The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-10-29
cHAPTET II.
,DARr,:nAIrLAxD. DART AND co.

growing in himself ever since Colonel
Conyngham and his daughter had been
living in Highborough. The strong
bank walls no longer limited his h"pe
and ambition Beyond them, stood re
vealed home of love, and ease and
sunshine, brightly possible; and in this
future the only mission of the good old
bank was to furnish the home with lux
ury.
II was winter night. The bank win
dows were bolted and barred, 1he great,
books locked away in their trusty safes
and the manager upstair with the loaded
brilliantly-lighted drawing room at
home, the senior partner saI alone--a
striking looking man, in his evening
dress, with the hot house flowers fading
in his coat. The room had been filled
with guests up to this time, but now Mr..
Dart sat alone before the fire, buried in
thonght which deepened minute by
minute, until the door was opened, and
Walter Maitland re-entered the room he
had but lately left.
''I could not help coming bach" he
said, beginning hurriedly to speak, as If
the words forced themselves from him
in his nervous haste. "There is one
thing about which ! must speak to you
tonight, about which have wanted to
speak to you for long time. l feel"-
he was leaning against the chimney
piece opposite his friend, and looking
with intense scrutiny into his quiet face
THAT | have been dreaming a dream
which a word of yours could at this
moment dispel. Tell me if it is so. 1t
will be greater kindness than yonr sill
ence, though kindness is sure TO he the
motive of that Tell me at once. Dart.
1t cannot be very pleasant to you to see
my anxiety. You are far too good a
fellow to feel pleasure in that"
"What am ] to tell you?" inquired
Maurice Dart, without meet his compan-
ion e eyes.
"Su-ely you know? said to myself
that when l met Isabel here in your
house tonight / wonld find out if my
fears were well grounded; and IF conld
not discover, ] would ask you for the
truth before left. Dart, end this warn
ing suspense for me. 1t has been grow
ing through all these months, side by
side with my love, and has become quite
unbearable at last"
Maurice raised his head now, and met
his companions anxions, questioning
eyes. 81 am glad you have spoken.
Maitland" ne said; Il have guessed at
your anxiety while have felt my own.
and ! have often wished to break the
silence we have held ON this one point.
/ faneied you had something to tell me.
l fancied so bat now, when | saw you
re-enter the room,"
Indeed no." exclaimed Walter with
his usual frankness; Il wish to heaven
/ had. i wished ! dared to say that
Isabel had given me encouragement
enough to make me even hope. And
could not ask her to-loEe me while
felt that you knew how useless it would
be-"
~ do not know" returned Dart, his
words sounding very slow after Walters
eagerness, yet all his self-command fail
ing to hide their new rign of hope.
Isabel has never heard a word of love
from ME. She is gentle and kind, and
winning always; but I cannot read be-
yond :"
ITO me, too, she is bright and pleasant
always" put in Maitland restlessly; "and
! can discover nothing more. ! fancied
you could put me out of one phase oi
this uncertainty
"And you are very glad to find I can
not" said the elder partner. And then
their eyes met smile which was strange.
ly wistful for such strong and manly
| faces.
Dart" said Mr.. Maitland, 'you are
the elder man-the richer-the better
too. You shall speak first. Do it as
soon as you can"
"Senority has no claim in such case
as this" said the senior partner. awe
can wait"
81 can wait no longer" put in the
younger man, impatiently. Anything
will be better than this suspense. Why
on earth should we wait? Isabel knows
us both too old for this love of ours t.
be anything but deeply earnest. Sht
knows enough of US and our positions t,
make her decision easy to her. So let III
know the worst or best. You have the
right to speak first.
al will not take it," said Mr.. Oar
speaking more quickly than he had ye
done. Let us write Let us write
together"
A few minutes silence, while Waite
thought this over, leaning his head Oh
the arm which rested on the chimney
piece.
''Let that be decided" urged Maurice
eve will write tomorrow. Let her re
ceive the two letters together. Promis
me your letter shall be ready for to-mo1
rows post"
81 promise" said Maitland, raising hi
head again. "Thank you for this al
rangement."
II CHAPTER HI.
} The FIRE roared and crackled cheeril
in the private room of the bank, bl
! neither of the partners had arrived.
/ al never knew him so late" remarke
] Tom Leslie, as if finishing aloud
S Puzzling conjecture.
: "Who? Old Dart?"
e "Mr. Dart. Yes"
a sssLeslie feels il incumbent on him
uphold the dignity of the partners, p
1 in another clerk. "His breast swell
t proudly with fellow-feeling."
= "What an idle set you are this NOR
e ing," remarked Tom, turning from h