Middletown transcript., 1903-06-20
Ethel CIifton's Mistake
BY MRS. SKADAN DENELL.

throng.
A splendid looking couple, Ger
tainly, said Harry Winthrop, a.
he cast many an admiring glance
after them. [ wonder if Darrell
will be proof against her, or viii
he follow along in the wake of al
the rest of US poor unfortunateE
and he laughed gayly at The
thought of these two chatting
away so pleasantly during
short interval in the dance.
That was the beginning of it
and, as the days passed, people
began to speculate as to what the
ending would be.
In the morning, walks and
horseback rides, and in the even
ing, boating, or moonlight ram
bles.
They were always together,
and Ethel began to wonder if she
was beginning to love this hand.
some stranger, that she bad at
first mentally vowed to detest.
He had been her constant COM
panion for nearly two months;yet
in all that time he had never
spoken one word to lead her to
believe that he cared more for
her than an ordinary friendly
acquaintance. Ethel wou d
not acknowledge, even to her
self, that she loved him. She
had said a dozen times that she
would refuse him should he pro-
pose, yet his manner puzzled her.
She had beer wooed SO many
times, and rejected them all, that
the world in general considered
her a trifer and firt.
Women engied her because of
attraction.
That she had been a flirt, there
was no use in denying.
But deeply hidden under that
gay, worldly exterior, was a
heart that was capable of feeling
affection and love; yes, far deeper
than even she herself dreamed
of.
Thesummer days passed swift
ly by, and the maple leaves were
turning to crimson and gold,
making hugh bouquets of rare
splendor, and people were begin
ming to talk of going home.
Miss Clifton had carelessly
spoken of her own intended de.
parture the following week, and
. thrill of pain passed through
5he heart of Hugh Darrell at the
.hought Of separation.
For, fight against it as he
would, he was. obliged to acknow-
edge to himself that he loved
1er. In spite of his friends
warning, combined with his own
better judgment, for the first
lime in his whole thirty-five years
1e had fallen desperately in love
With this fair, golden haired
woman, whom the world called |
leartless.
She had crept into his heart
With her many winning ways,
md found a resting place there;
ind as he studied the fair face |
,esidehim, listening to her merry |
words and musical laughter, he |
if she was as heartless
fiirt as people called her, or was |
here a depth of affection hidden
way beneath that gay, worldly |
exterior, which had never yet |
,een brought to light.
He must learn the truth to-
light from her own lips-any-
hing would be preferable to this
1t was a beautiful September
'vening, and people were either
,romenading the long piazzas, or
eated about in groups, enjoying
he faint sea breeze and brilliant
Lood of silvery moonlight, which
eemed enveloping the whole
world in a shining mist.
The sea itself looking line a
luge mirror, with it's millions Of |
stars reflected upon its
mooth surface.
People smiled knowingly as
diss Clifton and Hugh Darrell
trolled leisurely down the walk
oward the beach.
The little boat was loosened
rom it's fastenings, and helping
lis fair companion to a seat op-
,osite him: with a skillful dip of
he oars turned the boat from the
hore out upon the sparkling
vaters.
A strange silence had fallen
Ipon them, broken only by the
,ently dipping oars and a faint
ound of music from the hotel.
Hugh Darrell cast careless
lance at his fair companion.