The Osceola times., 1876-04-22

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ateIy 30; and months rolled by, ant
years, and he grew to be tall, broad
shouldered man, with a great brown
beard, before he was half rich enough u
60 back TO Farmingdale.
The time came at last, however. VI,
knew his success had become known II
his native place ; he knew also that Mis-
Burt had married and was a widow and
when he left China IL was with the full
intention Of establishing himself as 4
merchant in London, and marrying Mat
tie, If she were 70 be won. Such All
image rs he carried with him, and ovel
the ocean, Of guileless beauty and love
illness no artists pencil ever painted, and
he took II with him to Farmingdale.
There il vanished.
Before he had been in the place three
days he had seen Matte, now Mrs. Fay,
and talked with her. She was pretty
still, but years had brought her charac-
ter into her face, and she was decidedly
coarse. He saw now that she was ipno.
rant and vulgar, and that only his own
youthful ignorance had caused him to
overlook the fact in those old times
when he had fancied her perfection, and
the dream of 40 many years was over.
Now that Evan Ware had returned rich
and prosperous, he might have consoled
himself with the affections of any mar
riageable female in Farmingdale. He
was the lion of the place--courted, fiat
tered, and smiled upon by budding
misses, spinsters and widows. Every one
but Lizzie Gale smiled upon him. She,
mindful through all these long years Of
the cold parting on the bridge, vouch-
safed him only the chilliest recognition !;
and the fact annoyed him. She had
grown to be fine looking woman and
he remembered what a kind, pleasant
girl she used to be, and longed to know
more of her. He longed in vain. She
repnlsed his attentions, and kept him at
a distance. Yet all the while she Ne
cretly admired him, and her greatest
motive for the manner she adopted was
her fear lest Evan should think she had
been pining for him.
The widow Fay felt no such scruples.
Old Mr. Burt, before he died, had specu-
lated in some bubble and ruined himself,
and instead of being the great heiress all
her little world had expect her to be,
Matte found it hard work to live and
dress herself in the fnery she loved, on
her small income. A rich husband was
her object, and Evan Ware had been 50
desperately in love with her that il was
hardly likely that he could be quite in.
different now.
"Pm sure I'm handsome enough vet"
thought Matte, as she looked in the
glass "and If he is resentful about the
way answered him, I'll manage that
somehow. It's too good chance 70
lose."
Therefore, from that moment, Evan
became the victim Of sundry machina.
tl0ns, which were supposed to be of fatal
effect, and was dressed at and smiled at
in q manner which made the fact that
Matte Fay was trying TO catch Evan
Ware patent TO ali Farmingdale.
by this time, however, the said Evan
Ware was absolutely in love with Lizzie
Gale. She, at least, did not court hi,
money, and that was something to &c
rich man.
He forced himself upon her little b,
little, till he made his way.
1t was spring; a lovely May. fresh ant
beautiful as May could be, and, accord
ing to custom, grand picnic was on Tn,
tapis At that picnic Evan Ware had
resolved to try his fate for the second
and last time; for should Lizzie Gale
refuse him, he would never offer isband
TO another woman. And, ignorant OF
this, at that same picnic, Matte Fay
had resolved to bring her old admirer to
the point.
Its only pique, / know, that keeps
him from speaking" she said, as she
looked at herself in the glass; "and I'll
go all lengths TO cure that"
The day appointed arrived. Evan
Ware maneuvered with success, and
found himself at the outset lust where
he wished TO be-in q little vehicle only
capable OF holding two, with Lizzie Gale
by his side. The ride was lcng one,
and there were plenty of chances for
tender speeches and soft glances. Lizzie
was yielding slowly, and when in the
quietest part of the road, after all the
other vehicles had passed them. Evan
paused entirely, and, looking down into
her eyes, said "Lizzie, it remains with
you to decide my fate-you can send me
back to China or keep me here" her
eyes dropped, and she made no pretensc
Of Misunderstanding him.
The next moment he had said: "Will
you he my wife, Lizzie % and had taken
her hand and pressed it to his lips; and
then, finding no denial, had kissed her
out and out.
1t was a quiet sort of thing, but they
were quiet people, both of them. So
quiet that by the time they alighted
Lizzie had begged Evan "not to set
people talking" by devoting himself too
entirely to her just yet; and Evan had
promised. Consequently Mistress Mat
tie. arrayed in pink for the occasion, and
looking certainly very young and pretty,
found the rich merchant at her mercy,
and took possession of him.
She walked him around n romantic
pond and down into charming green
meadow. and talked of "the days that
were past" in very sentimental
manner.
eve are 50 foolish when we are young,
Mr.. Ware"
"lndeed we are"
And So repent our folly-I do,
know. Pm sure | don't know how TO
approach the subject; but you remem-
Der how rude was on the bridgc-how
ridiculous. You never can have for.
given"
Indeed have, Mrs. Fay"
Entirely7"
Entirely" he replied.