The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-09-26

1 OuO WOulQ bnAbA yOOQy llOI0 nj w bu
| intelligence Office" grumbled Amy, as she
again wrote her friends name and her own
| baleful title.
AS she babe good bye to her hostess-a
| formality carefully observed by all visitors
the old lady detained her.
"Where does thee live, my dear" she
asked, looking kindly at the pretty young
face.
81 am visiting in New York with my
friend, Miss Ford" answered Amy, with All
attempt to draw Bel into the conversation,
| but that young lady was intent on some
| ivory carvings, and turned deaf ear to the
to the appeal.
SIS thee a married womanP next in
CURED the old lady.
Poor Amy looked up to find the eyes of
the young man fixed upon her with decided
interest.
"Yes, think so,'' she said, confusedly,
and was fain to get away.
''Has thee good husband, my child%'-
but the young man came to her rescue.
"Good by, madam" he said, holding out
his hand. 81 have enjoyed the afternoon
| greatly"
ST am glad thee has, friend, like thy
face. Come again and see me. What is
| thy name, so that may remember theep"
He cast a look of mingled depreciation
and amusement at Amy's retreating figure
and answered distinctly, "Harding, Tom
Harding, from Tennessee"
Amy did not appear at supper that night,
and Miss Ford in answer to Mr.. Harding's
question said briefly that she was tired.
AS they sat in their room that evening,
they heard the twang of guitar in the par
Tor below, and snatches of song sung In a
| line baritone voice.
"Oh we had such a treat last night, Mrs.
Harding" said one of the ladies, meeting
her on the stairs next morning, syour hus-
| bands singing is charming. We were so sor-
| rY you were too tired to join u.s."
81 haven't any husband" cried Amy
| fiercely. "That u.s." she added, tamely, she
| isn't here"
"Oh," said the lady, with certain inflec-
ton. owe all thought from your having. the
same name, and coming from the same
place, and eating at the same table, you
know. It is odd, isn't it? Quite coinci-
dence! One of your husbands cousins, l
suppose%' she added mistakenly.
my husband has no COUSINS" said Amy,
and the lady passed on to confide to another
guest that she thought "young Mrs. Hard
ing was, 10 speak as mildly as possible,
odd"
Amy said nothing to her friend of this en-
counter, but proposed visit to Wauwinet
and Coatine in search of shells. AS they glided
along over the blue waters in the yacht Lii
ian, she forgot for the nonce the tror oes of
matrimony and the announcement preEence of
Mr.. Tom Harding from Tennessee. Com
ing home toward evening, they were met in
the hail by the waitress, who handed Miss
Ford card.
''He asked particularly if one of you ladies
wasn't small, with big black eyes, and told
him yes, and then he asked if there wasn't a
Miss Morgon here with Miss Ford, and said
ooT1Jf and ho Il
prised when said there WANT only you and
Mrs. Harding as come together, and he said
he'd call this evening, and he hoped he'd
find you, as he was going home tomorrow.
Having thus delivered her message, the
girl went away, and left them alone. Bel
held the card out silently to Amy.
She took it mechanically from Miss Ford's
hand, looked at it helplessly for moment
and then dropped it on the floor with little
gesture of despair. 1t bore on its smooth
white surface the inscription-'Harry
Thorndyke, New York."
They ate supper in a pensiye silence,
broken now and then by remark srom Mr..
Harding and brief reply from Miss Ford,
The young man glanced now and then at
Miss Ford's companion, but beheld nothing
but dowrcast lashes for his pains.
81 shall be sick this evening, BEL" said
Amy decidedly, as they paused moment in
the parlor, sand you may tell Harry Thorn
dyke what you like"
''But he didn't come to see me, Amy" ex-
postulated Miss Ford.
The woman who celebrates is lost. A
tall figure daIkened the door.
"Then you are here, after all, Miss Nor
gau," and Harry Thorndyke shook hands
rapturensly with poor Amy 81 never was
so down in my life as when the girl said that
you weren't here with Miss Ford. 1 looked
in the register myself, too, and couldn't find
your name anywhere"
"Oh, Mrs. Harding" said an expansive
voice." and young lady came hurriedly in
to the room. 81 beg your pardon" as she
saw the young man, but could you lend me
shawl if you are not going out? No, don't
come, can get it myself"
The gladnesS died out of the young mans
face. "What-what did she call you2" he
stammered.
"Mrs. Harding" said Amy, sharply.
"Then you are marriedr' he said at last
eyes," said Amy.
Miss Ford started from her chair and
seemed about to speak.
"And the Mr.. Harding whose name is in
the register is your husband?"
eyes" cried the girl frantically, and the
young man turned to go.
"1-I congratulate you," be said slowly,
"but shouldn't have come if Ihad known"
and he went sadly away.
''Oh, Amy, what have you done?" cried
Miss Ford.
81 don't know" and she turned toward
her friend face of such utter wretchedness
that she foibore further speech.
Chow could do it when loved him so?'
"As they left the dining room the next
morning Amy turned suddenly and addressed
Mr. Harding
HI want IN snpak IN Won al0na nlnasa
Will you take me for little walk?"
The young man assented, and they walked
almost in silence to the top of the hill that
overlooks the harbor. Once there, Amy
turned aud faced him.
'Mr. Harding, don't know what you
will think of me, but / am the most wretch
ed girl in the world. When was comm g
here made little plan"
''Will it make it any easier if tell you
that know"
"You know-p'
''Yes, I couldn't help hearing you on the
boat" he explained hastily, "and when
found you had fixed on my name was
amu3ed, and"
"Yes, see, but last night he came here,
and somebody called me Mrs. Harding, and
he asked me if was married, and i said
yes, and he asked if you were my husband,
aud | said you were, and''-here her voice
Dr0Ke lnJ0 lrfepresslDle S0DS-'he's gone
away, and l shall never see him again."
''Shall go and bring him back?' asked
the young man, helplessIy, looking down on
her bowed head and quivering form.
sob, yes, do" she cried; ''tell him 1
didn't marry you-that l wouldn't marry
you for anything"
''If you will tell me his name," said the
young man, tr;fe grimly, II will try and
make that fact clear to his mind"
ellis name is Thorndyke, Harry Thorn
dyke, and he's going away to-day"
'Thorndyke-a broad-shouldered young
fellow with gray eyes%'
''Yes, that's him." cried Amy, with
charming disregard of grammar.
"CaR you wall here a little whle?" and
before she could answer he was off, going
down the hill with light, springy tread.
She stood where he had left her, looking
out toward the sea.
An hour later hand was laid caressingly
on hers, and she turned to meet Harry
Thorndyke's honest eyes.
$50 you are not Mrs. Tom Harding after
all?' he said.