The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-11

1 tea Win ntt, anu -nreak OH the mutcn.
An, my dear mamma. you can no,
frighten me with SO pltitul story,
Grant will never be such wretch as
Miss DeMason's lover was. He win
come back to me. we shall get mar.
uei, and live happily ever afterward,
as the saying goes laughed merry
Gladys. Mrs. sharps smiled sadly,
and dropped the subject, though Sc.
cretly vowing that Glayds should new.
err marry Grant; bit 1t was all use.
less. for never dwelt truer heart IN
woman's bttaast. than throbbed in
that loving Gladys.
Such long, loving letters as went
to Texas; such fond doting ones, as
came back to his Gladys; thus, al.
most two years had passed swiftly
by.
Gladys went very little in society,
for how could she be gay, when poor
Grant was working SO hard for her.
and saw SO few pleasures.
In the beginning of the third year,
Mrs. Sharps married again, for In a
few months she was going to lose her
daughter, and would be SO lonely.
| Major crowford, the new husband,
took his wife and step-daughter to
spend the winter in New York. So.
ciety, then raved over the beautiful
Glayds sharps; as, at almost twenty.
three, She was still as lovely as a
dream.
"Ah, mamma, you see that have
not lost my roses yet" she cried tri.
umphantty one evening, when robed in
white silk, and costly pearls, for a
grand reception, as she caught her
mothers admiring glance.
Mrs. Crowford kissed her lovingly
and cried, Il am so glad you have re.
tanned your charms, dear Gladys; but
I am sorry that you still cling to your
fancy. for selfish Grant Richardson.
DO you not know that you can marry
u millionaire II you chooseg"
yes do, but would rather have
Grant, mamma, as he is SO good and
trr !"
you can have your way, my dear,
but remember what have said"
Next week they would leave New
York for their country home, and
Gladys was heartily glad of It. Time
was drawing close for her lovers re
turn, and the letter than would tell
her when to expect him, was already
several days over due. But time was
rolling around, and at last came the
letter ahat almost broke her heart.
81 mannot cake in June" he wrote;
at is all my own fault, too, Gladys.
have been specializing with my say.
ings, and lost all. VIII you forgive
me dearest, or will you be angry, and
want to cast me OF? 1 think that ]
can make 1t all back in another year,
1t was great disappointment, but
loyal to her love, Gladys wrote him
she was not impatient; she would
wait till he was ready.
I
Mrs. Crowford felt very bitter to.
wards Grant, when Gladys informed
her of another postponement of her
marriage.
GLADYS, If you have any ambition,
whatever, you will break Off this
agreement; as he Is not worthy of
you, dear. 1t is rumored that he has
taken to strong drink, and spends Ill
his money that way"
~ will not, dear. mamma, hear
Grants condemnation from any other
than himself"
So time passed YEARLY to Gladys
now. She spends most of her time
among the flowers. The correspond.
ence had almost ceased, and there was
no longer lift or heart in 1t.
One evening late in the summer,
Gladys was out in the garden, when c
servant came out with a letter for her.
She took It eagerly and glanced at the
post mark; on 1t was Texas. 1t make
her heart leap for joy; perhaps GRAFT
was coming, she thought; but, ali! 1t
was to the contrary. He wrote to be
released from their engagement.
Gladys tainted. She lay quite
awhile, seemingly without any life at
all. When consciousness returned,
she finished reading the letter. Her
love had now turned to hate.
Eyes, will release him, and send
him his engagement ring will
even forgive him; for once loved
him"
She reased out, and broke of late
rose; as she did SO. the petals all fell
at her feet. Poor little rose. Just like
my love; nothing left, but the stem
aud the thorns."
tThe West virginian has accepted
a series of short stories by Mr.. Tet-