The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-01-05

f1FT ligI HE could not have been
~E falrer or sweeter or more
charming, but she might
m ~ RI have been truer. So Sta
lsal l4l.j brook said, as he watched
Mulel talking TO Macclesfied. In her
air there was that indescribable in
tention to please, and in Macclesfeld's
appearance the proof positive of her
success.
1t was mean to be jealous, Stabrook
said, resolutely putting down the
angry impulse that arose within him
as he watched Muriel putting rose
in his rivals buttophole. But he could
not go away from the sight of her, and
so remained, and tore her fan to pieces,
and forgot that he had engaged Miss
BOgarty for the next dance
At length Murlel dismissed Maoles-
field, and beckoped to him. He came
up, saying, with an affected smile:
Il thought you wanted to promenade
with meg
80 I did. Too late? Is this the
second dance? Too bad! Well, / am
tired, and glad 10 go home"
He led her to the dressing room,
and went to summon the carriage.
returning, lady caught his arm.
oh MIR. Stabrook, will you not help
MS? Brother Frank is sick in the
dressing room, and here are mamma
and |, who cannot find the coachman."
Anything in my power, Miss Lester.
! can find your carriage without any
difficulty, | think Pray wait in the
dressing room until | return"
The young lady was literally torn
from his elbow by the crowd. He
forced his way out into the dizzy night
again to find Miss Testers coachman
quite aware that Brother Frank, was
very I'LL. or, in other words, seriously
intoxicated. The younA fellow was
simply b brute, and was kept in decent
society only by the power of his
fathers money.
Having seen these ladies to their
carriage, he FASTENED back to Miss
NIuriel.
Miss Day bid me say that she had
accepted Mr. Macclesfield's attend
ance, Mr.. Stabrook" said the young
lady in attendance.
Too angry to speak he rushed back
upon the sidewalk just in time to see
Muriel lean from her carriage window
to bid Macclesheld goodnight, and to
hear the wheel grind the curb in turn
ing.
"a month ago she would not have
doae that" he said
When he was cooler he said she was
not SO much to blame but he viewed
with extreme distaste TIE whole busy.
gay, flirting world in which he stood.
II BODIED him harm, he felt in his i'm
most soul.
lie saw Muriefs carriage on the
drive the next morning. Her rose-leaf
face showed no signs of last nights
dissipation, smiling under it's gold
tipped plume She did not see him.
but just as she turned the corner. Mac
clestield, on horseback, rode UP to the
side Of her phaeton.
Very miserable he called or her that
evening. She reached out her little
hand With great sweetness. For an
hour, though the room was full Of
vis.eors, she seemed his own again.
But she was at the opera with Mac
clestield the next night. True, there
was no engagement between himself
and Muriel Day, but Stabrook felt this
a complete dismissal SO far through
the season he had been her unoues.
toned escort to the ball and rout.
Now she had not even consulted his
wish. All the sweet, silent converse
that they had held received its death
blow.
&c felt this yet more deeply when
they met again. She was kind, but
cold. Every unconscious word and
look proclaimed a change in her, and
Stabrook, loving her sincerely, turned
from her and gnashed his teeth.
That miserable winter went by. The
flush, the sensation, the fascination Of
New York's gayest season palled and
passed. leaving changed lives and
many miserable hearts.
You are i'll" said Stabrooks physi-
clan. Go into the country for week
Of this fine weather"
He went to Snowdon, to the old river