The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-04-27

hhh TIbNI'IDUNj DHl ~ UIHL DIIy HnD'ltI"
atcly 10; and months rolled by, and
years, and he grew TO be n tall, broad
shOuldcrcd man, with n great brown
beard, before he was half rich enough to
90 back TO Farmingdalc.
The time came at last, however. He
knew his success had become known in
his native place he knew alIO that Miss
Burt had married and was Il widow aud
when he left China it was with the full
intention Of establishing himself rs n
merchant in London, and marrying Mat,
tic, if she were to be won. Such an
image AZ he carried with him, and over
the ocean, Of guilclcss beauty and love
llncSS no artists pencil ever painted, and
he took it with him to Farmingdalc.
There it 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 lancicd her perfection, and
the dream Of 10 many years was over.
Now that Evan Ware had returned rich
and prosperous, he might have consoled
himself with the affections Of any mar
%rlaRcabIc female in FarmingdaIc. He
was the lion Of the placc-courtcd, fiat
tered, and smiled upon by budding
misses, spinstcrs and widows. Every one
but Lizzie Gale smiled upon him. She,
mindful through all these long years Of
the cold parting on the bridge, yOuch-
@aicd him only the chiIIicst recognition;
and the fact annoyed him. She had
grown to be a fine looking woman and
he remembered what a kind, pleasant
girl she used to be, and longcd to know
more Of her, He Iongcd in vain. She
rcpuIscd his attentions, and kept him at
Il distance Vet all the while she re
crctly 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 scrnpIcs.
Old Mr.. Burt, before he died, had spccll-
lated in somc bubble and ruined himself;
and instead Of being the great hcircss nil
her little world had expect her to be-,
Matte found it hard work to live and
dress herself in the iincry she loved, on
her small income. A rich husband was
her object, and Evan Ware bad been 50
desperately in love with her that it was
hardly likely that he could be rIitc in
different now.
"Im surc Pm handsome enough vet"
thought Matte, rs she looked in the
glass "and if he il rcscntful about the
way ! answered him, ri manage that
somehow. It's too good a chance to
lose"
Therefore, from that moment, Evan
became the victim of sundry machina-
lions, which were supposed to be Of fatal
effect, and was dressed at and smiled at
IN a manner which made the fact that
Matte Fay was trying to catch Evan
Ware patent to all FarmingdaIc.
by this time, however, the said Evan
Ware was absolutely in love with Lizzie
Gale. She, ut least, did not court his
money, and that was something to 50
rich a man.
lie forced himself upon her little by
little, till he made his way.
1t was spring; a lovely May, fresh and
beautiful AZ May could be, and, accord
Ing to custom, a grand picnic waa on the
taps. 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 hishand
to another woman. And, ignorant of
TINS, at that game picnic, Matte Fay
had resolved to bring her old admircr to
the point.
IT'S only piquc, ! know, that keeps
him from speaking" she said, us she
looked at herself in the glass; "and I'll
90 all lengths to curc that"
The day appointed arrived. Evan
Ware unanswered with success, and
found himself at the outset Just where
he wished to bc-in n little vehicle only /
capable of holding two, with Lizzie Gale
by ms side, The ride was n Icing one,
and there were plenty Of chances for
tender speeches and soft g]lanccs. Lizzie
was yielding slowly, and when in the
%luictcst part of the road, after all the
other vehicles had passed them, Evan
paused entirely, and, looking down into
eyes, said "lizzic, it remains with
you to decide my ftc-you can send me
back to China or keep me here" her
eyes dropped, and she made no prctcnsc
of misunderstanding him.
The next moment he had said: "WiII
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.
IT was Il quiet sort Of thing, but they
were quiet people, both of them. So
quiet that by the time they aIirhtcd
Lizzie had begged Evan mot to set
talking by lcvotinr himself too
to her Just yet; and Evan had
promised. Consequently Mistress Mat
lie, arraycd in pink for the occasion, and
certainly very young and pretty.
.onnd the rich merchant at her mercy,
md took possession Of him.
She walked him around a romantic
pond and down into n charming green
meadow, and talked of "thc days that
past" in y very sentimental
manner.
We are 80 foolish when wcarc young,
Mr.. Ware"
"Indccd we are"
And IA repent our folly-I do. |
know. Pm sure ! don't know how to
approach the subject; hut you rcmcm-
how rude ! was on the bridgc-how
ridiculous. You never can have for
Indeed | have, Mrs. Fay"
Entirely"
" Entirely" he replied.
You know it WASH { from the heart.
iris are so singular. The moment YOU
lad gone | wanted to call after you. If
'ou had asked mi the question a second