The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-09-27

Il am not gong on tour, Sir Tom
hesltated only q moment; then both OF
his listeners were conscious of a new ear
nestness in his voice. II should like to
tell you, gentleman, why | want my hol-
lday then. The goth is to be my we'd
ding-day"
Mr.. Dart returned quietly to his writ
ing. Mr.. Maitland arose from his seat
and moved to the fire, turning his back
to Tom. Before the eyes of both the part
ners there hovered face which had led
them, too, to dream Of a possible wedding
daN-dreams from which they had 50
lately been awakened.
1t would be hard, with these memories
rising thick, to talk to their tavorite
clerk OF his good fortune yet it was not
in Walter Matlands nature to let any
selfish feeling prevent him.
"lndeed. Leslie :" he said, ''I am sur
prlscd but very glad, Of course, to hear
1t. | prognosticate every happiness for
your wife. OF course can not do 50 fOr
You until know who she is"
"lou know her Wcl, gentlemen" said
Tom, flushing. ''IIcr father, Colonel
Conyngham, is my mothers cousin. We
lave rarely visited them except when
they were alone, because at my mothers
cottage, OF course, we could not enter
tain their guests We have always been
as old friends and relatives should be ;
and | have always loved Isabel But it
was necessary for Us to wait a little
Though it would be difficult for YOU to
realize the fact, gentleman. a marriage is
IN expense, and debt
"lou can go Leslie" remarked Mr..
Dart, without raising His head
And the holiday, sir Z"
"Takc your holiday when You choose,
only don't make such a fuss about ii.
"-tnd is there nothing more YOU in
tended to say to me, Mr.. Maitland ;" in
quired Tom.
II should say remarked Walter, with
reparahIe mistake you are making to
marry on your income. unless you lad
chosen wife i'll Your own position and
used to such life as your mothcr's
MY mothers life was such q life as
Isabel's, at lsabel's age" said Tom, and
for moment his face was really handsome
in its flush Of honest pride land Isabel
mas known what my mothers life is for
many year past. Would | marry her
under any false pretenses ,"
u presume, then, that Miss Conyng-
hanl knows the extent OF your income 2"
asked Maitland, with compressed lips OF
have Vou. in Your t'oolery, been repre-
scntlng yourself Is 4 partner in the bank {?
Her eyes are open to the folly Of what she
is doing, eh II
"She knows everything, Sir, rejoincd
Tom, his eyes much puzzled, and 4 little
angry, land she does not call it folly"
''lou can go.
The clerk lett the room, closing the
door quietly behind him.
'They must have been harassing let
ters," he said to himself, trying to account
for the partners impatience. "They have
good deal Of anxiety which We suhordi-
mates arc spared And thinking this,
he took a seat and wrote away more dill
gently than ever while his fellow clerks
wondered over his mood
''Le>ic ought to 60
Those We're the words which at last
broke the silence of the room which Tom
had left.
~ cS"
Then the days work went on to close,
ami the partners, separating on the bank
steps, went their several ways, thinking
very longingly Of one to whom both had
been faithful. This was the first night
fOr many months which either had spent
without these bright, vague dreams of
what his home might be with Isabel ut its
head; and their hearts We're filled with
resentment against the winner of the
prize which they had coveted. "Nou
knew this morning She was to marry some
one else why should your thoughts be
harder, now that you know who has won
her." SO 4 voice seemed arguing with
them. but below alI the angry thoughts
surged on.
''For him to be the one to gain her
he Il paid servant in the bank :"
CHAPTER IN.
When Mr. Dart reached the bank next
morning, worn and halaSsed after his
slccplcS, night, he found that Maitland,
contrary to bis usual custom. had arrived
before him. Though the two friends
greeted each other us usual, 4 most un-
usual silence settled presently upon them
both. Eventually the senior partner,
making an effort, remarked on the cold
ness Of the weather; and his companion,
putting down a letter which lie held,
answered lcisurcly, But his pleasant blue
eyes were restless and rather dim, the
moment the answer was given, the silence
wrapped them both once more.
For an hour the office clock trked a
solo in the quletness, when Walter Matt
land rose slowly from his chair, with the
Times untolded in his hand, and, letting
the paper fall, came and stood upon the
rug beside his friend, VINO had Just re-en-
tered from the bank. Very gently he
laid his hand upon his seniors shoulder.
"Dart, old friend | want to speak a
few words to you in great earnestness,
Since we met yesterday mt trning, | have
grown to feel quite certain Of one thing
quite The time has not in reality been
very long, but it seemed so, and gave me
plenty OF opportunity for thought: and
what have grown to feel SO sure of is
this, shall never marry now"
Nor l." replied Maurice, meaning it
as men do not often mean the phrase,
though they utter it as firmly.
II fancicd not, Now we are both
wealthy men, Dart" continued Walter,
braycly and gently, "and this wealth We
offered, q day or Two ago, TO isabel Con-
yngham. You guess what | am going to
say Shall she benefit by our-loye for
her =
The senior partner looked up slowly,
questionally. A thought which had been
haunting him all night made the full
meaning Of these words quite plain to
him.
eyes, see you have felt this" resumed
Walter, quietly, '.just as have felt it. |
sec that my words only came us an end
ing to your thought. understand how
it put itself to YOU. Leslie has invested
all his fathers savings his patrimony,
as one may say-in our bank, and spends
his whole days here most conscientiously
most trust Worthly. All he draws for
this cannot keep a house which we-you
and like to picture us lsabel's home.
And then his mother has to be provided
for. You think, Dart, that it would not
hurt us and could not make any differ
cnce to CAPTAIN Dart, who has no voice