The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1911-05-11
The Best Man Wins
81 w. r. N.

Vivian! beware how you throw
from you true heart. 1t may new
er happen second time that you
will have the opportunity to reject
it,
And what if I do not?'
You will go through life bearing
the remembrance of your sin.
Ny sin?'
OF your sin, Vivian. If there is
any sin, it is that of falsehood. False
you have been to one who would
have died for you"
AS Robert Lonis turned away
from Mr.. Lindsey's door that after
noon, Vivian looked long at his re-
treating figure. When at length it
was lost to her sight, she sighed
deeply. and the tears fell in large
drops from her eyes.
He says truly" she repeated,
passionately. i shall bear the re-
membrance of my sin. -
But gay voice sounded from the
hall. and a quick step came to the
door, and the tears dried and smiles
replaced the sigh.
Have you done it?" asked the
voice. Is tn at canting hypo-
crile gone, Vivian?''
For a moment every feeling In
Vivian Lindsey's soul revolted from
the being before her. But she had
carved out her own future. Robert
Louis had been dismissed, his letters
and gifts sent back, and she had
promised to love man who was not
worthy to black his shoes, and whose
only advantage was that he was rich
and hand some. The wedding took
place in month; show and style
and all the pomp and vanities which
Percy Taylor did not fail to intro
duce, supplied the place of trust
and affection. A splendid home
was provided. and for while gayety
and pleasure ruled the day, and
drowned the voice of conscience in
the ear of the bride.
Robert Louis was not the man to
die of broken heart because a wo-
man had foolishly refused, or rather
deceived him. He did not put HIM
self in her way, neither did he avoid
her; and in consequence they often
met. Vivian could not fail to OBJ
serve that while Percy Taylor was
often only tolerated in the best So
ciety. Robert was admired an d
sought for his intellectual endow-
ments and superior intelligence.
She saw how men of intellect de-
.ferred to the youthful lawyer who
had made his own distinction by
his talent; and how eagerly they
listened to his opinion upon debated
subjects, while her husband was I'M
noticed, save by the gay and shallow
minded.
1t was in the midst of one of her
own splendid parties that the crash,
so long foreseen by others. came
suddenly upon the unhappy bride.
The rooms were blazing with light,
the tables loaded with refreshments,
the song and dance and gay laughter
went around. Never was Vivian
more brilliant; never was her hus-
band more smooth and bland in his
vapid nothings. One of the clerks
connected with his banking estab-
lishment called him from the room
and one of the visitors, man OF
high commercial standing, obeyed
the beckoning glance of the clerk
eye, and followed him also. Vivian
was at the piano, with crowd OF
almiring listeners about her. Min
gled with the very tones of her
5 voice, as it rose clear and distinct
upon the highest notes. a sound
burst upon the startled assembly
that struck CONSERVATION to every
heart. It was the sound of pistol
shot just overhead, in Mr. Taylor'f
room. The clerk had announced te
him the exposure of transaction in
which he had been engaged, too dis
honorable for him to bear the dis
grace, and he had rushed, uncalled
into higher presence than thai
from which he, cowardlike. shrunk