New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-04
a GresOson7e bridesmaid.
BIZ Lillian QUIILER COUCH

George Hayden was really such great villain
after all
Put badly he had merely f;rted with a girl OF
lower position IN life than his own. and left her.
Yet circumstances and the girl had before long
made the affair heartess tragedy and for
two miserable years George Hayden had been
haunted by it.
There was no doubt that he had made love- gen
orally with gay nouchalance occasionally with FER
vor to Kate Moon. OF Mossdyks Farm.
IL was during that summer when he was on
fishing in Devon. and the weather. was beyond re-
proach-except for fishing. The trout would not
bite and Kate Moon beautiful. tall and black
haired with a complexion OF the proverbial Devon
milk and roses: magnificent. passionate. impul-
siye girl
Hayden dalIled beside her day after day; he liked
watching the proud droop OF her lashes. and the
deeper creep into and fade out of her healthy
cheeks. 1t artistic pleasure TO him to see
her coming toward him IN her lilac cotton gown
she always lilac cotton gowns unlike any
elsa's, full gathered and dainty, with border
I ws OF one 'l of lavender ,tri ana roses
To Kate IL more than an artistic pleasure 70
see Hayden coming toward her; 1t was tumut ot
fierce delight. She loved this man VINO looked az
Fascinated her his compliments were vows OF
love. his moments OF tervor were ecstasy. his
holiday. bringing with him his sister, his niece
den fRat mischef began ana it began without de-
lay for the college friend rscognizins Hayden IN
and HAYDEN promptly fell IN love. genuinely and
passonately this time. with sybn Dove. the rec
It did not take Kate Moon long either. to see
Hayden, is true. little troubled at first St
me careless way in which he had talked love
he did not dream OF the manner in which Kate
No one but Hayden and Kate herself knew Of
that terrible night OF reC-minatfon when the moon
Bv tbe next 8 nght Eayden had ef1 the village
by The next sunday Kate Moon had left the world;
T5 Ind line And HAYDEN began that terrible two
wears With the sight OF the girl constantly before
his eyes in her lilac gown. with the rose-Ptnk
bands about her waist and hem. and with hsr last
words in his ears; Tell her about me and see
III curse YOU 20 rour very marriage day!-aye. to
your very death-bed, I'll walk and sit, and stand
Then rTS' what had seemed but summers irritation
shocked HAYDEN, as heartless tragedy. and grew
sort Of banned wanderer.
About two years later Hayden sybn Dove in
Rome. and for the first time the wretched tragedy
became less important and his heart leaped He
'o For weeks he summed himself in JOY and tried 70
Danish Kate Then one day he faced the ghost
and reasoned with himself in a logical sensible
manner and his state of mind became more nor
nal. and he asked himself why he should not be
Next morning on the hill. he broke into the
with Kate ny the Devonshire river
II love your he cried out as he and ,; sybL sat
out you! I have hungered for you since first met
sybiI did not retort. Then why didn't you say
sou She limited nothing OF her pain at that
time Her eyes were blind with tears. which Hay
Neither asked the other why this love should be
declared and received in this passionately sorrowful
II love YOU. toor' she said. simply. when she
could md voice. And Hayden held her in his arms
for Il rapturous moment.
When he glanced up mis- arms still about mar. 2
girl passing along the nil belowa udtA
haired girl. il lilac gown. II was OF CoulSe'
merely 4 coincidence -.
Hayden shiyeCed and lOosed his clasp Inc 9lu
haunted feeling had returned He had an Impulse
10 tell Sybi the whole Wretched story, but IL Would
a gloomy beginning to the nrst hOur OF MS new
happiness. Besides which Mrs Dove came mo
sight the moment.
Perhaps those who know human nature best Will |
understand that Hayden did not tell the tragedy !
of Kate Moon even after many hours had passed /
Vows were EXCHANGED. consent obtained. and In I
time the journey back To England was accom-
plished the home prepared. the wedding day rxed l
And vet the tragedy of Kate Moon had not been |
Those were strange months those months of en- |
caceneut There were hours when both Hayden !
hours when a cloud hung over them. when some /,
thing seemed To be between them. checking their J
words as if a third person were listening In him.
self HAYDEN could understand the feeling. for even
now spite of argument, spite OF happy future, he
could not throw of the recollection OF Kate Moon
ana her despair But the same mood In Sybt he |
could not understand. Was the drowned girl al |
WAYS to be between them? Hayden groaned-
TEL her | say tell her Or
deSneration Hayden caught UP his hat. III |
stroll down to the church he muttered hastily /
the evening before the wedding. after hours OF
gloom in which he had seen the dead girl walking
Between himself and his living bride tn see no"