The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-12

she had taken to escape from her thoughts.
She held it between her hands for a moment
without looking at it, and al her fictitious
strength gave way. She threw aside the cloak
that had suddenly become a burden and Shutdown
in her bonnet to read Toms message
But the letter was not from Tom; she saw that
as she unfolded it. The writing was bigger.
holder, more legible. She read it all through
before she reached the signature When she
had seen that she read the letter again. 1t
from John Hayward, the man she had always
thought Monsie Graham's lover, and it contained
an offer of marriage for herself
II have loved you always, Mary, he wrote,
"and have only fefrained from telling you so,
because had so little to offer till now l did
did not dare ask you to share worse home than
you have been accustomed to- and so kept my
peace. But at last l have attained to what
have honestly coveted SO long; at last Armstrong
& Co. have made me head of my department
and so dare, after devotion nearly as pro-
tracted as Jacobs, to ask you for my own"
1t was plain, manly statement, and it went to
Mary Ranley's sore heart There was no gush
no agony of passion in it; nothing but the sim
pie tale of a man who had known how to be
very patient and faithful. Yet his love for her
startled her inexpfessibly. She had never
dreamed of it There had never seemed any
thing but the merest good comradeship in his
attitude toward her-but of course his silence
and selfrestraint rendered his love all the more
fattering, and John would make good hus-
band. Mary had an idea that the man who
lived straightly and earnestly would love stead
ldSJly, ana Sne IeIb bnAJ the woman VINO became
John Hayward's wife would have all the chances
of happiness in her favor For an instant she
wished this offer had come years before. Now,
although Tom was not half so fine aeeharacter
as John Hayward, she loved him, and that made
all the difference.
When she came to think of il, it was odd that
John made no mention of Tom. Surely he had
known she was engaged to him; surely they had
always made that patent to every ene2 Mary
Ranley sat thinking over her offer, in all its
bearing, till the fire waned and her tea was cold
John Hayward's offer was unexpected, but it
was very fair and manly. She almost started to
find she was considering it, that opposing coun-
sci seemed to be arguing the pros and cons with
herself for judge and jury. On one side were
love, and ease and pleasure; on the other side
was barren life, holding only the memory of
disappointment She was not a heroine, and
teaching for her bread during q whole lifetime
seemed sad and lonely enough
But then, would not marriage with another
than Tom seem almost sacrilege, after all they
had planned together2 Why, their whole future
had been mapped out with each other and union
with John Hayward would be but a dreary de-
eeption
Then she went on to think of her pupils, whom
she did not and could not love. She had no the
cries about them. They met her as units with
out individuality. They obeyed her because
they feared her; they would defy her if they
dared. And then, there were her fellow teach
ers-Miss Grifiths, who was growing soold and
odd; Miss Henderson, whom her class made
short sighted and tolerant, as the aging so often
grow. Would she, Mary Ranley ever find her
self in the case of these-ever see herself lonely,
uncared=for, just endured for want of a betters
Oh, mol Rather a hundred times marriage
into which friendship and respect, at least,
would enter.
Her letter was written, hurriedly, at last, and
when it was finished it was an acceptance. But
she told John Hayward the truth. She had
loved Tom Danvers honestly for years but now
that they had parted she did not think any
memory of him would ever rise up between her
and the husband she was prepared to accept and
honor. She wrote this all quite calmly, but
when it was finished she felt somehow as though
she were twenty years older than she had BEEN
and asif life had Suddenly become Quilted umdrum
and commonplace. Yet she had no thought of
changing her mind. She rang the bell co1np9s
eddy for Bessie helittle maid 7of4al work, and
gave her the letter with a hand that never fall
tered
This is your evening out, I think, Bessie
You may post this for me on your way through
the village" she said bethinking herself even of
the little servants affairs in that crisis of her
life.
Yes, miss surely" Bessie answered, blush
ing, for she too had a lover and these evenings
out meant the joy of the whole week
Somehow Miss Ranley felt that she wanted
the letter out of her reach, and vaclation out of
her power.
CHAPTER IL
Il have come to make things right Ieantdo
without you, Mary; you are my sheetaanchor;
have felt adrift since lost you.p
So Tom Danvers spoke hurrying after her as
she came home from afternoon school
There was drizzling rain failing, and the
Landscape was blurred and the heavy clouds
hung low, and the woman knew that the face
she turned to her lover was pinched and white.
Il thought you had gone, Tom, 1t is so long
since heard of you
1T is week, and perhaps you did not ask
about me- never thought of going in any mad
.hIIrru ilxo raft 10 I'll idoAa
yet
rs there notl thought had an idea there
was 7 she answered, falteringiy
"Oh no. Stephens only wrote to offer me the
appointment, and went to consult you about
it when you took me up so shortly. There was
q tone of reproach in his voice, for he felt still
that he had been badly used.
7 did not mean to hurt you," she protested,
lmeeklv.
s'Well, perhaps some fellows don't mind being
thrown over after seven years waiting, and just
as there is prospect of something definite at
lastin
1.-THE prospect seemed very vague to me
smiling family
ssOh, because you would not listen. Stephens
offers me either three hundred as salary or a
share in the proceeds, whichever like and he
says the climate is good and living not very high
and had almost persuaded myself Mary, that
we might go out together But still
if prefer me to grub on here Ishall do it SO
as you continue to love me.
She had stopped, and they faced each other
and he saw now how pale she was
u Il would go with yen to Rangoen if / could;
it all seems easy now, when it is too late,p she
answered with break in her voice.
tAnd why is it too late
Because ] have promised to marry another
man."
"You havei Well. certainly, you have lost
no time
IT have not
She could have laughed with the dreafiest,
most dismal mirth. She was 50 contemplate in
her own eyes, all she had done looked so strange
and uncalled for. Why, that very morning her
senses had returned and she knew that brave,
strong hearted, successful woman-for She was
successful in her own way--has no right to-
throw herself on any mans charity, just because
he loves her, and because her Hfe-story has
been mistoid. e she had only waited to post