
was not to be for year yet, but the
time was speeding away swiftly.
Edith was not one of the society
girls, that is, she did not belong to the
"swagger set" not being able to keep
up the pace that was set therein, her
parents being only in moderate cir
cumstances. She said she did not care.
At any rate, when Delaney Worth
ington, one of the leaders in the So
ciety set, and wealthy bachelor, saw
her one day on the street, and a few
nights later, got one of his friends who
knew Edith to take him to her house
for an Introduction, that young wom-
mans heart fluttered with gratified
vanity, hope, and perhaps, ambition.
1t soon became the talk Of the city.
the infatuation of Worthington for the
poor but beautiful Edith She accept
ed every attention he gave and was
seemingly greatly pleased.
Lloyd saw all this and was troubled
Still, he had become firm in his idea
that Edith was above temptation, and
the die was cast for her. Yet, he did
not like her exposed to the temptation
1t was giving her a taste of life she
might yearn for, and which he was
unable to give her after they were
married He spoke of it one night to
her.
why, you silly boy" she laughed
merrily am just fad with Mr..
Worthington at present, he is given
to fads, you know. He must have
something to amuse himself with, and
if it amuses him to send me flowers
and matinee tickets and candy l have
no objection, as he can stand the cost
without worry and / don't see why
you should worry about it either"
All the same, do not like it-for
think it would be best not to allow
Mr. Worthington make you quite so
conspicuous, at any rate"
81 actually believe you are jealous"
she said.
II am not jealous. / do not think a
person can love truly and be jealous
and do love you truly, you are all Of
life to me-"
And you know l love you, don't
you Lloyd? Don't worry about me, let
me have my little fling before l settle
down. / don't care If Mr.. Worthing-
ton has got a yatch, and pair of
thoroughbreds and an income that
makes one dizzy to think about,
wouldn't exchange you for him for
twice what he has" So Lloyd was sat
isfed.
Worthington's friends did not under
stand him. He seemed serious in his
attention to Edith. But he had
seemed serious in his attentions to
other girls not of his set before, to
their sorrow. ultimately. He drank
great deal, gambled whenever he felt
like ii, and had a moral character that
was awful to contemplate. However,
these matters were kindly forgotten by
the public, and attributed to the &C.
centricities of very rich man who
was having hard job of killing time
in manner agreeable to himself.
One night he called to see Edith.
He had been drinking, and was a little
reckless, nor did he notice her mother
sitting in a quiet corner of the room