The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-29

likely to remain for two or three years to
come. AS to his being wonderful at all,
don't know about that. Jacks not so
very handsome, but"
She ceased speaking and Mr.. Austin
put in hurriedly:
Don't fill up that pause, Miss Lyon.
know what it signifies and somehow l
Don't want to hear you say it,"
lie stayed some time longer, and when
ne took leave said he would come again
the next evening if he might This
privilege being accorded he returned the
next day and many more next days. In
TACT, during the weeks of Miss Lyons
further stay, he was extremely devoted
to her. So devoted, indeed, that Mrs
wilmer, who, strange to say, had not
been posted as to Miss Lyons engage
ment to Jack, commented upon it volu-
oily and told her friend that she was TAX
ing a most ridiculous course. If she
cared nothing for this Mr.. Austin she
ought not to suffer such constant atten-
tons from him, for people would in
fallibly think she had been in love with
him and he had flirted with her. If, on
the other hand, she liked him she would
be wise to inform him as to the state of
her finances, or he would inevitably let
her depart without a declaration. Miss
Lyon was too wise to attempt the hope
less task of making herself comprehend
ed by Mrs. Wilmer so she merely laid
further in junction as to secresy upon her
and continued to receive the devoted at
xtentions of Mr.. Austin.
r at last her visit came to a close, and
he day before her departure had arrived.
he had been driving with Mr.. Austin
aid when he had parted from her and
driven away, promising to return and
sped that last evening with her, Grace
welt to her room and made lovely toilet
1t vas one of her very simplest dresses
that she chose-a long, flowing white
musin, trimmed with many little white
bow. By and by, when Mrs. Wilmer
had abandoned the front porch to them
and hey were alone in the still fragrant
moonlight, Mr.. Austin said:
Hiss Lyon, come out of the shadow
and st here in the moonlight. | want to
see y'ur face. After tomorrow / may
neversee you again"
" 10 you think that's likely, when New
York is your headquarters, and it is to
my home in the future?"
Mr.. Austin did not tell her that he fan
cied her world in New York might not
be quite his world, simply because that
he had never, in spite of numerous eff
forts, succeeded in making her acknowl-
edge mutual friend or acquaintance in
CHI chon ho
Ject or seemed quite ignorant of the ex-
lstence of the person in question. And
Mr.. Austin did not tell her, either, that he
had determined against ever seeking her
out there, when once they had both re-
turned.
Grace came over to the seat he indi.
Gated at his side and sat there very sweet
and quiet, not talking much, but listen
ing sympathetically to what he was say
in. When it was yet very early Mr.. Aus
tin got up to go.
" Are you going already, Mr.. Austin?'
Grace said, raising her brown eyes to his
face as he stood before her at seems
to me there were some things l wanted
to say to you, but find cannot recall
them"
" had rather you didn't try" Mr.. Aus
\ tin said. " l think | could receive them
better tomorrow. don't know what has
come over me tonight; l feel utterly
powerless to manage myself, although
J, I've had some pretty good practice dur
ing these last weeks. Do you mind my
saying that l shall miss you horribly,
Miss Lyon, and thanking you for the
brightness of these past days that we've
spent together? Somehow I've halfde-
termined to tell you something. Under the
. circumstances it can doyou no harm, and
it will crafty an intense longing that
possesses me now. think you are the
best and sweetest woman in all the world
and | never will forget you. 1t has come
to this, Miss Lyon: envy Jack his posi-
ton"
There was a moment of intense still.
ness. Grace had drawn back into the
shadow and turned her face away from
him. She did not speak, and Mr.. Austin
went on:
81 have to thank Jack for one thing
at any rate" he said: but for him
should never have dared to tell you that
| love you, and that if l could hope to
marry you it would be the greatest JOY
the world could give me. Since you are
engaged it can do no harm for me to tell
you this, and it relieves and comforts me
great deal to think that you know it.
| am too poor to ask you to marry me,
though l should inevitably do it if you
were not already engaged to man who
is, know, immeasurably my superior
| should ask you and you would probably
decline, which would be perhaps the best
thing for both of us in the end, for the
hardships you would have to bear, in
case you married me, would soon veal
out your love, and when that time came
| should want to die. What happy
fellow that Jack must be! Do you know
what I'm half inclined to do? Spend
the next ten years of my life in hard
work and scrape together all can, and
then die and leave it all to you in my
will, with Jack as the necessary incum
brance. Perhaps if did not see you fol
ten years could teach myself to Ions
for you less hungrily than now, and tC
serve you by promoting your happiness
with the man you love"
He ceased speaking, and, as Miss Igor
did not answer, he held out his hand anC
said " ood-by."
Wait moment" Miss Lyon said
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