The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-06-28


going to an aunts in another town, to
stay several months. Eva would re.
main at the cottage with old Hannah.
For some time Tom sat gazing at the
letter, as if turned to stone. Then he
touched a lighted match to it, and
watched it burn away to ashes.
"That is over" he said aloud. "I
have been expecting it. have seen it
in her face, and yet l had not the cour-
age to ask her about it,"
It was a sultry July day, the railroad
journey dusty and fatiguing, and Miss
Martha was very glad to step out of the
cars at Roseville. She walked slowly
up the dusty road leading to her cot
tage. 1t was nearly three months since
she had left home, and during that time
she had neither written nor received a
single letter. She had not given Eva
her address, and no one knew where she
had gone. She had wished TO cut her
self loose from the past, hoping to for
get it, but she had not forgotten, and
her heart had not lost its dull pain.
Recollections of Tom stung her as she
saw the familiar streets and stores. Per-
haps he and Eva were married.
"You don't mean to say that's you,
Miss Martha" cried q familiar voice,
and Miss Martha paused beneath the
shade of spreading elm as Mrs. Marsh
came hurrying toward her. Well, you've
come too late. Love laughs at lock-
smiths, you know. It's all ever-Eva's
gone off with him, and they're married
by this time, / haven't doubt.
Miss Martha staggered back and put
her hand over her eyes. The shock it
was TO her to hear of Toms marriage
showed her, to her modification, that all
hope had not been crushed from her
heart, as she had thought.
T-I exl ected it," she stammered.
"Well, it's more than any one else
did. He went off soon after you left,
and no one thought to see him again.
But back he came again yesterday and
eloped with Eva late last evening. Oh,
it was wicked; it was scaudalous; and
the whole story is all over town. 1
wonder now if you know about Miss
SomerbJ?"
"No," said Miss Martha, white to the
lips.
"Well, it seems as if he was engaged
to this Miss Somerby, rich old maid.
She is mad enough at being Tilted.
Somebody telegraphed to her father,
and he was here this morning to ascer.
tain the facts of the case"
"Whatl Tom engaged9' cried Martha.
in smsZement.
who said anything about Tom
You must be wandering in your mind.
1t is Arnold Edgecourt I am talking
about"
Without another word, without the
slightest excuse, Miss Martha broke
away from the hand of the friendly gos.
sip, and almost ran down the street
When nearly at her own gate she
rushed blindly against somebody, and
looking up with hurried excuse, saw
Tom.
"Martha," he gasped, forgetting for the
moment in his excitement the gulf be
tween them. "You have heard il ali
1 see it in your face. Come right in
you look really Ill. I did not know yor
cared so much for Eva. But the scan
dal will die out, and know Arnold
will be good to her. He sent me {
telegram saying they were married a
Briefly early this morning. He was tC
marry Miss Somerby next month, bu
he never loved her; he was tempted by
her enormous wealth.
BY this time they had reached the
cottage and gone into the little dark
ened parIor, where the shutters hat
been carefully closed by old Hannah t.
keep out dust and flies.
"Tom," said Miss Martha laying he
hand on his sleeve; "can you ever for
give me? 1 see everything very plainl.
now. 1t was not you heard say maj
was q fool to engage himself to
woman oldtr than himself. Your voic'
and Arnold's are SO much alike, and
did not know of his engagement"
Then she told him all she had hearC
when she had gone to the old cabin 70
the spoons the evening OF the supper
Martha" said Tom, in his mani,
way, 8" l never loved any woman bu
you. / did not know you were olde
than I, for you never spoke of your age
and it would have made no difference t
me anyhow. thought of Eva only a
a child, and knowing of his engage
ment, OF which he had forbidden me t
speak, it distressed me to see his atten
tions to her, for l saw that she wa
learning to love him. That evening i
the garden l gave him long lecture
and pointed out to him the harm h
was doing the girl. He promise
to see her no more; but thoug
, he went home few day
later, he corresponded with he
and ended by eloping with her yesteI
day evening, did not imagine for a
instant that you thought me in love wit
Eva, We both laborel under a mis-
take, Martha. I noticed your CROWN
GOODNESS, and thought you were becom
ing weary of your engagement to poo
village doctor. You did not seem {
care for lovemaking or caresses, and,
could not, of course, wish to force 10