, 1902-11-07
HER BLUNDER


order of women to whom their
admirers are wont to apply UGH
~ad1actiyes. as regal" magnificent"
Imperial"
Many lovers sought to win her, and
many were disappointed when rumor
announced her engagement to young
Frank Reade.
To be sure, Frank was handsome as
a Prince and brilliant as to wit and
talents, was poor, hadn't even "expec-
~tations."
EARLY orphaned of both his parents,
he was educated for the law by a rich
uncle, who made 1t understood that
said education was all he meant to give
Frank.
His %presumptive heir was another
eephew, Franks cousin.
Well these considerations had their
weight with Miss Vernet, and she had
hesitated before accepting the young
lawyer, but his attraction of mind and
person proved too much for her world
ly wisdom, and it was an engagement.
nly she stipulated that it should be
more until Frank should have sufh-
Income to support her in good
Frank must needs GO
away to Seek Ms fortune. He went t0S
Europe. There was a tender parting
between the lovers, at which Carolyn
was fearful and respondent, Frank
brave. and hopeful.
Don't think of my absence. dearest"
he urged cheerfully. Think of the
time when l shall return with a for
tune to offer you"
Return when you will, Frank" sob
bed Carolyn, you shall find me true.
l will wait for you faithfully"
Frank ,Reade' went to Europe, and
for a month Carolyn was inconsolable.
However, this did not last long, and
Mt the end of a month Carolyn had SO
far recovered from her grief as to ac-
cept an. invitation to Mrs. De Smiths
soiree.
At that soiree she met Albert Reade.
that fortunate cousin of Franks.
Mr.. Reade was a rather good-looking
young man. She saw at once that he
was destined to become her adorer. Be
sides he was Franks cousin-reason
enough why she should like him.
Still she did not speak to him of
Frank; neither did Mr.. Reade allude to
his cousin, but Albert was ignorant of
Miss Vernet's engagement to Frank.
He began from their first meeting to
devote himself to her, and Miss Yernet,
not being blind, especially to such at
tentions, did not mistake 1t, yet she
did not discourage him.
And when occasionally she heard
some comment from society not fat.
tering to her constancy she said indig-
nantly:'
"0f course she must go about with
some one, and who could be a more
proper escort. than Franks cousin? ?"
So she continued to Ego about with
Albert Reade, of course. you see the
sequel. Carolyn loved Frank. Under
the fascination of his presence she had
yielded her s~elfishness, but now that
he was, gone. worldliness had resumed
its sway, and ambition began to sug-
gest that Albert was a better match
than Frank.
Society" that astute and consider
ate body, had long foreseen the event
and was not in the least surprised
when Miss Vernet authorized the in
formation that she was soon to marry
Albert Reade, and society thought it a
sensible proceeding.
And Carolyn married Albert Reade.
They went to live with Uncle Jenkins,
who. gave the bride a set of diamonds
and did the handsome thing generally,
and somebody was good enough to send
to Frank in Europe a paper containing
the marriage notice. What a crushing
blow to all his hopes that notice was
he never told any one He did not re-
turn home, and society was left to for
get or remember him as 1t would.
It chose to remember him, for Caro-
Ign, riding on a ferryboat about two
years after her marriage, heard a lady
and gentleman at her side ~conyersing
as follows: