The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-05-26

she had not heard. "Shall l go?" he re-
peated.
She must be in love with you, or she
would never have written like this"
said Laura, re1ectively. "She would
have left it for her father to do. Yes
Observation-Disclosures
Then yOu are tired of me-"
Tired? What makes you think so7
should never be tired l mean-I don't
know what. 1t doesn't matter. But
you had better go to Miss Hardacre.
Because she must be in love with
me- And what if l love you, instead
must go them"
But you mustn't love me-you don't"
she cried.
81 know it is wicked to contradict.
like to vindicate my manners-but l do
love you"
" | don't know whether to be sorry or
not, " she said, passing her hand across
her brow. 81 ought to be sorry"
Sorry because love your" he said,
reproachfully.
Yes, because-don't look at me-be-
cause-oh, turn your eyes away, Mr..
Erskine, or | cannot tell you-because
l am already married"
"Marriedp The word sounded like a
knell. Married! Good by" He rose
aud staggered across the room. "Icould
wish that you had told me earlier" loft
lily. Then, melting: Oh! why did you
keep it from me? why did you let me
love you? Married."
" did not suppose it would interest
you. There was no occasion to tell it.
| have never told it. 1t happened when
| was very young, and romantic as Miss
Hardacre, when Cousin Jack Loring came
down here before his voyage to Calcutta.
de was sailor, and very brave and
handsome, and | was sixteen, and a
happy fool-that was sixteen years ago,
too-and we fell in love-I mean, we
thought so. Not a soul in the house
dreamed of it, we were both such chill
dren; and so, when he went to the city
to join his ship, was allowed to 90 with
him for the day. just to see the ship and
say good-by And THEY'VE hadn't
thought OF it when we left home, but it
seemed a good idea to be married; at
least Jack said it was, and it seemed
very nice and romantic to have such
great secret to carry about with me, and
nobody the wiser; for l had read all the
novels in grandpas library If l had
had mother, you know, it would never
have happened; but l couldn't see any
wrong in it, and so we found out cler-
gyman, and were married and said good
by in the same breath; and | was still
Laura Loring, you see. Poor Jack! the
ship was lost; only a mate and two hands
were saved, who reported that Jack and
others had taken TO a raft; and though
we never heard from them, he NAV be
still alive somewhere-such things haze
happened; and l hate Enoch Ardens-
and, you see, | am married all the same
and it was very wrong for me to let
you love me, but it was so pleasant-and
then 1t was too late before | guessed
Now you will go away, of course, and
forget me, and make Miss Linda happy"
MIR. Erskine had drawn nearer while
she spoke, and now, taking her hand, he
said: " shall do no such thing; prefer
to be happy myself. l love you. And
as for poor Jack, he will never trouble
us. He was the last man left clinging to
"AS A'AN "hSh W. olSAtCu II Ou OuI way
home the year | was supercargo; we
thought he was in stupor when we took
him oil, butt was death. Wedid not know
where or to whom he belonged; he had
no papers or anything to show about him;
but Jack Loring' was tattooed upon his
arm. | have not thought of him for
years, poor fellow and as for the name,
there are Lorings and Lorings in any part
of the world. Do you still think l had
better 90 to Miss Hardacre?"
:" hope it will not break her heart"
said Laura, with tears in her eyes.
And Miss Linda only learned that her
pGsSee girl was widow when she read
the marriage of Mr.. Clarence Erskine to
Mrs. Laura Loring IN the Brierthorpe
TatLer. -H0rper's BGzar.