The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-05-06

1
scar from violets cheek, and finally
1t was declared that she must forego
the ball. great though the pain Of
80 doing would be.
you can write Dudley a little note,
my dear" said her mother, when she
and Violet were alone; "that will be
polite and polite. You must not let
him think you rude, and you know
you promised him the waltzes. Poor
childl I'm SO sorryr'
The respective vehicles accordingly
arrived, and as Veronica kissed her
cousin good night she had never looked
more radiantly lovely. Gems of won
derful brilllancy glittered in her hair
on her neck and arms. Her dress
was OF some rich, soft, clinging ma
terial and she carried herself like q
queen as she swept out of the room
where her cousin lay upon the bed be-
moaning the irony Of fate.
=
Allured by the appealing eyes and
coaxlng words of his fair partner,
Dudley Maitland became the victim
Of the moment, and 1t was not long
ere he was escorting her away from
the throng Of merry dancers into COM
parative solitude.
This is quite like old times" veron-
lea said rs they entered the cool con-
servatory and sat down.
mot quite" returned Maitland,
somewhat absently. Indeed, times
have changed considerably since we
last met"
This was discordant note, and
Veronica did not feel quite at her ease.
'I'm so glad you came tonight, Dud-
ley" she said as though involutarily
breathing her thoughts alond
Maitland raised his eyebrows slight
ly. but she failed to notice that dan
ger signal
"Why?" he asked. somewhat
brusquely.
How strangely you speak, she re-
turned, nervously, "but do you really
care to know?"
Naturally I am interested"
Veronica toyed with the petals of
rosebud and her eyes were cast upon
the ground.
Because I have wanted to see you,
to speak to you. to tell you how bit.
| terly sorry 1 am for my cruel words!
l think l must have been madr' she
said softly. 81 came back to the draw
| ingroom," she went on in the same
tone, while her eyes remained still
| downcast, "but you had gone, and 1
have never known happy moment
sincev'
Now. had veronlca's conscience per-
mitted her to look into the eyes of
the man at her side, with those won.
derful liquid orbs of hers, It Is pos
sible that the fascination of her gaze
might have blinded him to the false
ring of her words, but, as 1t was, he
felt neither pleasure nor flattered.
II am sorry IL you have been un.
happy" he returned. lightly, "but In
these rapid times It does not do to
grieve over the dark and empty past"
"Not dark, nor empty" she said,
with mock tenderness and well affect
ed concern; "but tell me. Dudley, have
you forgotten all the past?"
."AllP' he repeated, suavely. "I sup
pose you mean the days when the
smiles were for others and the frowns
for me. Bahi What a mad-headed
fool must have beenl But you taught
me lesson, Veronica, and It was well
laid to heart"
do not speak Of It." she exclaimed
brokenly; II have told you. Can
you still be so unforgivingT"
There Is nothing to forgive" he re-
piled; "you certainly seemed to pre-
fer any society to mine in the old
days of which you speak, and I
could never bear you malice on that
score"
"But, Dudley" she said. so softly
that her words were scarcely percept-
ible. II have suffered SO. truly. have
seen the error Of my ways. the magni.
tude Of my terrible cruelty to you
Come, say you forgive me. and let us
be. friends again"
"No," he returned firmly, even fierce.
ly. "that can never be, Veronica. You
must not forget that even the most
beautiful and accomplished woman
has no right to play with a mans
heart as IL 1t were a worthless toy
to be taken up or cast down at pleas
ure. And may ask you to excuse
! me nowf I have an important en-
| gagement to attend to. Allow me-
and pale and trembling in every limb
: Veronica once more entered the ball
room.
Violet had watched the several We
hicles drive away with eager and tear
full eyes. How she longed to be among
the merry throngl Finally she re
solved to drown her heartache in tn,
, pages of, novel.
II But she could not fix her mind, try
! as she would; so toward midnight sh,
again took up her stand by the win
dow aud looked out into the dark ant
starless night. Presently she turned
for she fapcied she heard a football.
"Why, Dudley" she almost shrieked
you hstsl Whatever brings you q