Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-10-10
CHAPTER II.


his trousers.
"I should like to be a sailor"
Goodness! Master Frankly, what's
put that in your head?"
"Oh, nothing; only Tom Dawlish was
telling me about it; what they did in the
wrecks, you know, and ali that. l
and he drew his naked toes On to the
table and wriggled them about at the
though hit of the great things he would
do. Toms coming to-day, heard
mamma say so; and if he isn't gone
when I come back this afternoon [ shall
ask him more about it.
''I'd tell him not to be filling the
child's head with such nonsense, only /
don't want to get in his way" Mary
thought. But somehow Tom got into
her way in the afternoon.
"Look here, Mary" he said, ST want
to speak to you. 1t isn't that l want
want you to look at me if you haven't a
mind to, tho goodness knows I'd do
anything for you; but I don't want to
see a nice girl like you a lowering of
yourself by walking out With chap like
Alfred Hill"
whats it got to do with you?" she
asked, angrily.
Why, Just this, that L found out a
bit about him, and he's only laughing
at you, and thinking you are nice
looking girl when you are dressed up,
to walk about with; but as for marrying
you he'll no more do it than that"-and
he snapped his fingers, though what
that action had to do with Mr.. Alfred
Hills intention he did not explain.
"Why, he's going to marry the daugh-
ter of Mr.. Brooks, what travels for the
firm, that's what he's going to do. Ask
him, and see if he can deny it. Why,
it's coming off directly, only she's moth
ing to look at, SO he isn't fond of show
ing her of, but she's got some money,
she has, and plays on the piano, and
looks like lady"
Chow do you know?'' Mary asked,
her very lips turning white, for her ex-
acting heart knew that he had fallen off
lately, and that he was not what he had
been in the spring (the summer was
over). Not that for single moment
she believed Toms words.
Why, work there, and the servants
told me. Besides, I've seen him go
there courting."
Z" [ don't believe it. You ought to be
ashamed of yourself" and she rushed
away to hide her gathering tears and
face.
She wrote to him, asking him to meet
her that night; but hereplied with an ex-
cuse that made her heart sick. He would
meet her tomorrow Saturday afternoon
IN Kensington Gardens, if she liked, he
said; and to this she consented, and for
the first time, and for his sake, was false
to her charge of Frankly.
You run about, Master Frankly,
DEAR" she said; 81 want to talk to a
friend of mine-but don't go out of
sight, +" and then In her beWiiderment
she forgot all about him. Alfred Hill
looked rather bored than otherwise. but
he was smiling and shiny as ever. She
hardly greeted him when he appeared,
but she looked at him with all the ad-
miration she had ever felt for him inten-
sified by her fear. He sat down beside
her, and elegantly crossing his legs, be-
gan tapping his highly polished boots
with his bone-headed cane.
''Alfred," she said, crossing her hands
and looking him straight in the eyes,
s. is it true that you are going to get
married directly ?"
" Who's told you SO %
"It isn't any account who told me; is
it true as you are going to marry Miss
Brooks because she plays on the piano
and has money, and L" The tears
came into her eyes and herlips quivered
with anguish. sob, it isn't true! I
know it isn't, +" and she touched his hand
in her dismay, and looked up into his
eyes with all her hearts story written in
her eyes.
81 don't see why it shouldn't be, and
SO there's the long and short of it, my
dear girl"
But it isn't, it ?" she said, ap-
pealingly.
"Weli, yes, it is true" he said,
slowly, not daring to look her in the
face; so you may as well know it at
once"
! She stood up before him.
True! Do you mean to say, Al
fred, after all that has passed between
us, that you are going to be married to
else ?"
CT really don't know what you
mean by what has passed between u.s.
You don't think | was going to marry
you?'
"Why couldn't I ?"
"Well, L don't wish to hurt your feel
ings, but consider the difference in our
positions. One walks out with a pref
ty servant girl, but one doesn't marry
her. -
"You are not a gentleman, as you
think yourself, Alfred HiIl," she said
slowly. IS You are dressed like one,
but you are just a bit of clerk, not
better than respectable girl like me;
you are not a gentleman. A gentle
man doesn't try to take a girls good
name and win her heart, as you have
DONE"
Mary often wondered how she fought
her battle as she did; but she seemed to
have no feeling then, only to realize that
which would come hereafter.
I'm sorry that you let yourself fall
i'll love with me-" said he, tapping his
boot again. ST thought you would
have had more pride, at any rate till you
were asked.