The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-02-10

. 9 hard, deSpairing voice that
\ she herself knew was
VOW strange; mo more poverty,
and no more pinching.
We've had our share and enough of ii,
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 wondrously beautiful as
she bent there, her eyes thousand
miles away through the glowing coal.
and with the freight playing around
her aquiline 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,
nor 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-
full 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
seventeen-year-ol laugh, and danced
prettily with all the abandon and jol-
lily Of seventeen years.
She completed the circuit by hating
at her sisters side. who still gazed
into the freight, with her face filled
with an odd mingling of love and Bit
tsrness. Kitty knew full well what
was passing in Mabel's mind, and size,
but yet seventeen, could not feel, or
had not lived long enough to feel.
what 1t was or what it meant.
And yet she was just little somber,
Just little depressed, as she put one
hand into her sisters and the other
round her shoulders.
Poor Mab!' she said: chow sad you
lookg
II have reason 10 lie sad,'' responded
Mabel. with short, hollow laugh;
1--WE chosen the road that's to be mine
I'LL deathp'
a little catch in her voice that was
not natural to Mabel caused Kitty to
draw her closer and comfort her as
best she could; and as she thought of
all it meant, and all it would bring to
them both, she burst into a reckless
laugh that became seventeen years so
well.
you have chosen just what should
wealth. oh, think of it, Mabel!
Think what our future will be when
you are mistress of Mr.. Johnson's
lovely mansions and fortune! But l
knew you'd do it, Mabel. / knew you
would. It's just what I should have
done myself"
Don't, Kit, don't" pleaded Mabel.
10 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-
sity to sacrifice your own true love,
who is all the world to you, to marry
an old mans millions"
mo. haven't" replied Kitty, quick
~, with all the determination of her
experience, "but if had to would.
shouldn't hesitate a single minute
between the young love without dol
lar, and millions-and especially if the
owner of the millions CHANGED to be
such a fine-looking man as Mr.. John
son Is, and You KNOW" she went on.
col0ring a little, "he is really hand
some, Mabel, and he is only forty. I
wish it was me he was going to marry,
and not you"
"A smile overspread Mabers features,
and she laughed outright. The idea of
such charming slip of ioveliness as
Kitty being the wife of a middle-aged
millionaire! 1t was too absurd.
Anyway" continued Kitty. feeling
that something was expected of her in
extenuation of her conduct, and pout-
ing little, ''you should take it more
happily. 1t isn't right not to-"
And then, as Kitty turned to the tea
things on the table, the hunted, panied
look swept back into Mabers pafe
face, and she sighed heavily.
How thoughtless she is" she MUIR
INJURED, ''and cruel. 1t seems a light
thing. this. to give up my love for pelf
for her sake. Yes" she said. half
savageiy. "for her sake, not mine. If
It were not for her his money would
have been as dirt to me. know what
poverty is, but the bitterness is sweet
compared with a life without love.
without him. And he comes here to-
night, and, God forgive me. must tell
him." and a shudder shook her frame.
"Mabel." cried Kitty. as lightly and