The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-08


now. 1 will wait, Just little while, tc
3 b. sure he has ceased to love me-"
Eva noticed th.t Miss Martha wa,
very pale and district the following day
and was not looking her best wher
, Arnold Edgecourt came with Tom tc
cal. She had never seen this brother
before, but he was so like Tom in every
way that she liked him at once. He
was, however, more man of the world
than Tom, and while Toms face wore O
look Of frank good nature, Arnold's was
clouded by an expression OF melancholy
aud dlscoptent. This Miss Martha as.
cribed TO those secret troubles of which
Tom had spoken, and she wondered il
some woman had iilied the handsome
lawyer.
Several weeks passed by, and Miss
Martha was no longer her former
bright, cheerful self. She did not know
what it was to be without that sharp
pain at heart, end the estrangement
between herself and Tom SCENE to
grow greater every day. He withdrew
more and more into himself, and she
made no effort to restore the pleasant
re.ations between them, She watched
him closely. and saw that he seemed
annoyed and distressed at Arnold's de-
cided attentions to Eva. Once she
heard him demonstrate with his brother,
but Eya's name was the only word she
caught distinctly. She thought Tom
jealous, and afraid that the girls heart
would be won from himself.
"It must come" Miss Martha would
murmur to herself. 81 must offer him
his freedom. Why cannot I be brave
and do it at once? He loves Eva, but
he is not free to win her, and Arnold's
attentions pain and trouble him. But
how can give him upP Twill wait just
little longer"
Thus from day to day she put off the
evil hour in which she was to see her
dearest hopes crumble to dead ashes.
She shuddered when she thought of
spending the rest of her life without
| Toms love.
One evening the two young men came
by invitation to the cottage to supper.
Miss Martha sent them into the garden
60 smoke, while she, with Eva's assist
ance, was busy lay ing the table with
the best damask and china. Presently,
she went into the parlor to get from the
I'D cabinet which stood between the
windows some silver spoons which had
belonged to her grandmother. The
shutters were closed, but the windows
were open, and the low murmur OF
voices came to her ears. She knew the
hrojhers We're just outside on the rustic
bench, and she was about to close the
cabinet and speak to them when she
heard Tom voice uttering words which
seemed to fall on her heart like drops
Of molten lead.
sit If great mistake for man to
engage himself to woman older than
himself. He is sure to repent soon or
late. Was fool, and now that love
Eva with all my heart, as I have con-
fessed to you, l wish the other was in
Gninea. And what am to do? My
honor binds me to her-confound it
all~
Miss Martha did not wait to hear
ArnOlds answer. She walked slowly
and faltering ly from the room, and went
upstairs TO the spare chamber, where
she Locked herself in.
The young men wondered why sup
per was SO late, but Just as their pa-
tience was entirely exhausted, Eva came
20 call them, aud then went in to find
Miss Martha already seated at the haa1
of the small table laid for four. She
made no excuse for delay, and the sup.
per was so excellent that she young men
forgot all about their vexation.
The evening passed very quietly, Miss
Martha evidently making all fort to be
entertaining; and seeing this, Tom and
Arnold left very early, the latter, as
Miss Martha noticed, having hardly
spoken to Eva since supper. She thought
this was out of respect for his brothers
feelings, which had 50 lately been re-
vealed to him.
Th next day Tom vas surprised in
his office by the appearance of old Han.
nah, who quietly laid a letter on his
de-k and went out again.
The young doctors face grew very
white as he read what Miss Martha had
written. Without explanation or ex-
cuse, she requ sted that their engage
ment might be at an end; and said that
as it would be better that they should
not meet for while at least, she was
= ding to an aunt's 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. L have seen it
in her face. and yet l had not the cour-
age to ask her about it."
1t was 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. Sle 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 a familiar voice,
and Miss Martha paused beneath the
shade Of spreading elm as Mrs. Marsh
came hurying 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, 1 haven't doubt.
Miss Martha staggered back and put