The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-12
BETWEEN rive STOOLS.
An the Year Round.

i II have something to tell you, Mary
Mary Ranley let her work fall into her lap,
i and looked up at the speaker. She was tall,
4 SLIM dark-haired woman Of seven or eight and
/ twenty, with plain, patient face, and wistful
eyes. She wore dress of quiet gray tint and
/ the room in which she was seated was furnished
with all the good taste that nowadays is consist
ent with strict economy. She had not single
claim, in feature or eoloring, to any of the ac-
knowledged forms Of prettiness, and yet some
/ thing about her would have compelled second
| glance from those who had obtained FIRST
"Well, Tom, what is it," Her face softened as
i her glance fell on Tom Danvers, handsome
blueeyed, fair-haired Tom, whom people spoke
of only to praise. They had been playfellows
these two, who were alike only in years. They
were lovers now, and they would be husband
i and wife one day; at least that hope had beaut-
/ fed existence for both of them during seven
years. Seven years! 1t is big slice out of the
best part of the allotted threescore and ten,
though it was only lately that one of this faith
/ full pair had begun to think So The other had
never thought it yet. "What is it you have to
4 tell melr
Tom crossed the room, and bent over her to
stroke her hair The movement was a cafess
/
i have been offered an appointment at Ran
j COON"
Eat Rangoon." She echoed the words without
any information of surprise. That isl
i In Burmah. AS if you did not know that
and everything else, my little scholar; and Ran
COON is big place. with openings for lots of fell
i lows. Stephen has written, saying he needs a
1 partner, and so think, if you don't mind, that
/ / shall go out there in month or two.o
i Mary Ranley did not answer. In the pause
! that ensued she heard the purring of the cat on
1 the hearth, and smelled the faint odor of the
j mignonette growing in the window-box. She
knew quite well that the innets outside were
i piping to the roses, and that Tom Danyers was
waiting for her answer; but she also knew that
i her pulses were growing fainter and fainter and
that the weight of long-dreaded blow had
/ fallen.
4 Are you not getting on here?n she asked after
pause Il thought you told me that your work
was increasing; thought you expected that we
4 might marry in the spring"
1T was all a mistake, due to my COMPOUNDED
4 hopefulnesS. got a new case or two when
1 Smithson was away for his holidays, but he holds
! the patients, and will go holding them. The
j fact Is Mary, there is not scope here for two
4 medical men, and knew that, though I settled
in the place when you wished it. But Ihave not
4 made E100 in the past twelve months. and you
know that means failure
But make good deal by my teaching, and
i l thought that working together we might get
on
,That is quite out of the question he said
/ fretfully, turning away from the pleading, pa
4 tient eyes. II am not going to have my wife
drudging all day long that we may not starve
III support her myself, or do without her.
The pale hands lying on the piece of needle
work pressed each other little, then the sweet
/ voice spoke softly and firmly:
Il have been thinking often lately, Tom, that
] you would be wiser to do without me. You see we
1 have known each other so long that we have really
grown to be more friends than lovers, and am
i far older than you in reality, though not per
i haps in years, and so cannot help believing at
4 times that our engagement has been mis-
4 take
/ oh, you do, do you2" wrathfully.
You see it has lasted seven years now, and
! in seven years. you know, your science teaches
that we change completely, and so Think, Tom,
4 dear, that it would be far better if you planned
i your future without letting any thought of me
4 hamper you am safe enough, you know; the
i high school pays me comfortable salary and
i I have grown accustomed to the routine Of life
i with Mrs. Gillet and so, dear, can offer quite
honestly to set you free She was smiling at
/ him brayely, and her eyes were very clear and
bright, but she had an idea that her heart was
weeping,
i you are tired of me, I supposed You imagine
i that am likely to be failure and you women
4 care only for success = he answered bitterly
Il suppose the working ones of us know that
1 success comes some time to the steady and pa
| tient, she said, the first hard tone sounding in
4 her voice.
i tsAnd have not been either?D
/ Dear Tom, don't imagine that wish TO find
fault or critcise love you far too well for that
there is no one in all the world as dear to me as
! you are But do you not think yourself, our en-
1 gagementhas been too protracted to seem hopeful
Il noW9 You don't feel it as do; it seems to take
! all my strength away to see our life together
i always slipping further and further off.
IF make things worse for you, of course
4 that alters matters" His face had lost its
/ smiling softness, his brow was stern and angry
i sYon are my youth and my happiness, the
4 end of my dreams" she said passionately: the
4 want of you will leave my whole future barren
i 'Then why need you give me upYn
Because think you will be freer without
i me- bebause you are learning to dread me- and
1 so the love is growing imperfect
1T was for your sake thought Of Rangoon, y
he said, sullenly.