The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-04

be ardu0us. As for the positlon-well, l an
10 lady, and as long as conduct myself as
lady, what care l whether any scOrn me? An,
as for,"-here q mental pause-"well, as TO
friends, they will not be friends if they thinI
less OF me for doing little honest work"
For friends" reader, substitute "Ralpl
Kenrick"
i If Kenrlck mad been declared lover, if MI
riam had been actually engaged to him, Their
would have been no hesltancy on her part
she would have referred Rhoda's plan TO him
and abided his decision
j MIR. Kenrick had come to Plalnford abou
l the middle of the preceding winter, to recupe
rate after long and weakening illness, and n
the relatives with whom he then made hi
home were well acquainted with Miriam, thu
invalid lawyer and the young schoolmlstres
soon became friends They had many taste,
IN common, and as both were heart whole, il
was not at all surprising that their friendship
should appear TO be ripenIng into love anc
prospective matrimony.
But weeks grew into months, and although
Kenrick monopolized all Mriam's spare
hours. and seemed to be jealous of even hel
girl friends, especially Rhoda, he did moi
speak the love he evidently ielt. To Miriam
this constan, companionshid, this protecting
affection, was very sweet. That he loved her
she could not doubt every look and tone
breathed il; so she enjoyed the present and
rested content with the thought that when he
saw fit to do so he would utter the decisive
words that more than once had trembled on
his tongue.
A few days before Rhoda suggested this trip
to the White Mountains, Kenrick had lefl
Paintord very suddenly. He sent few lines
to Miriam Saying that he was obliged to go 10
the Pacific coast on important business, but
hoped 10 see her again early in the autumn
What this business was no one, except perhaps
his relatives, had any idea; and as these rela-
tives had decidedly objected to his excessive
devotion 10 Miriam, 'Only a poor governess,
and there are so many wealthy girls in town,
younger, prettier, and more attractive" they
murmured, they vouchsafed her no eXplana-
| ton.
Judge then, If you can, of the multiplicity
of sentiments which surged in Miriam's bo-
som when she saw Ralph KenrIck enter the
dinIng-ro room Of the Sahna House the day that
the party of notables arrived. He was not
travelling with them, but had accidentally
come, with one or two friends, at the same
time.
Fortunately it was not Miriam's duty to
wait on HIM (she knew she could not have
done that, as she was stationed at the table be-
hind his chair; but she could see him, could
observe that his long journey had vastly i'm.
proved his appearance, and could hear his
voice, and this was enough for the present
He ate his dinner leisurely, and did not
seem to be at all conscious that he was the
cynosure Of many bright eyes Men of any
age, but particularly young men, are decided
lily IN the minority at the American summer
resorts and the advent of a tall, gOodloOking
well-dressed wellmannered man, with no vlsi
BILE female encumbrances, opens up mental
v,cto IF q thousand nOsa ib,l,t,ac m oil Of the
|opposlte sex. He may prove to be good
dancer, a musician, an expert at croquet or
lawn tennis, or-the acme of good luck-he
may be wealthy bachelor in0 search of
wife. So placid was he that Miriam heard one
young lady exclaim to her neighbor:
1.-THE unknown AdonIs, Mrs Towers VISA
Wis, is certainly married man. No one but
a newly-made Benedict could so stolidly ig-
more Kitty Towers big blue eyes and peachy
cheeks and encouraging glances.
Miriam smiled as she listened.
But moment later she ceased to smlle as
she accidentally overheard few words that
Kenrick uttered.
Didn't tell you? certainly intended to-
Why, married her, of course. Juliet Eustice
was too charming in every way-and too rich
to be left to single blessedness"
II don't quite understand how you managed
IT, interrupted his friend, in tone of surprise.
Wasn't there another girl, Maude Somebody,
that YOU"
Miriam, not Maude," was Kenricks sug-
gestlon. "Oh, there was no engagement there.
did prefer Miriam at first, but changed my
mind III 60 more into detail by-and-by."
Kenricks friend may have cared to hear the
details, Miriam did not. Sick at heart she hur.
rled away as soon as she had removed the
plates and cups collecting these had detained
her just behind Kenrick, so that she was com.
PEELED to overhear his words, and never cast
a glance in his direction.
Her idol was fallen, her love had been vast
ed, her confidence had been most i'll bestowed,
and her bright dreams for the future were
suddenly canverted into hideous nightmare.
He had changed his mind" forsooth! And
in so doing had changed the current of her
life, Miriam said to herself bitterly had turn
ed her light into darkness, her day into dawn
less eight
Miriam" whispered Rhoda to her, few
moments after she had overheard this unex-
pected news, mr.. Kenrick is here. Have you
seen himY'
yes" was the reply.
"Did he see your"
II think mott hope not"
Surely you don't imagine that he would
think less of you because you were here?"
what il he does q" was the surprising AN
swer.
Rhoda's eyes asked the explanation that her
tongue hesitated about. Miriam continued:
II wonder how many people in Plainford
suspected that he had gone west to be married?
Did you?"
what! He--married-an not to" Rho
da checked herself abruptly. How did you
hear of it?''
Miriam gave her all the information that
she herself possessed, and added:
pray do not mention this He seemed to
wish 1t kept secret, and If he chooses to go
about as bachelor 1t is not necessary for US
to spoil his sport"
In the course of the afternoon Kenrlck accl-
dentally met Rhoda in one of the corridors,
and was astonished at her frigid greeting. Re
gardless of his outstretChed nand and cordial