The Baltimore County union., 1881-02-19

ihuutncIaoie ulaInOnoS, on each little
wave crest, while a great, numbering
schooner creeps lazily along with an oc-
casional clank Of lis boom against the
mast, and the cool swish of the water,
that seems to grow deeper and darker
and colder as the shadow of the hull
falls across it. All around is the dazing
sunshine, that here and there flashes
white from sail trying TO coax motion
from an air too hot and tired to stir into
a wind.
"Dear," said Eta, suddenly, "do you
know that papa goes to Europe to-mor-
row for six weeksl"
''No, / hadn't heard word OF il. II
must be very sudden move"
every. He only made up his mind
last night"
"You are not going too, as you thought
you would on his next tripl'
"No, can't get ready"
Eta, says Jimmie, after moments
pause, "have you the courage for bold
step while he is awayl"
"No-oh, mol" cries the frightened
girl. al can't do it. Why don't you
ask lot MS CONSENT?
"Because l would never get it. He
will only give you to a rich man, and
that won't be for some time. If you
marry me now he will easily give in, and
will then have an interest in psshing us
on, and will help us more than he would
help me alone. 1t rests with you, and
il you can't agree to this, We may as
well give up all our hopes"
"Wait until tomorrow, and I'll try
and answer thcn." Turning quickly to
the carriage behind :hem, she adds,
awe will go home now, and I will think
until the morning. No, you mustn't
talk to mel" imperiously, as he COM
mences to speak.
Very charming she looks, with her lit
tie, naughty air, but very commanding.
and her lover wisely leaves her to the
balancing Of duty and inclination, Of
prudence and self-will, that is so sure to
turn in his favor. All through the even
ing and the next forenoon she is the
usual bright fairy that her father rworships;
but hardly has the carriage left the door
when she turns to Jimmie, who is stand
ing behind her, with the words
al will go with you tomorrow.
Poor little lips! How white they are,
and how they quiverl Jimmie Gordon
really loves her, and is very earnest in
the ambition that first prompted him
but for few moments he wavers in his
purpose, so cruel in its sacrifice OF this
victim to destiny SO uncertain. He
can hardly be blamed for the utter self.
ishness Of his plan when we think of
the, to him, tremendous value Of the
prize, and the training that has never
taught him his intentions are wrong SIM
ply because il has never held up to him
the possibility of them; but still he can
not help feeling his responsibility in
stealing 4 defenceless girl from home,
and doing it by means OF systematic de-
ceit toward both her and her father
Only for few moments does this last
and he clasps in his arms this trembling
frame, SO lovingly, even in its terror,
clinging to the manliness that she sees
in the fierce triumph shining out Of his
eyes.
The next day all the soft beauty has
gone out Of Nature, and her sterner
mood seems aroused by the unnatural
betrayal Of hospitality and deliberate
deception instead Of being allayed by
the happiness Of the lovers. The water
that forty-eight hours before spoke only
Of the Skimpolc side of life with its lazy
accent, now lashes itself to wake to the
coming storm. The gentle tapping Of
the waves is changed to an uneasy rush
and hoarse whisper; their bright dia-
mond points give way to dull, leaden
hue that is only darkened by the white
caps cleaning with their continuous
energy as far as the eye can reach. As
our runaways fly along on the railway to
Rochester, they see the stormrack
"come rolling in ragged and brown"
and in that sheet of spray and rain and
wind, each moment overtaking and hid
ing another and another sail, they think
they see a shadow Of the darkness lying
before them and forbidding glimpse Of
their future.
OF this part of their story there is lit
tie to tell. II we were to follow them
We would see them on the wedding tour,
happy in the present, and thinking little
Of any trouble to come. Then came the
return Of Mr.. Larton, his grief at his
daughters fight and anger at her hus-
band; his inquiries, too late, about Jim
mie by letters and even detectives with
the reports Of moral turpitude and bad
reputation that the detectives feel bound
to give him to justify their use and their
pay; and finally comes the day when,
under the influence Of these reports, Of
his hurt pride and disappointed affection,
and spurred on by his wife's cautious
encouragement, he writes TO Mr.. and
Mrs. Gorden, waiting for his answer in
New York, that shall never enter his
house.
We will pass over the receipt of this
letter, with its message Of sorrow to Eta,
Of anger and bitter disappointment to
Jimmie; over the brief year after the
marriage, while they live modestly on a
few thousand dollars that Eta has in her
own bank account at the time Of the
elopement; over the awful day when,
this going out, letter begging pardon
and reconciliation is replied to With
"DEAR SiR:-Your favor Of the 7Sth
received. My letter to you OF year
since fully covers the question on which
you touch. Please consider our inter-
course and correspondence closed.
Yours truly, HENRY LARToN."
And the storm-rack closed down over
them, driving into their very souls the