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

oAe hV sAVLC
We've had our share and enough of it
and now we'll have no more"
The speaker drew off her gloves leis
urely, and held her hands to the ruddy
blaze.
She looked wondrcusly beautiful as
she bent there, her eyes a thousand
miles away through the glowing coal
and with the freight playing around
her aquiiine nose and perfect lips. And
as she stood, her sister watched her in
the gathering twilight. and thought
she never saw her look so beautiful
~sno- yet so truly strange.
= 'Oh, Mabel, have you really accepted
!. the darling old millionaire at last
How truly delightful
:. Kitty jumped up from the sofa and
clapped her hands, her face express
ing intense delight. Oh, how beauti-
ful to have just as much money as you
want, and everything you can set your
mind on it! Truly, the prospect was
grand. and Kitty laughed with her
seyeuteen-year-old laugh, and danced
prettily with all the abandon and jol-
lty Of seventeen years.
She completed the circuit by halting
at her sisters side. who still gazed
into the. freight, with her face filie,i
with an odd mingling of love and bit
terness. Kitty knew full well what
was passing in Mabels mind, and she,
but yet seventeen, could not feel. or
had not lived long enough to feel,
what it was or what il meant.
And yet she was inst little somber,
just little oppressed. as she put one
hand 10 >xer sisters and the other
fes~ j shoulders.
"Poor hIabm she said; chow sad you
! 81 have reason to be sad" responded
Mabel with short. hollow laugh;
,'.rre chosen the road that's to be mine
TIN deathy
A little catch In her voice that was
I not natural to Mabel caused Kitty to
draw her closer and comfort her as
best she could; and as she thought of
ALI 1t meant, and all it would bring to
them both, she burst into a reckless
laugh that became seventeen years so
well.
u "You have chosen just what I shonld
yealta. Oh, think of it. Mabel!
Think what our future Will be when
you are mistress of Mr.. Johnson'S
lovely mansions and fortune! Buc I
knew you'd do it, Mabel knew you
would. It's just what should have
done myself"
Don't, Kiss don't" pleaded Mabel.
IN a voice. so strained and sad that
Kitty looked up alarmed you don't
know what you're saying, and you
don't know what you mean. You have
never been called upon by stern neces-
ity to sacrifice your own true love,
no islail the world to you, to marry
a old mans millions"
'.No, I haven't" replied Kitty, quick
", with all the determination Of her
experience, shut If I had to would.
I shouldn't hesitate a single inmate
between the young love without COL
lar, and millions-and especially if the
owner of the millions chanced to be
such a fine-looking man as Mr.. john
sen Is, and you know" she went on,
coloring little, ''he is really hand
some, Mabel, and he is only forty
wish it was me he was going TO marry,
and not you"
A smile overspread Mabcl's features,
and she laughed outright. The idea of
such charming slip Of ioveliness as
! Kitty being the wife Of middle-aged
millionairei 1t was too absurd. =
! Anyway continued Kitty, feeling
that something was expected of her in
attenuation of her conduct, and pout-
fhS little, "you should take it more
happily. 1t isn't right not to-"
And than, as Kitty turned to the tea
things ON the table, the hunted, pained
Osk swept back :nto Mabers pale
face, and she sighed heavily.
"How thoughtless she is" she mur-
pured, "and cruel. 1t seems light
hing, this, to give up my love for pelf
pr her sake. Yes" she said. half
vagely, ''for her sake, not mine. II
were not for her his money would
ave been as dirt to me. know what
poverty is, but the bitterness is sweet
vcompared with life without love,
without him. And he comes here to-
night, and, God forgive me. l must tell
him." and a shudder Shook her frame.
mabel" cried Kitty, as lightly and
as happily as though ill-starred loves
had never come her way, teas all
ready" and then Mabel tried her best
to look pleased and happy, and told
. Kitty what happened to her in her ca
" as daily gover4ess, and kitty
Q some new story ta.4aSll of dear,
lightful Mr.. Johnson.
.Dear, darling Nab" EN ht Kitty,
her eyes rested fondly ~ her Sis
ter. "Fve never had ffSuble yet.
bless her dear old heart, bpt what she
hasn't helped me out of it, and now
she's going to lift usSbght out of the
worst trouble of all-this B rid prov
erty."
H. d u