The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1913-04-18
FROM OUT THE PAST

The delicate perfume waited BY .
hundred fans was Christening the
heavy air OF the ballroom, and the
swish of the dancers' feet over the
smooth parquet was keeping dreamy
time to the whispering tinkle of the
mandolins. With = curious smile Cd
her cameo face Mr5. Santelle stood
watching tho throng OF those eager
pursuers OF neet-footed happiness.
There was \ crowd of admirers about
her, and she was sparkling all over.
In jewels and vita cold satirical
wit.
Presently there came into the room
= girl and her chaperone. The former
was Mrs. Santelle's daughter, and the
mother, nodding to the crowd around
her. passed over to where she stood.
You are looking exquisite tonight.
DEAR" said the elder woman. And.
yet, there Is something unusual about
you. What has happened? Ii 1t pos
sible? You say that the heir to the
vangreft millions has asked for your
hand! OF course you accepted! No?
Child, you have made an awful mis-
take. 1t must be that there is some
one else. All, young Howard, the ar
list who paints those pretty pastelle
heads? But, my dear, he has next to-
no money. Forget him. you must for,
get him."
Az the woman moved away she
looked back once and she saw that the,
girls face was overshadowed with
gloom. The night no longer held any
happiness for her.
Mr.. Santelle shuddered slightly, but
In the swing of the next waltz she
speedily forgot all but her own proud
position as leader of society, the
wife OF a prominent statesman and
reigning beauty. But suddenly, while
the mandolins dripped their sweet mu-
sic most tenderly, she started, paled
quickly, and trembled on her partners
arm. Therein the misty corner of
the room-she seemed to see a face
she had known in the long ago-a face
CHASTITY and wan-touched with Grim
son and stamped with the mark of
death. She closed her eyes-opened
them again, but it was still there
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.!
There was a sudden commotion; for
Mrs. Santelle had tainted. Quickly
she was carried to another room, and
her husband came to her. She awoke.
to find him leaning over the divan
where she lay.
1t Is you," she said, with forced
smile. There Is nothing serious the
matter-I fainted-that was all. 1t
was the heat of the room.
please leave mel require moth
ing"
Alone with her own thoughts she
dreamed the old dream over again. So
long she had tried to forget, to put
the worldly mask of pride over all
those tender, sad days, and yet. here
a little indisposition had brought the
haunting terror back TO her again.
Well, II it must be, she would review
the dream, the dream of those days
when she was young, poor and am
bilious. Her beauty had then seemed
70 her power beyond price, and she
had determined to atm for nothing
over than the highest. And then that
handsome young West Pointer had
come into her life. She-yes, she
loved him, though she told herself
The must stifle her love. And yet she
lad smiled upon him. One day he
,aid:
II can bear it no longer. You know
hat / love you. Do you love me? I
must know that. Can you give up
'our ambition for me-for love? | can
lot eat of the fruit of hope and de-
pair in this maddening alienation.
Tell me-yes or mol" And she had shut
Ter teeth and said mo" firmly, al |
hough she knew she loved him we'll.
When she learned that he had shot
himself, she remained calm for q few
econds and then fell to the floor in q
cry delirium OF pent-up terror.
In the morning, wearing a heavy
ell, she went to look upon his dead !
ace. All, the sight of that white face
With the majesty of death upon it! |
'he would never forget that awful |
icture. Why did that phantom come
ut OF the past tonight to reproach
er! Had she not made a new life for
lerself, buried those old-time men,
ries, gratified all her ambitions, ev-
rything save love? Why had she
reamed tonight? Was 1t the look on
er daughters face that had brought
bout the coming of the dream? Would |
tella, too, live to repent?
She went out into the ballroom
gain, radiant and beautiful as be-
ore. She waved her questioners
side with her fan.
Thank you, it was nothing. Only
augue, faintness, due to the heat"
But when Stella said softly: 'How
lad l am that you are better moth
r. she bent over her and whispered:
1 have been thinking things over, |
ear, and have changed my mind You
an tell Mr.. Howard, my child, that
9 can have you, II he has set his
cart upon you and you on him. There
re other and greater forms of happi-
ess in this old world than can be won
y the possession of mere money. And