Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-12-06
"And your answer well be-"

ago But we nave not seen him. lie has for
gotten us. you see"
Maybe not. He may be sick. Or some
thing may have happened.
Her hands shook as they rested on his
shoulder.
IL thonght so till last week Capt
Brass told me that he was in New York q
month ago and saw him. There was a lady
with him he said
She stopped there, not saying any more,
not crying either-her eyes looked as if they
would never weep again.
"And you have known this week, Barba-
raj" .--s-.----.---
"Yes." 4lG#
That was all.
She stood up pretty soon. II have kept
Mr.. Anderson waiting long enough" -
Ash caught her hand as she was turning
away.
''Don't binl yourself by promise just YET,
Barbara. Wait a
She shook her head
'lmpossible. l promised him definite
answer to,day. | will no, trife with him as
as have been trifed with
When she was gone Ash Duncan went back
to his lounge. Kathie had fitted away to a
neighbor S for an hours chat so he was alone,
and lying there lie fought over again his own
battle-the battle he had fought with Destiny
on that day when the surgeon had told him
that he must be a cripple all the rest Of his
life.
II was thwarted, disappointed life. and he
was thwarted, disappointed man, batiled in
all his hopes and ambitions. But he could
have borne it all nilitnyly, lie thought, if by
any means it might have brought peace to
Barbara. Faitful Barbaru who had waited
four years for her lover only to find him un-
true at last.
He knew how deep that hurt had gone. A
proud woman, but generous in her love, and
true as steel where her heart and her pledged
word were given. And Bertrand Stevens had
seSned SO worthy of tile trust. Even now, re-
memberng the frank face he had known and
their old friendship. Ash Duncan could almost
believe that there was some great mistake
Stevens, this long silence, this indifcr-
ence.
Into the midst Of his troubled thoughts
came step on the stairs, knock at the door
"Come in, responded Ash, without rising
And the next moment
"Bertrand Stevens =
"Ash Duncan, dear old fellow!' and the
two shook hands like brothers.
There was something hearty AMI winning
ahou. this newcomer, something vastly de-
pendable in the look Of his blue eyes hint Of
great strength in his broad shoulders and six
feet of attitude.
After while. .sYou have been a long time
in finding US, Bert"
The frank face deepened.
"Yes met a lady the day after landed
Miss Derringcr--who told me that you had all
moved on, west, to Chicago. So I put my busi-
ness into Mr.. Rilcys hands and posted out
there to find you-so that is what has hinder
ed me SO long
Ash Dulcln face was full Of perplexity
"Miss Dcrrirger told you that?"
"Yes.'
"Why she knew we were here. She called
on Bar bara the very day before she went to
New York. What possible motive could she
have had
"a purely feminine motive no doubt Re-
venge, probably" interrupted the visitor
Sam Powers wrote me two years ago how
Miss Derringer was very gracious to you that
first time you were home on furlough,' pur-
sued the sailor, bluntly, ''and intimated pre,-
ty plainly that it wouldn't be her fault if she
didn', become strs Duncan. I've been think
ing it all over since found what wild>
goose chase she sent me on, and I'm cer>
tain
Ash stopped him.
at may be as you thirk, though I hate to
believe such a thing of a lady. But Barbara
thinks you have forgotten us all, and I'm
afraid, Bert, that Miss Derripger has succeed
ed-Tm afraid you've come too late"
~ nat 10 you mean Paiitu " t"e AiPs'
..Only this. Barbara has gone riding with
Leo Anderson. He has asked her to marry
him, and she will give him her answer before
they return. Her answer will be yes y
"lIadn't she faith enough in me to wait r
in voice that no effort could make quite
steady.
''Sbe waited four years for you. She has
waited ever since your ship came in, hoping
day by day TO see or hear from you, until last
week Captain Brass told her that he met YOU
a month ago in New York, in company with
Indy
ssYes recollect meeting him on the street
one day. And the lady was Mrs. Leith, the
owners wife,
Ash Duncan groaned 1t was so easily cx-
planned now when one knew the straight Of
the matter.
sIm sorry for this, Bert he said, "scrry,
sorry-for your sake, and Barbara's too.'
.'She's the only woman ever cared for in
my life. Tell her SO, will you? 1t won't is-
terfere with her duty TO hcr husband to know
that was true" in a voice that hardly sound
ed like Bertrand Stevens.
lie got up to 20 then. '.rll tell her." and
the two men shook hands with grave silence.
Going slowly down stairs when they met
Kathie coming UP, almost breathless.
ssOh! Ash--Mr. Stevens" catching her