The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-08-10

stand the thing is impossible. Now, isn't
it hard to know this, longing as I do to
win Lettice for my wife I"
ITO win Lettice for your wifeY That
is your hope, Frank 2"
"Yes. How oddly you speak sup
pose you feel at last that it is hard to
wait and struggleY"
al could wait very patiently, and
struggle very hard with such hope as
that"
"But cannot" lie answered, peevish-
ly. "I love her so sincerely and so ea-
gerly that waiting is fearful trial"
The freight hickered and faded lit
tie. Frank lay back in his low chair,
his head still bent, his eyes still tracing
out his thoughts among the Goals. With
heavy pain at my heart 1 watched his
fair face, and tried to grasp the great,
intangible sorrow which surrounded me.
Frank, do you feel that the waiting
is trial, too, for-herP'
al know what you mean," he answer
ed, slightly pausing. Eyes, Max, l think
so.'
"Do you know It'll" 1 questioned, in q
low voice, whose sadness touched my
own heart. And he answered, with no
pause at ALL
"Yes, Max, / know it."
Again it was 1 who broke the long ST.
lence, and again my own voice almost
startled me.
"We have so little time tonight that
we will not begin. to talk of this. An
other day we can look at your chances
of marrying"
$50 precious little they are," he NUT
tered, rising as 1 did, "that looking at
them won't take us long"
Frank was standing in the gaslight
at the door when joined him. At the
sound of my step, he turned his bright,
handsome face, and laughed.
"You have been longer dressing, Max,
than l ever knew you; yet-by Jove !!
how white and-odd you look"
al haven't been quite all this time
dressing" answered lightly. 81 have
been doing a little bookkeeping, and
reading over Bent's letter again, and
making up my mind"
"The last an elaborate process, evil
IDENTIFY" he laughed, as we walked
through the quiet streets together. "To
what fashion have you made it up to-
night?"
II have made up my mind to go out
to Bent"
"To-wHAT?"
Frank was standing still upon the
pavement, his one OBTAINING hand upon
my arm. His eyes filled with a great
incredulous astonishment.
"What are you saying, Maxi"
"Simply what I mean, old fellow.
Come along, and walk off your surprise.
want change, and a change holding
out some prospect of success. Why
should not seize this opportunity
"But-you take me so fearfully by
surprise" stanmered Frank. "Why, you
are a far cleverer surgeon than Bent;
you to go and be his servant. You must
be mad"
"Then all the more need of change
for me-" said, laughing slightly.
"But how is itY You have always
been so fond of this town. Your friends
are all here"
"I will try to make others there"
Il say again the proposal seems mad
ness, Max. What on earth has made
you form this strange, sudden resolu-
tion?"
MANY thoughts" I answered, a little
wearily. "I feel it is the best thing for
me-"
"But l believed you never faint
hearted" Frank persisted. "Where is
your favorite axiom that Each unto
himself his life can fortunize ="
"More than ever in my heart to-
night, dear fellow. I fancy the fortuni-
zing will be easier to me than it-can be
here. Now, let us forget business for
a few hours. Here we are at the Dome
House."
We stood under the bare old lime-tree,
which in summer shaded the doorway,
and my hand was on the bell, when
Frank stayed it, and spoke few words
in unusual earnestness. "Tell me one
thing, Max, before we go in. You do
not decide to leave here for my sake
because l have SO often complained that
our practice is not sufficient for two
and because you know want to marry,
and cannot do so as we are? You would
not leave your home, and your friends
and me, and go out to drudgery for that
reason, Maxi 1 shall not be comforta-
BILE unless you tell me that you do it for
your own sake"
Knowing that my going would spare
me one great pain which, in my cowar-
dice, shrank from, 1 answered him with
a quick @ Yes" pulling the handle of the
bell sharply as 1 spoke, that he might
not have time to reply. But before we
entered, he laid his hand softly on my
shoulder, and whispered, "Ialways trust
implicitly to your better judgment, Max,
and / always will" And from that mo-
ment 1 felt that the way lay straight
and smooth before my brother, and that
even he himself could see no shadow on it.
How distinctly, through long, dark
vista of lonely years, do see the dainty
white-clad figure Of the dear, bright lit
tie friend who was my hostess on that
last night How distinctly could af-
forwards recall every word and smile of
hers, though never before had it been
pain to me to watch her and listen to
her, as it was upon that birthday night.
We drank her health in true old-fash-
ioncd style, and, after Franks impetuous
loving speech, my words were cold and
slow. And yet-and yet the unacknowl-
edged and unanswered love that filled
my heart was stronger and deeper far
than his. I felt it was so, even then,
while she thanked us both SO shyly,with
the soft, bright blush upon her cheek. !
knew and felt it even more surely still
through the long years when the bright
young face was only memory.
Frank and l soon followed Lettlce
from the dining room, leaving Mr.. Old
field there alone, as we always did, with