Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-09-19
Found
Wanting
), sAIDEE EsrElIE RAlcoM
lcODyrlght. lsls. wss.sra Nswspapsr Union.


She sat gazing into the fireplace
with a PARKWAY look in her deep, dark
eyes, thinking. dreaming, going over
bit by bit the episodes of the most
eventful evening OF her life. She had
not yet laid aside her exquisite satin
garb. nor the superb jewels that had
made her the envy of every girl friend.
All around her was elegance the to-
kens of wealth and luxury, yet she was
not happy.
That evening had seen her social
debut, and ii had been grand sue
cess. Winnie Trevor had never looked
so beautiful. She reckoned hollow
adulation at its true worth. however.
and now that the glare, the excitement,
the superficial and unreal had faded.
she was her own self once more.
1t had been a transition from the
modest home of strict Puritanical
aunt TO the glitter and animation Of
heiress in a day to a fortune of over
one hundred thousand dollars In liQ-
uid funds. Only one person in her old
home outside of her aunt she regret
ted to any extent--Gilbert Rose.
An old girl friend who had married
well and had become social queen
had undertaken to launch her among
people who were somebody" Mrs.
Lucia Davenport had done more than
that--she had picked out for Winnie
an eligible parti-Paul Despard, occa-
sionally litterateur and always gem
tleman of leisure.
A strange double event had that day
signalized. Two letters had come, one
from Gilbert Rose back in the home
village, breathing undying fidelity and
asking If she still remembered him.
The missive deserved a reply, for prac-
tically he placed his heart at her feet
! and asked that she accept ii.
There was eloquence about the sec
ond letter-from Paul Despard. 1t
comprised riot of words and phrases
that exploited his erudition as q trick
ster with tongue and pen. He had
sent her beautiful bouquet. 1t rest
ed on her table now striking and bril-
liant, but with the dollhouse faint.
Beside 1t lay small bunch of modest
field violets, pressed almost dry now.
1t had come in the letter from Gilbert
Rose, and somehow it brought a long
ing to the heart of Winnie for the
purple fields, the beauties of dell and
dale. When she retired an hour later,
the little wisp of violets lay upon the
pillow beside her and her old serenity
Of mind returned as she closed her
eyes and dreamed of the days that had
known none of the merciless exactions
of shallow society.
Almost was she minded the next
morning to change all her plans and
forego the social ambitions which Luz
ella Davenport had inculcated. Then
that artful and maneuvering match
maker drew her into the vortex of a
round of amusements. Strenuously
the social queen advocated the cause
of Paul Despard. The latter pressed
his suit vigorously. There came an
other letter from Gilbert, for Winnie
had laid aside his first, unsettled in
her mind as to definite decision.
It was by chance, it was by good for
tune that Winnie happened across an
old friend of her dead mother. She
saw a good deal Of this sincere, true
minded woman enough to realize that
the new world she had invaded had
its pitfalls, its deceits, its disappoint-
ments. And then a resolution came
into the mind of Winnie She did not
consult Lucia as to this. On urgent
special invitation Paul Despard and
Gilbert Rose found themselves face
to face at the home Of the young
heiress, each wondering why the other
was there, and both under the impress
sion that they had been summoned to
hear the decision of Miss Trevor as to
their proposals. Winnie welcomed
them in a room where sat a clerical
looking old man whom she introduced
as the Reverend Joel Benton.
Il wished you to know" said Winnie
to her two wondering guests, "thatIhave
this day turned over to the charity cir
Gle of which Doctor Benton is the con-
servator my entire fortune, feeling that
this would be in accord with views of
my uncle who left me his estate. /
have retained nothing for myself. /
am going back home. If either or both
of you gentlemen wish to come TO bid
me goodbye tomorrow, l shall be glad
to receive you"
Paul Despard, reaching the street,
babe his rival crisp adieu and de-
cided that the young heiress that was
had gone out of his life. He glanced
at his watch and calculated how soon
he would reach the home of a former
fame and renew his laggard allegiance.
Winnie Trevor awaited an expected
call the next afternoon. She had read
of the speedy engagement of Paul Des-
| pard to Miss Agnes Ward in the morn
ing paper, and knew that he had failed
in the test. Her color rose as Gilbert
Rose was announced. His face was
grave, but true and open as ever.
"You spoke of going home. Winnie,
he said. Let me take you back to
Aunt Mercy. And II will mean so
much for all your old friends, With
you there, the birds viii seem to sing
to me as of old, the flowers be bright
er and life once more radiant and hope
full"