The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-10-29

before he reached the inner door he
turned and spoke to him.
"Cold outside, Leslie. Keep up good
fires"
'-It Is hard" he muttered to himself,
'to pass him without a word" Then
Mr. Dart let the spring door close he
hind him, and sitting down in his office
chair. leaned or one arm only, as very
calm men do when they are i'll at ease or
tired. He was sitting so. looking mood
i lily down into the FIRE, when Mr.. Matt
land entered the room. The senior part
ner did not tnrn to greet him; and even
when Waiter stood upon the rug beside
| him, he did not venture To meet his eyes.
Maurice" began the younger man,
81 suppose may congratulate you. 1t
is rather hard, yet no one ought 10 do ii
so heartily as IL, who know what
good fellow you are, and what-what Il
wife you have won."
A glance of surprise into his friends
face; and then Mr.. Dart spoken few
words, as was his custom.
"She has refused me, Maitland"
refused voup'
Walter repeated the words. though
not incredulously; only truth, he knew.
could have weighted them so sadly. She
has refused me too" he said. "She has
never cared for me but as a friend
simply and only as a friend"
"In a few kind words to me" said Mr.
Dart, without looking up. she told me
she had given her love elsewhere. ! was
trying, when you came in, TO prepare
myself to tell you ] rejoiced in your
happiness, Maitland, And now you
you come and say the same to me-"
Buried in ole long, sad thought, the
partners in the good old firm sat in their
silent room, while the work and pleasure
1 of the world went on without.
| But the days duties had to be gone
through, and these were not men to shun
them selfshly.
81 guess we bad better settle with
Leslie about his holiday" remarked Mr..
Maitland that afternoon, sending to
summon Tom to the partners private
room. "He will lose every glimpse of
summer if he waits longer"
"He should not have postponed his
holiday He had his choice. Well,
Leslie, when do you wish to start?" in
quired the senior partner, when Tom
l ~ o1oS kh,a
middle of October, and this is the twen-
tieth."
THANK you, Mr.. Dart, but, if it
/ would make no difference, would rath
er take my holiday from the twenty
ninth"
"Then it is to be hoped you are going
on visit" remarked Walter Maitland,
pleasantly; "for November days are not
the pleasantest for tourist"
81 am not going on visit sir" Tom
| hesitated only moment, then both his
| listeners were conscious of an earnest
| ness in his voice. al should like to tell
you gentlemen, why | want my holiday
then. The twenty-ninth is to be my
| Wedding day"
Mr.. Dart returned quietly to his writ
ing. Mr.. Maitland rose from his seat,
and moved to the fire, turning his back
on Tom. Before the eyes of both the
partners, there hoved face which had
led them, too, to dream of possible
wedding-day from which they
had so lately been awakened.
1t would be hard, with these men,
ories rising thick, to talk to their favor
ite clerk of his good fortune; yet it was
not in Walter Maitland's nature to let
any selfish feeling prevent him.
"Indeed, Leslie!" he sald. II am SUR
prised but very glad, of course, to hear
it. I prognosticate every happiness for
your wife. Of course cannot do so for
you until know who she is.
"Yon know her well, gentlemen, said
Tom, flushing. "ITer father. Colonel
Conyngham, is my mothers cousin.
We have rarely visited them except
when they were alone because-at my
mo;her's cottage-of course could not
entertain their guests. We have always
been-as old friends and relatives should
be; and have always loved Isabel. Bnt
it was necessary for us to wait little.
Though it would be difficult for you to
realize the fact, gentlemen, marriage
is an expense; and debt"
"You can go, LESLIE" remarked Mr..
Dart, without raising his head.
"And the holiday, sir?''
"Take your holiday when you choose;
only don't make such fuss about it."
"And is there nothing more you in
tended to say to me, Mr.. Maitland?" in
quired Tom. o
81 should say" remarked Walter, with
a jealous anger in his eyes, "it is an ir-
reparable mistake You are making on
your income-unless you had chosen a
wife in your own position, and used to
such life as your Mothers"
"My mothers life was such life as
Isabel's, at lsabel's age" said Tom, and
for moment his face was really hand
some in its flush of honest pride; "and
Isabel has known what my mothers life
is for many year past. Would | mar
ry her under my false pretences?"
81 presume, then, that Miss Conyn.
CHAM knows the extent of your in
Gomez" asked Maitland, with compress
ed lips; cor have you, in your foolery,
been representing yourself as partner
in this bank2 Her eyes are open to the
folly of what she is doing, eh?"
"She knows everything, sir" rejoinet
. Tom, his eyes much puzzled, and a little
angry, sand she does not call it folly
"You can CO."
The clerk left the room, closing th'
door quietly behind him.
"They must have had harassiDg let
- ters," he said to himself, trying TO ac
~ .