Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-04-16
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HEARTS THAT BREAK
BY GENE W ARD.


heartless coquette at her leisure
Her personality was magnet-like. 1t
was not only that Hazel was pretty
that men were attracted to her. Her
indifference to their loyemaking and
aer daring in conduct had much to do
with her vogue.
WithaI. Hazel was designing. TIC
her men were mere instruments to
carry out her will. to arrange her
pleasures. And she used them freely
and recklessly She was not dis.
Greet. She made little effort to con.
ceaI her motives. Her suitors were
constantly changing. They paid gal
liant court to her at first, but they
did not remain long. But Hazel only
laughed and tossed her blonde head
smartly, "The world is full of men!
What care L."
When Ellis Wingate laid siege to
Razel's heart It, was saio that he
gave his soul 20 her. He was her
slave. No cut was unkind enough to
lessen his devotion. He bore his cross
bravely, and Hazel wac pleased.
Here was one with whom she could
"show off" her power. Here was one
vino would always be at her serv'
ice. Here was one upon whom she
could depend in any crisis. Her
friends said that she "would break
his heart" Never would he recover
from her cruelty, they declared. Some
went so far as to say that he might
be a suicide when she finally discard
ed him.
"Why in the world do you hang
about me?" Hazel asked in con.
temptuous tone one day before
group Of admirers. Cant you see
that you annoy me?"
Eyes. see that" replied the faith
full Ellis. "but love you."
Hazel laughed as if it were a joke.
ct want you to stay away from here
until I send for you"
every WELL" answered Ellis, and
went away.
From that day on. the tide in
HazeIs fortune began to ebb. She
was losing her control over her
pupils. They did not regard her with
the same respect and love. There
were difficulties with the school
board. Rumors were adoat that she
was seen too much with gay COM
panions.
One evening when Hazel was mo-
toring very late with a merry party
along a lonely road at high speed,
something unfortunate happened.
Their automobile collided with an-
other automobile, and q prominent
man was killed. They tried to sup
press the story, but were unsuccess-
full. All the details were headlined in
the newspapers. Hazel was asked to
resign from the teaching staff of the
school.
She turned to her men friends to
eGtricate her from the blight Of the
unsavory publicity. One by one. she
asked for advice and help. But none
was interested. None was ready to
help her in her extremity. Hazel in
tears was quite another girl from
Hazel in a coquette's mood. She
thought of Ellis Wingate.
"Ah, why didn't I go to Ellis be
fore! He is the one to help me-"
Then Hazel began to think. Ellis
Wingate took on new light in her
eyes. She was cured Of flirting. She
had had enough Of gay companions.
She was afraid of the future that
stretched so manacingly before her
She needed a strong mans arm to
lean upon. What arm was there so
strong as Ellis Wingate's? Was he
not a splendid type Of man? Would
he not make an excellent husband?
Would he not shield her from the
voice of scandal? And she liked him.
She had always liked him. Now that
she was tired Of trifing. she was
ready to-love him. Yes. to-love
him!
She telephoned to him. The an.
swer came that he had moved.
Where? He did not leave a forward.
ing address. Hazel was surprised
Ellis Wfngate had lived in the same
room for ten years-eyer since she
had known him. 1t wasn't like him
to change-not even in the matter of
residence. She telephoned his bust.
ness address the next morning.
"Mr. Wingate Is out Of town for a
few days Will you leave number?"
Here. indeed. was a changed Ellis!
Several days passed. but Ellis Win
gate did not answer her summons.
Hazel cried She did not sleep at
night Money matters were crowd
ing her She must have help. In des-
peration, she called Ellis Wingate
again.
"Is this you. Eliis?"
Yes
"This is Hazel"
Yes"