Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-12-16
A n N ETTE.


of Oscar Darwin-envious Of his many
graces of mind and person! did not
think you capable of anything SO un.
worthy of yourself. of me!'
,"You are wrong, Annette. I cannot
be envious Of a man like Oscar Dar.
win. however outwardly attractive he
may be. and IL am jealous It is of
your peace Of mind. your good name"
"IndeedM was the sarcastic rejoin.
der. aYou are very kind! / did not
know that either was In danger!'
$50 kind that I risk your ,displeasure
to give you this warning. repeat it.
Mr.. Darwin is not dealing honestly. by
you. If he was he would have told
you of his engagement to Miss Burt. a
lady in Stamford"
Annette turned sharply upon the
speaker.
'swho told you that he was engag-
ed?
'The lady's father. BE is very
wealthy, and she his only child"
Annette was too proud to show the
pain and dlsmay at her heart.
GAS Mr.. Darwin has never spoken>to
me Of love, fail to see the criminality
you seem to attach to his conduct"
Philip looked greatly relieved at this
assurance.
Z 81 am glad to know that he has some
spark Of honor In his heart. Still, II
he has not spoken love he has acted
it. If his tongue has been silent his
eyes have not"
The two remained silent for some
moments.
Both pride and anger were visible in
Annette's face, burning all the more
fiercely because she could not deny the
assertion.
Philip gazed long and sorrowfully
upon that averted face.
"And 1t Is for such a man as this
that you have rejected the heart that
has loved you so long and faithfully!
But will not reproach you. Remem-
Der this: AS you have been my first
love, SO you shall be my last; that If
you should ever regret your decision
word will bring me back to you"
The following evening Annette and
Oscar Darwin stood beneath the clus-
tering vines that clambered over the
porch of her fathers door.
ST love you, Annette~
That low, thrilling tone, SO mourn
fully tender, awoke an involuntary
response In Annette's heart
The warm blood flashed up to the
temples and then receded, leaving the
face paler than before.
"You have no right to say that to
me, Mr.. Darwin"
81 know 1t. And yeti love you,
Annette"
Oscar Darwin was a consummate
actor, a man whose vanity was in
satiable.
Piqued by Annette's apparent indif
ference, he bent every effort to extort
some token from her of his power
over her heart and without commit
ting himself.
"Ah, if were only free~ he sighed.
"And yet II were do not know that
my love would have power to wake
any response in your heart"
Annette looked steadily into the face
of the speaker.
The Witchery that his peculiar fasci55
nation OF manner had thrown over Eeis
senses was fast disa2pea EMS
abing her to sessesss5 Ie
aeter Of ths I. Iii own % asii
botS s, you iS u aS etAsEwiseT
= s a4ehe knowledge
hat aAappier auspices, you
might lave been mine cocld not be
,ther than most precious assurance.
81 cannot give you that consolation.
'Then you do not love me, AnnetteT
An indignant fash broke from those
npHfted eyes.
'.Do you imagine me so base or yet
20 weak as to love the aftianced nus
band Of anotherW
"But If were free, Annette" per
sisted Darwin, what would your an
swer be thenY'
'aThe same as tonight-that DO NOT
love you, Mr. Darwin"
AS is often the case, the prize that
he thought was his to take or to leave
rose In value as it receded from his
grasp.
"Listen to me, Annette. I Will break
my engagement with Miss Burt for
your sake. What better proof can i
give you of my sincerity than this"
"What better proof can you give me
of your fckleness and perfdy? What
reason have to suppose that you will
be more faithful to me than to her?
MY answer is the same now as be-
FORE"
AS Oscar Darwin passed down one
path toward the road Philip Jarvis
came up by another to the porch, where
Annette was still standing.
.Mr. Darwin has been here, Philip"
Philip turned searching look upon
that sweet, thoughtful face.
.I thought I obtained q glimpse OF
him as came up"
Il found out two things while he was
here"
what were theyp
zone is that I do not love him."
There was something in Annettes
face that made Philips heart beat fast.
"And the otherT
Bend your head lower, Philip, So
that can whisper in your ear" was
the low and tremulous reply.
Philip bent his head until the Lips al