Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-05-25

he blOOD N 1AtL ASH MS IalIO Z A-AL-D
on HERS.
more turned TO chat at her ease with
the elderly beau at her shoulder Mu-
sic held no charms for her
The girl, too, stared in but listless
fashion at the stage where Sigmund
lay exhausted 10y the dying fire. What
significance did il hold for her? Once
she had loved music, but now The
girl shiycred slightly. feeling that all
emotion lay dead In her heart. Hence
forth luxury comfort. was to be her
desire CHANGING up ut the gallery
gods, where they leaned in ecstasy,
her lip curled i'm memory of the times
when she too had sat there, contrast
Ing those times unfayorably with her
present position. And that cold little
room that she called home,
The man beside her could give all
that heart could wish; the countless
resources of immense wealth lay at
his command. And tonight she had
been brought here that he might ask
her to share all this Tamely she sat,
awaiting his pleasure For a moment
the girls pride revoltcd. 4 hot flush
burned her face. II had not been like
this when Randolph had begged her to
wait for him
Il love you. love you!" he had said,
his clear blue young eyes looking
straight into hers And when / have
won a home / shall come for YOU"
But that was year and more ago
now. And matters had been growing
steadily worse with her. First had
come the long illness, using up her lit
tie board, then her difficult struggle TO
resume work. How different every
thing would have been If her father
had only lived, Her mother was a
mere, vague beautiful memory. There
was only Aunt Ella left. And Aunt
Ella, though she meant to be kind, was
not generous Then Granville Whitta-
ker had appeared on the scene and to
her aunt's uubouuded triumph had
been captured by the girls high bred
beauty. Thereafter morning noon and
night Aunt Ella had Impressed upon
her the duty Of accepting this opportuA
nifty
Think Of all you can do with such a
fortune" she urged. 'ull the people
you could help" skillfully striking the
effective chords, "all the good you
could do" And Mabel, tired, exhaust
ed, felt her resistance breaking. \
month ago she had written Randolph
few lines telling him that they We're
too poor to marry; that an engagement
between them was not fair to either
(Aunt Elias suggestion. this. And
there had been no answer. Somehow
she had not expected him 10 let her 90
quite so easily. 1t was not like him
Aunt Ella must be right In saying that
men forget lightly. She had waited,
hoping for she knew not what But
now she felt that the crisis could be
put of no longer, and Internationally
she awaited the crucial moment
But in spite of herself the glorious,
wondrous harmouie- sweeping through
the orchestra began to assert their an
Client sway. ON the stage Sicglinde, all
ia white, came creeping down the
stair, ana Siegmuud -praug to his feet
The girl felt the starved Sympathles
within her awakening And then, with
Il sudden soft prcludIug Of exquisite
sweetness, Slegmuud broke into the
full rush and swing Of the spring song
Winter Storms Now Wane 10 the
Winsome Moons"
The notes poured out in a very food
Of exultant ioyousuess. Mabel's throat
contracted her eyes glOwed. Thou art
the spring" rang Sieglinde's rapturous
answer. And the girl, utterly obllvious
of all else, bent forward, her lips part
ed, her breath quickeniug. absorbed
enthralled by the mighty weaving vel
of melodies Whitaker spoke, but she
did not hear Her aunt frowncd But
the girl, conscious only of sudden
passion for outdoors for the eternal
yerites, for life, was beyond the reach
Of criticism.
The curtain fell aud with a little
sigh Mabel came slowly back to earth
A quick, cynical curve married hei
mouth. Spring, What was spring
after aIIf A cheat, m Illusion Of III,
senses. a beautiful dream that melted
inevitably into the froStS and chin o
winter, There was no spring for her
And then she saw him He stood il
the aisle. his eyes fixed on hers. Ihei
be moved toward the nearest door. y
she waited the girl became duly awar
that she was trembling. The elderl
beau rose t. leave The box, and as h
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