Middletown transcript., 1903-06-20

idly in her lap.
How that touch thrilled her
how quickly her heart answered
"Yes"-but the old habit of CO.
quetry arose uppermost as she
: remembered his words of few
S weeks before.
. Nc, she was not to be won too
| easily. She must torment him a
| little longer to atone for those
lightly spoken words.
5 Answer me, Miss Clifton? his
voice was pleading.
, She withdrew her hand rather
petulantly. I am tired Of the
water, Mr.. Darrell. Let US re-
turn.
; "A look of mingled pain and
scorn crossed his handsome face
as she thus utterly ignored his
eager questioning.
She was justas heartless a flirt
then as people called her, while
he had been foolish enough to be-
lieve that she cared for him, he
thought, bitterly.
She had fully expected him to
plead his suit further, but she
was mistaken. She glanced at
him uneasily. His face was pale,
but he merely bowed courteously.
AS you will, Miss Clifton, and
turning the boat shoreward, they
were soon at the landing.
Neither of them had spoken
word while returning, and Ethel's
heart sank like lead in her bosom;
but pride sealed her lips. Not
for worlds would she acknowl-
edge her fault.
Shall we join the dancers? he |
said carelessly, as he secured the
boat, and proceeded to the house. |
There seems to be set forming,
he spoke easily.
If you like, answered Ethel, in
differently; and, as they joined |
the merry throng, people little
dreamed Of the heart drama that
had just been enacted, for Ethel
Clifton slaugh had neversounded
more musical, or her gay repair
tee more witty. but in her heart
there was a feeling as if an icy
hand were grasping it.
But, oh, how bitterly she re-
GREETED the course she had taken,
as she retired to her own room
the evening preceding her de-
parture, and threw herself in an
agony of grief and tears upon a
couch.
He will forget me in a few
months-forget that | ever exist
ed, she sobbed, while / shall al
ways remember him, and-and
love him, with another burst Of
tears. Il
Hugh Darrell, with the re-
mainder of his party, departed
for their respective homes the
same morning. He seemed so
easy and natural in speaking his
good-by to Ethel, as he wished
her a pleasant journey, and /;
thanked her for making his stay
so agreeable, that helittledream- 8
ed the parting caused him more
bitter heartache than he had ever ,
before experienced; while Ethel, !
as proud as he, was apparently !
as cool and unconcerned. II
And so they parted-he, to re-
turn to his place of business at
the bar; she, to go home, with a s
dread feeling of loneliness at &
heart, to laugh and dance the !
winter hours away.
Three years have rolled quick s
ly by, and Ethel Clifton is Ethel +
Clifton still-gayer, merrier, if :
possible, than of yore. The same {
fair face and winning ways, but |
apparently more heartless than t
ever.
People thought her incapable {
of loving. If Ethel ever heard
these remarks, her reply would +
be sarcastic smile, and heart G
felt wish that it were indeed so. /
She had never met Hugh OAR G
rell since their parting, three '
years before. c
Their homes being widely sep /
arated, they had never by acci- f
dent met; but the memory Of T
those summer days had ever |
haunted her, and how gladly she
would have recalled them, none |
but her own heart knew. n
1t was a gay scene at Mrs.
Meredith's aristocratic home at v
Boston. :
A grand reception was in pro- g
gress- the whole house ablaze 7
of light from basement to attic,
and decorated in the most man. f
ner with flowers, trailing vines, S
and ferns; and, with the lace and G