The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-03-09

bels handsome, manly lover. cam,
upon the scene. Kitty ran off to spent
her evening with Ada Brown, who hai
the fiat below.
Poor chap" thought Kitty. commits
eratingly, as she saw the hopeful love
light in his eyes as he rested his gaz,
upon all he loved in the world. "you'l
be sent away tonight. I know; In
awfully sorry for you. but, after all, il
can't be helped. What is love, any
way. when it means everlasting prov
erty? She'll forget all about it wher
she is Mrs. Johnson. Why. it'll be JUS
like fairyland after thiSr'
And pretty Kitty, worldly because
she had never felt the fire of love, wen,
of to Ada Brown.
And those two? They remained to
gether. with all they both loved, in that
small room.
She had kept him hoping on fol
weeks. trying to decide the bitter
struggle that ragged in her breast.
Now that it was all over, she knew
her course, and he was to hear it to.
night.
How she told him she knew not: o
dull clutching held her heart. and che
was conscious only of those words
which would keep them apart for ever.
more.
AS through curtain that seemed to
hide from her the fearful wrong she
wrought, she saw his face become
deadly pale, and his eyes darken with
4 strange despair.
And this is the endr' he said. in a
low, hoarse voice that sought her heart.
and stilled it; "this is the end dreaded
These are the last of those enchanted
dreams that kept me for you. and you
for me-crushed beneath the feet of
the woman I worshiped. the woman 1
loved with all my heart and soul.
better than life itseif-ruined and scat
tered by you"
Don't, Rudolf, don't reproach me-"
she sobbed.
II don't reproach you, Mabel: why
! should I? According to the world, you
have done wisely. You have chosen
what is worthy Of beauty such as
yours-and what matters it that you
have walked over one mans bleeding
heart to gain it,"
His answer was her sobbing and her
| Quivering frame; and he rose.
Could she lose him like that?
Rudolf" she said. is for Kitty's s
sake-not mine-don't, oh, don't judge
me harshly.'
For her sake! What Of mine?"' he
said, with a hard, cold laugh-and he
was gone.
The next day the millionaire's be-
trothal ring, a magnificent circlet Of
diamonds and rubies, glistening on Ma
bells lovely hand. and. urged by her
| fiancee and Kitty, she consented to an
early wedding.
Mr.. Johnson was constant visitor
ct the little fat, and Kitty. whom he
treated as a petted sister, was never
tired Of expatiating at great lengths on
his charms to Mabel. She thought he
was absolutely the most delightful
| man she had ever met. and how stupid
| it was of Mabel not to fall in love with
| him!
Mabel smiled when she listened to
these extrayagant comments, aud, ex-
cept when alone, contriyed to keep her
! face so bright and so radiant. that it
| was little wonder Kitty only half
guessed what a sacrifice Mabel was
making.
The days rolled on. anC it was just a
week before the day appointed for the
wedding. that Mabel, while on shop
ping tour. came upon an old friend of
her schooidays.
And do you know. Mabel" she said
at parting, that Rudolf Turner is seri-
ously i'll with brain fever. They tell
me it is some love trouble. Poor
fellow, hope he gets over it."
All that evening and the next morn
ing Mabel was lost in her own dismal
thoughts. 1t was late in the afternoon
when she suddenly sprang up, and,
white and resolute, flung away her
sewing, the light Of passion firing her
eyes.
kitty, can't and won't stand it an
hour longerw she cried; Rudolf Tur-
ner is perhaps dying, and he is mine!
l am going to him."
Mabel" said Kitty. 'are you mad?''
II have been, but I'm san: once
more! My heart is Rudolf's. and he
alone shall have it,
She wrenched away her betrothal
ring, and threw it into her sisters lap.
There" she said: give it back to
Mr.. johnson. if he comes, and tell him
the marriage is not to be-"
And. before Kitty could find words.
she was alone.
Long after, when Mabel returned.
her face held such exquisite happiness
that Kitty started up in wonder.
"Oh, Mabel how happy you look! ]
know you ere now"
"Yes, dear, an happy, and so is Ru-
dolf; and he will get well, and then
But she bethought herself OF what
she left behind and her face flushed
| with pain.
"Did he come? Poor boyw
"Don't be sorry, Nab" returned
Kitty, very demurely, and with q