Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1875-06-04
spoke freely when they discussed litera


Partly from her hints, partly, it must b
confessed, from his own sense Of superior
ity, Walter had settled conviction tina
he was comforting an honor when he offer
ed his hand to Edna, hand that woul
lift her to his side in the atiiuence of hi
tunt's favor.
So the first spur that drove him from
her presence was certainly mortified vani
ty. More reasonable motives came later
The fail sewing was completed, when
with that unreasonable perversity tha
fall often to the lot of the most tavoret
mortals, Mrs. Montgomery was obliged t
have it all renewed in mourning for he
only sister, Edna's mother.
1t was "dreadflully provoking" of course
the more SO as Edna, really loving tn
peevisl invalid who had been her care TO
years, could not attend to the sewing
She sorrowed sincerely for many weeks
and then, to Mrs. Montgomery inlinit
disgust, accepted a position as companion
to an invalid lady and went abroad.
Il suppose her aunt said, when it wa
too late, If had offered You q salar,
with home you would have come whci
| asked you"
And Edna frankly admitted that sh,
would.
So over the ocean she carried her sor
rows and pride, the one fairly stifled fo
the time under the weight of the Others
For she missed her mother. she found he
new duties uncongenial and contining, ant
she grieved for Walters love.
She did not regret her decision, know
~ fr the nm fYf,, af rghpG Sha N.
future of usefulness before him if. mt til,
end. his aunt disappointed his expecta
tions. She knew him for a man whC
could turn his brain or hands To no pur
pose in life, and for this she despised hin
as a mere danditicd puppet of her aunt's
Yet in the heart hunger of her new lit,
she thought often of the glorious capabil
tiles Of her young cousin. She knew ht
bad 4 mind clear and strong full of pow
er to grasp any intellectual pursuit. Sh,
knew him patient. kind oi heart, strong
of purpose when once aroused. and it fret
ted all the grander attributes of her natur,
10 think of the waste of such a manhood
For what was he 4 walking tailor:
advertisement, charming partner in ;
dance, courteous gentleman, willing
servant 10 his aunt. No more.
Yet when Edna wandered with her new
mistress over the Old World, enjoying with
keen zcst the intellectual. artistic, and mu
sical treats spread before her, she turned
mentally 10 Walter for congenial pleasure
When the vapid praise or weak criticism
of the fashionable invalid vas poured into
her ears, she wondered how Walters clear
hrzAiG wEanla-haxe viax4d the same ahicct
Ter home memories we're not very pleas
an. ones 10 her soul, full of soTdid cares
al mean shifts, of shallow pretence. and
She rested upon those Of her Cousin Wal
ter, floating upon them to rosy dreamlands,
till stung tn life again hy the fact of her
rejection of his hand aud her reasons for
that step.
Viewed through the me,lium ofthis rose
haze OF memory she softened To her dis
carticd lover, thinking Of the chiyalry OF
his w0oin1, the unseltishness of his love.
She knew well that Mrs. Ambrose Mont
gomery's heir might have chosen bride
amongst the wealthiest, that Walters
handsome face. uudonbted talents, and
courtly manners would have Won him true
love amongst the most fastidious. And
vet he had turned from all these to choose
her. penuiIess girl. whose education was
for the most part, self-imparted, who was
quick tempered and unpopular. In spite
of her beauty, she knew we'll that she often
owed il 10 Walter and bis efforts that she
was not wall flower in social gatherings
He loved her, and she had shut her heart
to his love She did not regret that home
of luxury he could have commanded for
her, the probable fortune she would have
shared with him, but in her bitter loneli-
ness she hungered for the sound of his ten
der voice, the love of his pleading eyes.
For four years she wandered hither and
thither across the Old World at the caprice
Of her employer. Then lawyers letter
informed her of her Aunt Lucilc's death
and her own inheritance of thirty thousand
dollars and a superbly bound copy of the
Lives of the Pilgrim Fathers" Mrs. Mont
one literary effort, being collcc-
tion of all her own cuttings upon the sub
ject
She was glad to go home again, glad to
end her uncongenial bondage. At the
steamers arrival her Cousin Walter met
her. There was a new beauty upon his
handsome face-the beauty of purpose, OF
a noble content He had hack in wait
ing, and drove first to a hotel for break
tast. In the private parlor where it was
served he told her:
EDNA, | want to thank you y
Thank me- she said, wondering.
"For awakening me from slotlfu
dream to an object in life. Do you know
how | have spent the last four years2"
with Aunt Montgomery, have younot 2
'Certainly. | would not desert her ir
old age, When | was certainly comfort te
her. But | studied medicine, won di
ploma, and have now practice. 1t is
large, Edna, but not very lucrative, being
the very poor fer the most part
But | have found what you told me lack.
ed, cousin-a purpose in life, field fol
labor where | hope | am not altogether
useless"
Il congratulate you with all my heart,
she said, impulsively, holding out botl
hands.
II want more than that. Edna Your
words opened my eyes to my own waste o
life; but, though find my time busily fill
ed, my heart wants something more. Ed
ma. all the old love there cries out for you
Can you love me little now 2"
Not little" she said in low voice
her cheeks flushing rosily, 'but with my
whole heart, Walter
Then will you grant me my hope, and
be married here and now, coming to my old
home as my wife, to help me in the life
work to which your words guided me 2
And Edna, loving him, granted his wish
or, T. 10 al h, hnr,pI /.