Middletown transcript., 1912-11-23
ETHEL CLIFTON'S MISTAKE
BY Mrs. sl1adan Denraell

scorn crossed his nanuSone 4oS9
as she thus utterly ignored his
eager questioning,
She was just as heartless a tilrt
then as people called her, while
he had been foolish enough to be-
lieve that she cared for him, ne
thought bitterly.
She had fully expected him to
plead his suit further, but she
was mistaken this time. She
glanced at him uneasily. His face
was pale, but he merely bowed
courteously.
AS you will, Miss Clifton ana
turning the boat shoreward, they
were very soon at the landing
Neither of them had spoken a
word while returning, and EthePs
heart sank like lead in her bosom
but pride sealed her Ups. Not
for worlds would she acknCW
ledge her fault.
Shall we join the dancers? he.
said carelessly, as he secured
the boat, and proceeded to the
house. There seems to be a set
forming, he spoke easily.
If you like, answered Ethel,
indifferently and as they Joined
the merry throng, people little
dreamed of the heart drama that
had Just been enacted, for Ethel
Clifton's laugh had never sound
ed more musical, or her gay re-
partee more witty, but in her
heart there was feeling as if an
icy hand were grasping il.
But, oh, how bitterly she re-
gretted the course she had taken
as she retired to her own room
the night after her departure,
and threw herself in an agony OF
grief and tears upon couch.
He will forget me in a few
months-forget that I ever ex-
isted, she sobbed, while 1 shall |
always remember him and-and
love him. with another burst Of
tears.
Hugh Darrell With the remain
der of his party, departed for
their respective homes the same
morning. He seemed so easy
and natural in speaking his good
bye to Ethel, as he wished her a
pleasant journey and thanked
her for making his stay so agree
able, that she little dreamed the
parting gave him a more bitter
heartache than he ever before
experienced, while Ethel, as
proud as he was apparently as
cool and unconcerned.
And so they parted-he to re
turn to his place of business at
the bar; she, to go home with a
dread feeling Of lonliness at heart
to laugh and dance the winter
hours away.
Three years have quickly roll
ed by and Ethel Clifton is Ethel
Clifton still-gayer, merrier, if
possible than of yore. The same
fair face and winning ways, but
apparently more heartless than
ever.
People thought her incapable
of loving. If Ethel ever heard
these remarks her only reply {
would be a sarcastic smile, and
a heartfelt wish that it was in
deed so.
She had never met Hugh Dar-
rell since their parting, three ;
years before.
Their homes being widely
separated, they had never by
accident met; but the memory of
those summer days had ever
haunted her, and how gladly she
would have recalled them, none {
but her own heart knew. II
1t was a gay scene at Mrs.
Meredith's aristocratic home at s
Boston. /
A grand reception was in pro-
gress-the whole house a blaze
of light from basement to attic, a
and decorated in the most artis-
tic manner with flowers, trailing t
vines and ferns, and with the /
lace and crimson drapery woven
with evergreens presented a pic c
ture fair to behold.
Miss Clifton, with her party, '
we're among the latest arrivals, I
and as she descended to the
drawing room, was at once sur f
rounded by throng of admirers S
and was soon gliding away in o
the dance.
One hour later, as she was S
seated in the conservatory alone, Fl
while her CON panlon had gone v
for an ice, gentlemen stepped h
quickly through the door, and
glanced around inquiringly. r.
She sat partly hidden by some b
IF fbo ebrnbboru co that h. 1;l |