Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-10-04

thought bitterly.
Martha met her. His tone at first re-
spectful, soon grew earnest.
cit is in vain" said Charlotte. II
think highly of you; but [ do not love,
you, and / cannot marry you. 1t is
not PRIDE" $
Then he desisted, lifted his hat and
left her. In the hall Rev. Talbot met
her, his face glowing, and beckoned her
to his study.
"Who do you think has Gomez" said
he. "Why, Andrew Wilkins! He
was my fag forty years ago; 1t doesn't
interest you? O, indeed! Do you
know that he has made half a million,
miss Do you know that he has asked
my permission to-to-address you?
He has money I'VE have blood. You
will dress up to the mark to night, and
be more cheerful. You have been out
with that penriless Brian. Take care
you do not get entangled" '''s
II refused him eight years ago."
said Charlotte. toHs -
cit is well. Il Now dress; I'll send
Rose to YOU nqa ssbou d '9s1
Rose was, the dairymaid- for they
kept two Attorney COWS on tue glebe-
bright, sparkling girl, who sometimes
acted as Charlotte's lady's maid. Char
lotte had had Frenchwoman to assist
town; being. a failure, this humble as
sistance was considered good enough
for her. But Rose was willing, handy
ard affectionate.
Charlotte found Mr.. Wilkins polished
and smooth. He did not press himself
upon her; she was grateful to him for
that. But the Rev. Talbot and Aunt
Delamere never left her a moments
peace. They worried her to show off
her mplishments, = ut of l4
IL" Do try and be lively" said aunt
Don't be dol. Can't you see that you
have the finest chance in the world?
Why, he is sixty-two, has heart disease,
and next year is his grand climacteric !!
Half a million! What diamonds !"
This tune was played till her life became
burden. -....5.... rl .fN ibid
At last she gave a nominal consent,
| but no time was fixed.
| q early next season." said aunt decis-
lively. Everything can be got ready
! by then. There may be something in
you, Charlotte, after all. Give me q
| kiss" ~ saaHasqs use
This nominal or half-expressed con-
sent gave her respite; Wilkins left
her. 1t was a long miserable summer.
Her heart was dull aching void; she
walked about the fields and lanes feel
ing herself q living lie. Towards
autumn, Brian was at the Court again
Must the truth be told? "A guilty thrill
of pleasure ran through her. He had
not called yet. One morning Rose
| asked to see her mistress in private
With many bushes she stammered out
the truth-she was to be married to the
head-carter at the Court, and the pair
were to accompany Mr.. Brian to Natal.
"To Natal" said Charlotte, with a
sinking feeling at her heart ae
i eyes, ma'am. They say he be tired
O Lunnun, and have left his pace"
81 shall be utterly alone" thought
Charlotte. "Perhaps it will be best for
us both. have sacrificed everything
to society, and now --" h3
She broke down in private. But
when Brian called she was calm enough.
On his side he endeavored to hide his
embarrassment by an affected volu-
bility.
g must congratulate you," he said
You will have splendid settlement
you will be envied. At all events I
shall good shooting in Africa. I was
weary to death of doing nothing in
town-no prospect, no hope. It is bet
ter to be a man, even II one does lose
a position. My hands are as soft as a
girls now; in few months they will
harden. [ have s1,500 Of my OWN
Martin lends me another 1880. A
long sea voyage! Yes, it is. I must
apologize for taking your Rose; but
with my inexperience, without that
honest couple" etc. u
1t somehow happened that pending
Brian's departure, which was to take
place in October, Charlotte and he were
much together in the fields. Perhaps
it was the feeling that it was quite safe
now one was going thousands of miles
away, and the other to be married.
They fingered In the lanes and among
the barley, till at last poor Martin, who
saw this, grew jealous. A suspicion
forced itself upon him that he had
been sold; that in trusting his secret to
Brian he had been betrayed. In his
anger he went straight to the Rev. Tai
bot, and bluntly said something, which
resulted in that gentleman strictly or
dering Charlotte to see Brian no more.
Weak, and at the same time selfish to
q degree, he fixed all his hopes Of
future personal qualification upon the
contamination of the match with Mr..
Wilkins. He rudely repulsed Brian
from the rectory, and kept watch over
Charlotte.
Mr. Martin had so sooner succeeded
in this underhand proceeding than his
naturally honest and generous nature
revolted, and his disturbed state of
mind showed itself in peevish irrita-
ton, till Brian at length insisted upon
an explanation, and had it.
Martini" said he, you have grie-
vously wronged me. I did your mes
sage faithfully. It is true I loved
Charlotte enough at one time to pro-
1 pose to her; but she has the sense to
see that my income was incompetent