The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-12-23

moaning words of misery and despair
would break from her lips.
"Oh. Rupert" she would murmur.
aloud to herself. why did you treat
me so? had rather you had died than
have used be so cruelty. Oh. why can
not 1 forget you!"
But by degrees, as time went on. and
the excitements of her daily life in
creased. these moods of Indebtedness
became rarer and rarer. and Irene
learnt in measure to Joy the emp
ty pleasures and distractions that she
pursued so eagerly and so heartlessly.
Lady Garland came into Irene's room
just as her toilette was completed for
Lady Clothilda's ball. She found her
niece standing before the long mirror.
dressed all but her gloves, surveying
her own beautiful image, With a small
smile of triumph on her lips. Her bail
dress. OF the softest and palest rose
tinted crepe de chine. suited her fair
ness to perfection, two rows of pearls
her mothers only bequest-were
clasped about her slender throat: she
wore no other ornament. Two large
bouquets. one OF yellow roses the 9TH
er OF pink carnations. lay upon the ia
BILE.
Irene. want to talk to you serious
ly." said Lady Garland. sitting down
on the sofa. MIR. Taunton is in love
with YOU
rs he-poor mani" and Irene shruS-
ged her shoulders carelessly.
Pray remember that he is exceed
ingly we'll off. His mother was an
heiress and he has just come in to all
her money. and moreover there are
only three lives-and they are delicate
ones-between himself and an earl
DOM"
Il detest Mr.. Taunton; he is ugly
and he is offensive to me. l don't want
him, and his money, and his earldom
one bit"
You are enough to try the patience
of a saint. Irene." cried Lady Garland.
irritably. You ought to remember
that your face is your only fortune.
and that it is your duty to me to marry
we'll. Last night you wasted the whole
evening in a corner with that young
Dessingerl A third son, a beggarly
clerk In public Office who will never
have a shilling of his own. it's enough
10 turn ones nalr grey.
Il rather like young Dessinger. Aunt
Anna. and / shall meet him again this
evening"
Let me entreat you not to dance
too often with him, Irene. Have you
not had enough of lovers without any
position in life?"
Irene laughed carelessly and hardly.
Il do not intend Mr.. Dessinger to
become my lover, aunt; make your
mind quite easy on that score" she an
swered.
The house in Park Lane was bril-
liantly lit up. The hall was crowded,
the staircase well nigh impossible
Lady Garland and Miss Garland"
was shouted loudly to the hostess who
stood on the landing above.
Lady Clothilda smiled and shook
hands. and murmured a conventional
greeting. with her eye upon the next
arrival. Irene entered the ball room
A number of dancing men, who had
possibly been waiting for her to ar
rive. gathered quickly around her, and
her card was soon nearly full. With
smiles and little testing words she
turned gaily from one to another.
Then suddenly the smiles died away,
and the jest rose upon her lips all the
pretty rose tint on her cheeks paled
and faded into an ashen grey. For one
short moment the room and the lights
and dancers all became misty and in
distinct.
For not ten yards away, with his
back turned towards her. she saw Ru-
pert CAROLS dark head amongst the
crowd