Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-02

waters sake alone that she hasitated. She
pretended 70 think that il woaid be cruel TO
marry him-poor ard struggling as he vas
when she could do nothing 70 assist him: and
she reSOlutely hid from herself ell that vast re-
serve Of vital force and living interest in life
ard labor which springs from the sympathy ana
conpanionship Of those whom we love and who
love rs.
And Miss Gerry was ever st hand 70 counsel
her. Miss Gerry's keen dark eyes saw her ir-
resolution, and her keen tongue did what was
possible 10 increase il. But, meantime, no one
must ima CINE that Hfss Gerry was aware of the
impediment Of an actual engagement. That
would have been sacred in her eyes. She was
merely cOUsciOus OF a dangerous attachment
an attachment that from her point of view was
simply absurd; and that when suffered to inter
fere with anything so desirable as this possible
marriage, became really moEstroUs-qUite in
ssne-aud rot TO be endured. AS usual, the
expression OF more than she felt at first, at last
awakened a feeling deeper than she expressed
aLd Miss Gerry became so warmly interested
in Neil Conway, and in his success, that her
ready anger was quick to be awakened by the
slightest opposition. And she talked to Setar,
and s tar talked to her, until they became
more intimate than either would have deemed
possible six weeks before. For the credit Of my
poor, iTresOute, overwCrked, self deceived little
heroine, am sorry TO say that her part in these
conversations usually consisted of faIntIy-stated
objections TO Miss Gerry's practical views OF
life, which we're merely stated that they mgrbt
be CvertLrown by Miss Gtrry's yiyacious VII.
ard then hsif-pleasfd, half-sslamed of herself
Tor being pleased, Setar wOnId sit palelv silent
while her crushed heart plead dumhly for an
tue, true love, that seemed likely to perish
beneath the pressure Of these Thirty Thousand
Pounds.
TINS sort Of thing had been going on for
month OF more. Setar was m'seTabls. Walter
CfavCn. unconscious of the cause but c0Tscious
OF the change, felt heavy burden added to his
93alIy cares. Nell Conway was hopeful, and Miss
Late one afttrnoon Miss Gerry climbed the
attic stairs again. She was unusually silent and
unusually pale. She had IN her hands a fresh
lpaVpa " aha had
brought home with her from her afternoon
walk. She took walk quite silently, and Setar
comolng her hair-maklng some simple changes
IN her cress as preparation for dinner.
" Why did you not crimp it, Setar?" asked
Miss Gerry, after a while. And she added pres
emily, with smile that was almost forced,
" This Is Neil COnway's evening, you know"
Setar cOlOred. Perhaps that is the reason
did not crimp Ii, she answered.
Mis- Gerry pOndered this reply q minute or
two. Then she rose to 90.
g only came 10 bring you This flower" she
said. "Here, let me fssten IL in your hair"
She did so, and then kissed the girl with most
into Setar's eyes. GlsHcfng up to thank her,
Setar found an answering dewdrop IN Miss
Gerry's own eyes, usually so clearly radiant;
but, before she had time to say a word, Miss
Gerry had gone. After she had closed the door,
however, she opened IL again, and said softly
" Setar, do right tonight"
And so she left her. Left her crying, more
over, as usual.
Faithful TO precedent, Nell Conway came.
don't suppose that Setar ever came nearer
TO rocking positively ugly than she had that
evening. Her eyes were heavy with the tears
she had she'd, and the purple marks beneath
them rendered her pallOr almost CHASTITY. The
rosebud IL her hair was simple mockery of
her wretched looks and anything less like the
bloom and beauty supposed to be natural to a
maiden eXpectant OF her lovers vows, was
never seen or imagined.
Miss Gerry remained IN the parlor a little
whilei but her presence did nothing to dispel
the cloud that hung over Setar. Her sharp
tongue was sbeathed, and her face was PALE
and despite Setar's imploring looks and tele-
graIhlc eye signals OF distress, she soon went
away, and left the young lady to her fate.
1t was nOe very long In coming at any rate
Neil COnway-good- earted, obtTIse fellow that
he wss-drew no evil aqguries from Setar's
manner or appearance. He had come resolved
10 ash her to be his wife, and nothing she did
or said would have had very little effect upon
his determination. suppose in his secret heart
be thought she would be bnt a foolish girl to
decline for the second time such piece of luck
as he was ready to bestOw upon her. 1t is NOT
every day that discarded lover comes back
ana asks gil 10 accept thirty thousand pounds,
along with his own inestimable charms and
virtues.
And Of course Neil appreciated himself
thoroughly, in the midst OF his love for Setsr
which, though not dramatically violent, was
very sincere and kindly.
They talked about the weather; how upusu-
ally warm it was. And Nell related how he
had seen the ladies in st. Martyrs church unite
In suumer costume last Sunday, Setar thinking
to herself, IN parenthesis, that before he was sc
rich be cid rot use to worship at grand st Mar
tyT's, but at plain ST. James. Then about where
Neil was going this summer: then about the
weather again. Then Neil asked Setar where
she vas going this summer. at last Setar smiled
a little, and said she thought of migrating IN a
cooler room On the other siia OF the attic
And immediately Der head grew little div
and herself little faint. She wished-oh h0lg
she wished she had lot said that, for she fsIt
that tbs moment had come.
cit Is shame tCr you TO be in the hot CITY
the whole summer" said Neil, warmly.
81 dOn't think I mind-at Ieast-that is. not
great ceal," Setar answered, quite unaware
what words she was using. She was looking
down straight at the carpet, and she noted tn
there we're Just ten cOlOrs in three roses of the
pattern. She saw Miss GeTry's face looking
PACK through the Opeued attic door, ami heard
her saying softly, "DO right tonight. nv dear
Her heart beat 30 b8rdi She WiShed-sLe knew
not hat indeed. She only knew that she was
very, very miserable, and likely 70 make canal
Is 20 one better and tIuer than herself She
fsti that 10 imaginable bride could have made
W alter Craven talter 80 far an instant.
well, l say it's shame anyhow repeated
Nell unconscious of all this play Of emotion.
. Nou are as pale as ghost now. What will Won
be by the time the summer lie over?"
So Eh .sri to an angel, maybe" said
No, no; don't say that; You are too near an
angel for this world now"
Nell paused a minute. II must be a task
upon q mans courage, after ali, l suppose
1 hat moment before the wish is irreyocAble i'm
words! He went on abruptly, in a lower, a
really tremulous tone. quite unconscious OF any
OTusqueness of manner.
''N on said you could not once before, Setar,
know that. But 1 believe you know what |
came 10 ask for to-night-tO be my wife, Setar.
DOht you think you can? Indeed, / love you
very IHn.GSI, and will try my best TO make you
uzppy."
Who shall tell what went through Setar's
mind as he said these words Not L, indeed, for
/ cannot. Who shall say whence came the iu-
spiTatiCn that suddenly lifted those deep brown
eyes, ana tinted her pale cheeks, and lifted her
bowed head steadfastly err c.? All Of Us know
that that must have come from Heaven. I'm
knowing how or why, she had resolved suddenly
to 70 tell tie truth! Aud she did 1t. Miss
GsTry's "DO right tonight, my dear" bore
good fruit Of most unexpected sort.
" Neil,' said Setar, looking straight at him,
and speaking clearly and sweetly, - dill be-
lieve that you Intended to ask me to marry YOU
and had made up my mind to say Yes.'
But, all at once, Heaven has shown me how
vi sked l should have been-hOw miserable |
should have made you, who deserve 20 much bet
ter. like you, Neil, too well to marry you for
meney. love some one else who is poor like
me- And this temptation has come between US
a. i made us both unhappy. Forgive me.
please. / shall ask his forgiveness also. And
II YOU can be the friend of one so weak as
am"
Nell held out his hand, and Setar laid hers