Middletown transcript., 1912-11-16
ETHEL CLIFTON'S MISTAKE
By Mrs. skadan DennelI

NN'~J 10y 0AA~ es--AN . S@A
throng.
J A splendid-lo looking couple,
certainly, said Harry Winthrop,
as he cast many an admiring
glance after them. l wonder if
Darrell will be proof against her
or will he follow along in the
wake of an the rest of US poor
unfortunate, and he laughed
gayly at the thought of these
two chatting away so pleasantly
during a short interval in the
dance.
That was the beginning of it;
and, as the days passed, people
began to speculate as to what
the ending would be.
In the morning, walks and
horse back rides, and in the
evening, boating and moonlight
rambles.
They were always together,
and Ethel began to wonder if she
was beginning to love this stran-
ger, that she had at first mental
ly vowed to detest.
He had been her constant com
panion for nearly two months;
yet in all that time he had never
spoken one word to lead her to
believe that he cared more for
her than an ordinary friendly &C.
quaintance.
Ethel would not acknowledge.
even to herself, that she loved
him. She had said a dozen times
that she would refuse him should
he propose, yet his manner puz-
zled her.
She had been wooed so many |
times, and rejected them all,
that the world in general consid-
cred her trifer and firt.
Women envied her because of
her power of attraction.
That she had been a firt, there
was no use in denying.
But, deeply hidden under that
gay worldly exterior. was a
heart that was capable of feeling
affection and love; yes, far deep-l
er than even she herself dream
ed of.
The summer days passed
swiftly by, and the maple leaves
were turning to crimson and
gold, making huge bouquets of
rare splendor, and people were
beginning to talk of going home.
Miss Clifton had carelessly
spoken of her own intended de.
parture the following week, and
a thrill of pain passed through
the heart of Hugh Darrell at the
thought of separation.
For fight against it as he would
be was obliged to acknowledge
to himself that he loved her. In
spite of his friends warning, com
oined with his own better judg-
nent, for the first time in his
whole thirty-five years he had
5allen desperately in love with
his fair, goldenhaired won an,
whom the world called heartless.
She had crept into his heart
With her many winning ways,
md found a resting place there;
Ind as he studied the fair face
beside him, listening to her
merry words and musical laugh
,er he wondered if she was as
leartless a tiirt as people called
Ter, or was there depth of af-
.ection hidden away beneath |
hat gay, worldly exterior, which |
lad never yet been brought to
light.
He must learn the truth to. |
light from her own lips-any- |
hing would be preferable to this |
!
1t was'a beautiful September |
evening, and people were either |
'romenading the long piazzas, or ]
eated about in groups. enjoying
he faint sea breeze and brilliant
Lood of silvery moonlight, which
eemed enveloping the whole
world in a shining mist.
The sea itself looking like
luge mirror with its millions of
wlnkling stars reflected upon its
mcoth surface.
People smiled knowingly as
Hiss Clifton and Hugh Darrell
trolled leisurely down the wa *
Oward the beach.
The little boat was loosened L
rom its fastenings, and helping :
IS fair companion to seat op. p;
osile bin, with skillful div of Il
ne ars turned She boat from II
le shore out upon the sparkling Il
aters. Y
A strange silence had fallen II
pom them, broken only by the II
emily dipping oars and a faint Il
II &