The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1908-01-09

pa'hy, and satisfied his cgotism with
the praise which she bestowed upon
his work. Woman in such form
had never appeared TO him before.
Beautiful, intellectual and elusively
feminine, she appealed to his artistic
nature as none ever had. He was
aware Of her love for him. but was
incapable, in his youthfuIncss, Of
realizing how great it was. But he
was proud of this beautiful creature,
his sense of proprictorship revcled
in the fact that she was his, and his
alone; he cherished her more as a
child would a favorile toy, and not
as man who loved with heart and
soul
And yet he sincerely believed he
was in love Many times he had
told her that he loved her, he had
felt her kisses upon his lips, and his
blood had lcapcd in his veins as he
had held her close, and felt her soft
hair against his check. He remcm-
bered well her soft clinging lowell
ness, the look in her eyes as he had
vowed eternal devotion.
The night seemed in perfect har-
mony The room was brilliantly
lighted, the radiance being flung
back from the Jewels worn by tho
many beautiful women. Soft music
was given by a concealed orchestra.
md the strains fell sweetly upon the
cars Of the woman. She was dream
ng Of love, perfect, beautiful,
eternal. She had believed the VOWS
of his youth, and tonight his light
chatter and laughter were music to
her ears, as she smiled answeringly
at him across the table. The flowers
breathod of love, the music's burden
was love. Love was present in the
gay laughter of the crowd; surely
ono was blind who could not see
that love was the refrain of all this
gay world of ours.
And so she dreamed on. never
thinking that aught but happiness
could be her lot.
They had reached the wine, and
he was pledging her in many a fair
glass. Suddenly he arose from his
chair with a startled look upon his
face. Her back was to the door, and
nstinctively she turned toward it.
There advancing in a bewildered
fashion, among the tables came
girl with soft brown hair and trust
ing blue eyes, She was dressed plain
ly, but neatly, and possessed GER
tain charm which appealed to all,
man and woman alike. She seemed
strangely out Of place among this
brilliant throng, and, hesitating for
a moment, she stopped in embarrass-
ment. But the boy was making his
way toward her with quick, eager
strides, The woman gazed after him
with dilated eyes.
Nellie she heard him say, with
unconccaled gladness in his voice,
and the look which the youth and
the girl exchanged was a revelation
in itself.
Sick at heart, the woman turned
her head away, and there was a look
of anguish upon her face. But she
had regained her composuro by the
time he reached the table, and met
his stammering excuses with a smile
of dismissal. She watched him
languidly as he turned away after
the girl, then returned to slipping
her wine
What terrible turmoil ragged in
her heart, outwardly calm as she
was. So this was to be the end Of
all her dreams. The man upon
whom she had lavished her unselfsh
devotion had, in a moment, turned
from her to another.
She had heard him speak of this
girl, Nellie, but had never dreamed
of a love affair between them She
had been blind, blind But he had
chosen and she must abide the con-
sequences.
The fruit had turned to dust and
ashes, but these people must never
know How was it she had not no.
ticed before that the undertone Of
the hustle and laughter was not
love, but cruel scorn?
Quietly but with quick motion,
she shook the contents of a ring into
han, gvlora ,4v,.t,-I L.