The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-09-06
CHAPTER II.
AFTER THE SUMMER.

and wriggled them about at the thought
of the great thingshe would do. "Tom's
coming to-day. | heard mamma say 50
and if he isn't gone when come back
this afternoon, | shall ask him more
about it"
"Pd tell him not to go filling the
child's head with such nonsense, only
don't want to get in his way" Mary
thought. But somehow Tom got into
her way that afternoon.
"Look here, Mary" he said; 81 want
to speak to you. 1t isn't that want you
to look at me if you haven't a mind to,
though goodness knows I'd do anything
for you; but don't want to see nice
girl like you lowering of yourself by
walking out with a chap like Alfred
Hillw
"What's it got to do with you ?" she
asked angrily.
"Why, just this, that I've found out
bit about him, and he's only laughing
at you, and thinking you are nice look
ing girl when you are dressed up, to walk
about with; but as for marrying you
he'll no more do it than that "-and he
snapped his fingers, tho what that action
had to do with Mr.. Alfred Hills inten-
tions he did not explain. "Why, he's
going to marry the daughter of Mr..
Brooks, what travels for the firm, that's
what he's going to do. Ask him, and
see if he can deny it. Why, it's coming
off directly, only she's nothing to look
at, so he isn't fond of showing her off;
but she's got some money, she has, and
plays on the piano and looks a lady"
Chow do you know it?" Mary asked,
her very lips turning white, for her ex
| lately, and that he was not what he had
been in the spring (the summer was
over.) Not that for single moment she
believed Toms words"
Why, l work there, and the servant
told me. Besides, I've seen him go there
counting"
81 don't believe it. You ought to be
ashamed of YOURSELF" and she rushed
away to hide her gathering tears and
| frightened face.
She wrote to him, asking him to meet
her that night; but he replied with an
excuse that made her heart sick. He
would meet her tomorrow Saturday
afternoon in Kensington Gardens if she
liked, he said and to this she consented,
and for the first time, and for his sake,
was false to her charge of Frankly.
"You run about, Master Frankly,
DEAR" she said; 81 want to talk to
friend of mine-but don't go out of
sight," and then in her bewilderment
she forgot all about him. Alfred Hill
| looked rather bored than otherwise, but
he was as smiling and shiny as ever.
She hardly greeted him when he APP
peared, but she looked at him with all
the admiration she had ever felt for him,
intensified by her fear He sat down
beside her, and elegantly crossing his
| legs, began tapping his highly polished
| boots with his bOne-headed cane.
Alfred" she said, crossing Ter
hands and looking at him straight in the
face, is it true that you are going to
get married directlyY'
"Who's told you sop
&C 1t isn't any account who told is it
true as you are going to marry Miss
Brooks because she plays on the piano,
and has money, and" The tears came
into her eyes, and her lips quivered with
anguish. ooh, it isn't true! l know
it isn'tp and she touched his hand in
her dismay, and looked up into his face
with all her hearts story written in her
eyes.
d" don't see why it shouldn't be, and
so there's the long and short of it. It's
no use making a fuss about it, my dear
girl"
"But it isn't9 it isn't? she said ap-
pealingly.
DWELL, yes, it is true" he said slowly,
not daring to look her in the face; so
you may as well know it at once"
She stood up before him. "Truel Do
you mean to say, Alfred, after all that's
passed between us, that you are going to
be married to some one elseW
al really don't know what you mean
by what has passed between u.s. You
really couldn't think | was going to
marry your
"Why couldn't I?''
"Weil, don't wish to hurt your feel
ings, but consider the difference in our
positions. One walks out with pretty
servant girl, but one doesn't marry her."
"You are not q gentleman, as you
think yourself, Alfred Hill" she said
slowly. You are dressed like one, but
you are just bit of a clerk, not any
better than q respectable girl like me;
you are not gentleman. A gentleman
doesn't try to take a girls good name
and win her heart, as you have done"
Mary often wondered that she fought her
battle as she did; but she seemed to have
no feeling then, only to realize that
which would came hereafter.
"Pm very sorry that you let yourself
fall in love with me-" he said, tapping
his boot again. " l thought you would
have had more pride, at any rate till you
were asked"
"More pride! What do you take me
: for?" she asked, her cheeks flushing
do you think I'd go out with one, anc
talk to him, and let him talk to me al
you've done, if hadn't cared for him
I've too much pride for that, and
} shouldn't be fit company for an honest
man if l hadn't. And you know a
; I've liked you. for you made me say it
and you know it; but it isn't you as
like, but the man took you for, and h
J isn't here at all"