Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-06

homage as queen would tnat OF subject.
| Poor Tom felt that his fortune was out at heels.
| He held on with the logged resolution of a
British tar, but had little hopes of standing his
| prize. Beryl grew daily more bewitching and
| unapproachable, driving her adorer distracted
| with her many moods and caprices.
Out of patience, Tom, one day bluntly asked
her to be his wife, in few manly and touching
| words He assured her of his love- implored
her to put him out Of his misery by straight
| forward answer.
shabby old parlor, which looked terribly worn
and poverty stricken In the light of the after
| noon sun. Tom had chosen an unlucky time to
do his special pleading, for Beryl was feeling
ont OF heart, tired out by the perpetual fight to
| make the ends meet. Two heavy bills rustled
| in her pocket, as Tom crushed her in his clumsy,
| loving embrace. and she was painfully conscious
OF the threadbare cuffs of her EecOnd-best dress.
| ''Oh. don't, Tom. dear, you hurt me. can
not listen to YOU tor promised dear mamma
| when she was dying | would never marry till,
by so doing, I could make my fathers life easier
| and help my brother 1t sounds very mean and
| horrd, know; but marriage to me means pro-
| motion. Other girls may follow the dictates
of their hearts and be happy, honest and poor;
| but l must keep my promise to my dead
mother, and marry money for the sake of my
people"
| All understand. and sell yourself to Mr..
! Brace"
He has not offered to buy me vet, ~ said Beryl,
in shaken voice, her fair face pallid even to the
| sweet lips
And if he does ?"
| Beryl bit her lip till it bloomed again. then
answered lightly:
We'll, if he does suppose must accept him,
| and be miserable ever after"
Tom smiled contemptuousy: his face looked
| haggard, and his eyes pleaded as for life.
Il am CAD | can know what your nature
| is before it is too late. thought there was
nobler stuff in you: but. man like. my judgment
was beguiled by the waxen mask ola beautiful
| face. In future my mistress shall be the wild
| ocean: that is less treacherous than woman
| You need not be afraid shall trouble you about
| this business again. l am not made of such
yielding stuff that causes One after receiving a
blow on one cheek, to turn the other to the enc
| my. Do not despise MY love. 1t is honest. and
too dear thing to be cheapened by repeated
| Offering. He who gives the love of all his being
gives greatly, and cannot give the whole twice.
| Good bye. Ber,l May you never make such
| misery for another as that which now humans
me-"
A moment later Beryl was alone, sobbing out
| the sorrow OF her young heart on her little
| white bed. Oh, how dearly she treasured in her
| soul the love she had cast away forever. How
| miserable TO be the cause of pain to him whom
| she had held it honor to make happy!
"oh. mother mother, If you can know the
agony of your child's sacrifice, send down from
heaven peace and patience" prayed the broken
| voice, as. weary with weeping. the tired head
sank TO rest on the pillow that had never before
witnessed such tears these--tears that were
| the distilled sweetness of a crushed heart.
Laurie, creeping up at dusk, and finding her
sister sleeping left her with gentle caress to
the repose the pallor Of her face showed she so
| much needed.
But while the body lay prone and peaceful.
| the mind took up the burden Of her pain and
| wrecked it on the torture of a dream about her
| lover that filed her with horror and alarm
| Beryl awOke to see the mOOn-kissed clouds
speed across acalm Heaven of purply blue, broid-
cred with pearls: Her breast was beating furi-
| Ousiy; her swollen eyelids felt stiff aud sore.
All the house was quiet, and the church clock
struck the hour of ten. Quietly disrObing, she
| sat by the open window to unbind her flaXen
| hair.
Then she thought Of Tom. His soul seemed
| close to her as though she had stolen 1t from
| that dread form on the dreamy sea. Surely her
| dream warned her not to send him away with
out hope What should she do to keep her
| promise to that dear indugent mother who
had never laid command upon her but in
death?
sudden thought came to her. Could not
her youth be put to some task that should more
honestly bring help to her old father than by
marriage? Yes, she would go out into the world
and work. She had health. youth, talent and
would be true to her love. for her honest lover
| had the right to hold her in contempt.
Her elastic spirits were again eXuitant. She
would give year of life for power to begin her
| task at once Oh if she could only have made
|
AS Aurora parts the curtain before the face of
! day, so now Beryl drew aside the may net
work of her hair, and looked out with rosy Joy
to the garden where her lover so often waited
to smile on him.
1t was dark in the old garden. but. like a
glow worm, shone the beacon light of cigar.
| Up and down the path it glOwed as though the
bearer were of a restless mood Then and there
Beryl decided to end her remorse. Of course
| She knew it was very improper to give her lover
| in n of fhatf hy,f
| lovers have done SO from time immemorlal, and
will do it till the crack of doom.
So Beryl. not to be behind romance in power
of loving, pulled down we'll worn ulster from
its peg and shrOuded her scanty attire beneath
its thick folds, then slipping her pearly pink
tOed feet into pair Of rusty velvet shoes, she
! slid like niuff1ed mOOnbeam down the creak-
Ing stairs, and with burglariOusy beating heart,
drew back the bolts and let herself out into the
| fond freedom Of the warm nights caresses.
Her beacon light had vanished, but she could
| hear footsteps crunch the gravel.
sis that you, TOm?' whispered the distinct
girlish voice that had q suspicion OF uneasiness
| in its clear tone.
'NO, miss. it is l. Mrs Brown.
Mrs. Brown was the starchy landlady next
door.
MIR Conroy. for l suppose. tits he you mean.
has gone where all decent young folks should
| be-tO bed"
81 suppose, then, decency gets less desirable
as we get on in years. since you are up-eh,
Mrs Brown! Mrs Brown was mistaken in sup
| posing had retired. l am at your service.
Miss Beryl," said humorous voice as Mrs.
Brown had disappeared in the night shadows.
Please Tom, come over the wall; l want
to talk to YOU"
Tom was beside her in second. and very
gently drew her down by him upon the old seat
under the shelter of the wall.
| ''Well queenie, what is it you would say to
| me!"
"Oh. Tom, am so sorry was so unkind to-
day; forgive me. for indeed / love you dearly,
and will never marry any other man, but will
keep my promise to mamma by learning to
work, as many other women do; and some day,
dear, (here the wooing voice was low and
tremulOus) -sOme day, dear. after lot Of wait
ing. we may be happy together"
Tom took the girl to his heart and poured
out passion of love to her. Time was for
gotten. love ruled the hour, and they were will
Ing subjects to loves sway.
Very sweet and pure was their converse and
caressng: vague, yet hopeful. their plans for
that far-Off future that was to be spent to-
| gether
Midnight chmed out, and sent Beryl blushing
| but happy to her rest. and Tom who had
waited while she rebolted the door, and listened
to her softly flying steps ascending the stairs,
| uncovered his head and thanked God for the
| gift Of his dear girls love.