Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-12-17


ural and unaffected. aud by very rea.
son Of her enforced solitude at the
Coverly home Elizabeth turned to him
for congeniality and pleasure during
those seven days.
Aunt Agatha suddenly disapproycd
Of Dick I'abcns attention and ex-
pressed her opinion each morning
Elizabeth came to take II wicked de-
light In listening 10 those lectures, and
frequent mention Of the dark beauty In
Chicago and Ralph's weakness ia that
dire,Aon hardened her heart against
the absent lover. His daily letters
were Enthusiastically short. and her
Jealous eyes read between the lines
that he was enjoying his stay IN the
Windy City. Then on Thursday the
letters ceased coming. and Elizabeth
stopped writing.
On Saturday morning she took coun-
sci In her own room and decided that
Ralph coverly was tired of her II lac
had not been. II he had really cared
for her, would he not have hesitated
at leaving substitute for his own
escort? Was 1t not TO justify his own
attentions to this other girl-whos"
name Aunt Agatha had once admitted
TO be Elsie--that he had provided a
substituted Fabens spoke little Of his
partner beyond saying that the coveted
contract had been secured by Ralph.
Saturday morning Elizabeth went
back 10 the boarding school. where
she was a teacher of music. but be-
fore she went she inclosed her en-
gagement ring In tiny box. register
ed II aud sent 1t to Ralph's Office, with
brief note explaining her action.
ut has all been a mistake she said.
Aunt Agathas farewell of her was
prolonged and affectionate ut the late
breakfast. several hours after the ring
and letter had been sent
"Goodby. my dear Elizabeth. I've
learned to love you dearly. and I've
watched you closely during the pa I
week while Dick Fabens has been tax
ing you out. and you are q most un-
usual girl Ralph has won treasure
indeed. We would have been so un-
happy IL he had cared for that Elsie
girl who set her cap for him last
year. It's good thing she eloped
with her chauffeur and went TO Paris.
for And so on until Elizabeth's
brain reeled with the horror of what
she had done.
Her farewell to Mrs. Coverly was
fearful and brief. but she did not dare
divulge the fact OF her broken en-
gagement TO the woman who had tax
en- the motherlcss girl TO her warm
heart.
At Ferncliff the weeks passed drear-
fly without word from Ralph. There
was picture postcard from Aunt
Agatha. who had returned TO her
home. saying she trusted the miSsiye
found Elizabeth in good health. Then
Elizabeth mailed card TO Miss Du.e
and hoped that lady was quite wet,.
and so ended her connection with tie
coyerly family.
There came day several months
afterward when she received cards
for Dick Irabens' wedding to some
girl from New Orleans She laid il
away with little sigh II was mere
Is an echo OF the happy life she had
dropped out Of She blamed herself
bitterly for listening to Aunt Agatha
inane chatter and knew that she h;d
wronged Ralph And yet there WAS
the fact that he had ceased writing
to her That might he easily explnin-
ed. Letters often miscarried. There
was no excuse for her doubt OF her
lovers consistency. She ought to have
trusted him against everybody In the
world. even rs he would have done
had the case been reversed
That same day was a half holiday.
and Elizabeth. weary with the strain
Of teaching and very unhappy. stole
away TO spend the afternoon alone In
the beautiful chestnut woods that
stretched behind the school buildings.
The trees were in their summer glory
OF gold and brown. and through the
scanty foliage there were glinpses of
the clear blue sky. Where the trees
fringed the banks of the tumbling
river Elizabeth found seat on q
messy rock.
The rushing OF the river drowned al
other sounds. and II was not until he
stood beside her that Elizabeth knew
Ralph Coveriy had come At last From
very joy in his presence she was pow
erless 10 move.
lie looked down nj her. pale and
worn and quite unlike his usual buoy
ant self
elizabeth" he said desperately.
"I've Just had Fabens' invitation. II
II isn' he. who is IT."
WHO Is who?" asked Elizabeth
weakly. her voice breaking as he
caught her hand
"Thc one who came between us"
said Ralph hoarsely. Aunt Agatha
limited she wrote-it was Fabens. and
You were both SO happy. SO ! stopped
writing and came home to find the
ring aud your letter was q beast TO
Fabens-thought he had cut me out
with you-and then he stiffened up