The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-15

can notgo back if he should release me
twenty times" She furtively slipped
Jug ring on her finger as she spoke, try
ing if it fitted.
e. Oh that is too absurd" cried her
nisnd. "You are the last one to
suddenly discover you must abide by
livery oniy thing you say in jest; we would
on De In pretty fix if we took that view
~ tnlngs. Just let me see Mr.. Hunting
ION for five minutes tomorrow night,
"lu l, III soon make it right
oh no." cried May, suddenly, "I
wouldn't have you for the world. No,
: must see him myself, and take the
Consequences of my own folly. He is a
sood, true man. / like and respect him,
2: ana perhaps l could learn to love him if
~ wasn't for Eric"
Mays voice trembled and her eyes
were filling with tears.
"Oh, May!" said Alice, solemnly.
Yes, Alice, I'm afraid it's So" she
SoDoed. &C | see more clearly now than
l did before"
The morning brought counsel and
considerable degree of composure. May
was sustained by the underlying con-
sclousness that Huntington would never
compel the performance of her promise
against her wishes, and there was unal-
loyed romance in an engagement that
need never be consummated She was
Just giving the finishing touches to
Ifj19Pseful toilet when his card was brought
'ar TO her. She waited few moments
to control her agitation and collect her
thoughts, and had regained her COM
posure when she entered the parlor.
Huntington was at the other end of the
long rooms, and rose as she came in,
and she noticed in an instant's flash of
the new light of possession his splendid
figure, his handsome head, his unmis-
taxable air OF distinction. They came
to meet each other and May held out
both her hands. He took them in his
own, and looked at her intently The
warm, firm hand-clasp seemed to give
her courage.
"Mr. Huntingdon" she said, looking
bravely up at him, "I gave you a
promise thoughtlessly, but it was never
theless promise, and since you have
fulfilled the condition I will keep it, if
you wish; but it has showed me very
plainly that l do not love you. 1 like
and respect you heartily, but that is
ALL"
The young mans eyes were holding
hers with a steady gaze. They were
full of tenderness, and if in their depths
lurked a sparkle of triumph he was try
ing to conceal it.
"May," he said, and the word was a
caress, II accept your consent, for /
believe you love me though you will not
own it to yourself. But will never
hold you to your promise if you really
wish to be released, and by and by if
see | am mistaken, or any time you
choose to ask it, will set you free. But
for a little while, at least, l will just call
you my own"
May felt sudden outgoing of he1
heart towards him that required to be
instantly suppressed. He was taking
entirely too much for granted. The
shock sent the tears to her eyes, and
threw a wonderfully pathetic expression
into her face.
"You are very good" she murmureC
softly, as she unlocked from her watch
chain the ring he had sent her and helt
it up to him. He slipped it on her fin
ger, and bending over kissed her lightly
on her forehead. May now sank into
chair and resumed her usual manner, a
if relieved that the high tragedy wa
over.
"Now Arthur" she said, bringing
out his name with most charming diff
fdence, "you shall tell me how you
ever had that eye made in the needle
1t was awfully bright of you. l cam
imagine how you ever happened to thinl
of it,"
"It was very easily DONE" he an
wercd. GA friend of mine had it drilled
for me in his mandatory. The mo
ment 1 heard your offer that night
guessed that the needle had no eye, anC
it at once occurred to me that anothe
might be made. 'All is fair in love,
you know, and since you would nevei
give me definite answer by fair means
| was compelled to resort to strategy.
The engagement was the topic o
conversation among their set for weel
after. 1t caused no great surprise, TO
Huntington's devotion was well known
and every one said he was splendit
fellow and just the one for her. Tn
affair of the needle was generally dis
cussed, but no one dared question Hunt
ington, and Mays frank declaration
were taken for the open deceit of
practiced joker. When she said, go
yes, of course he threaded it, that's hoy
we came to be engaged" nobody be
lieved her.
Roderic McRae sulked like q spoile
child. He followed May more closet
than ever, but with such an aggrieve
and injured air that every body wa
laughing at him. The chains of her en-
gagement hung lightly on Miss Martin
Huntington's devotion was perfect an
unobtrusive.; he was always on han
when wanted but never in the way, eS
acted nothing, did not bore her wit
love-making when she was not in tn
mood for it, and made himself constant
ly more essential to her happiness.
it had not been for Roderic McRa
she would have been quite happy. Blu
McRae's reproachful face haunted hel
She was growing thoroughly uneas
and almost unhappy when Miss La
ROGUE came up in the spring for al
other visit. Though May was more reti
cent than before, and responded brief.
to her friends persistent questions
! Alice's observation was close and he