The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-09

J
quaintance are Wallingham Brothers,
and, thank Heaven, we have not yet
fallen quite low enough to exile our
selves voluntarily as drug-mixers to
Bent. would not change quarters with
him for any consideration, but L fear l
envy his success. You must own, Max,
that it is hard fighting here"
$50 it is everywhere, in any profess
sion, Just at first" l answered, quietly.
"Still, however small our income, we
can live down to it and work hard to in
crease it. That, l take it, is the secret
of success, Frank. Now, don't talk about
these things tonight. Why should we
take gloomy faces to the Dome House,
to greet Lettuce on her birthday"
g You will never talk about our pow
erty,'' Frank complained, his head bent
in the caressing freight, his gaze deep
in among the ruddy Goals. "But L
think of it day and night. How am | to
marry on such pittance as we possess
now"
Very slowly, and to me inexplicably,
the crimson rose to my face, though no
eyes could see it.
"We can talk of that,' 1 said, as
gently as l could, "when you want to
marry"
l." You speak as if we were boys" he
answered, impatiently. 81 am more
than five-and-twenty now, and Lettice is
eighteen to-day"
ss Yes; eighteen to-day
The words were uttered clearly in the
silence, yet my own voice sounded I'M
familiar to me. tried to read Franks
face, but my eyes ached so sadly in their
eagerness that involuntarily 1 raised my
hand and covered them.
You see, Max, if | had a good prac-
tice," he went on, still without looking
up, 81 could propose to Lettuce at once !;
and we might be married ina year,
say, at latest. But, as matters stand,
the thing is impossible. Now, isn't it
hard to know this?''
You wish to- marry Lettuce,
Frank?"
Yes. How oddly you speak! You
acknowledge at last how hard it is to
wait and struggled"
GA man could wait very patiently,
and struggle very hard with such hope
as that"
cannot" he answered, peevishly.
"I love her so that waiting is fearful
trial"
The freight flickered and faded lit
tie. Frank lay back in his low chair,
his head still bent, his eyes still tracing
out his thoughts among the Goals. With
a heavy pain at my heart, l watched his
face, and tried to grasp the great intan-
gible sorrow which surrounded me.
Frank, do you feel that the waiting
is trial, too, for-her?"
"Of course it's" he answered, slight
ly pausing-" of course it isl
ado you know it?" 1 questioned, in a
low voice, whose sadness touched my
own heart. And he answered with no
pause at all.
eyes, Max; of course I know it,"
Again it was who broke the long
silence, and again my own voice almost
startled me.
"We have so little time tonight that
we will not begin to talk of this Anoth-
er day we can look into your chances of
marrying
$50 precious little they are" he NUT
tered, rising as did, 60 that looking into
them won't take us long,
Frank was standing in the gas-light
at the hall door when joined him. At
the sound of my step he laughed and
turned his face. Such bright, hand
some face! What wonder Lettice loved
himi
You have been longer dressing,
Max, than l ever knew you; yet, BY
Jove, how white and odd you look!''
81 haven't been quite all this time
dressing" l answered, lightly. 81 have
been doing little bookkeeping, and
reading over Bent's letter again, and
making up my mind"
"The last an elaborate process, evil
IDENTIFY" he laughed, as we walked
through the quiet streets together. "To
what fashion have you made it up to-
night?"
{. l have made up my mind to 60 out
to Bent"
"To What?"
Frank was standing still upon the
pavement; his one OBTAINING hand upon
my arm; his eyes filed with a great, in
credulous establishment.
"What are you saying, MAXI"
"Simply what mean. Come along,
and walk off your surprise. want
change, and a change holding out some
prospects of success. Why should not
seize this opportunity"
"But you take me so completely by
SURPRISE" stammered Frank. "Why,
you are far cleverer surgeon than Bent;
you to go and be his servant! You must
be mad"
Then all the more need of change
for me-"
"But how is ftp You have always
been so fond of this town. Your friends
are all here''
81 will try to make others there"
"I say again the proposal seems mad
ness, Max. What on earth has made
you form this strange, sudden resolu-
tion?"
" Many thoughts" answered, lit
tie YEARLY. 81 feel it is the best thing
for me-"
"But I never believed you faint-heart-
ed" Frank persisted. s'Where is your
favorite maxim, that Each unto himself
his life can fortunize?''
"More than ever in my heart tonight,
dear fellow. The fortunizing will be
easier to me there than it-can be here.
A'NWww lAk