The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-01-23

no years lutlllStlNtS Toll DdCh, anu Ill
is once more peace-and poverty-and
love-"
"Dear Mr.. Hopel" said Mary, and put
her forehead upon his shoulder.
After while she said, timidly, Dear
Mr.. Hope, now l feel can trust you
with anything" Then she looked down
in charming confusion. my reminis-
cences-they are certainly great mys-
terry. But L have another secret to con-
fide to you, if am permitted"
rs the consent Of some other person
necessary"
Not exactly necessary, Mr.. Hope"
"But advisable"
Mary nodded her head.
Then take your time" said Hope.
He took out his watch, and said: II
man reports that q rutiian has been
caught lighting his pipe in the most
dangerous part after due warning. /
must stop that game at once, Orwe shall
have fatal accident. But L will be
back in half an hour. You can rest in
my, office if you are here first. 1t is nice
and COOL"
Hope hurried away on his errand and
Mary was still looking after him, when
she heard horses feet, and up came
Walter Clifford, escaped from his faith
er. He slipped off his horse directly at
sight of Mary, and they came together
like steel and magnet.
"Oh, Walter" said Mary, 1--WE are not
SO unfortunate as we were just now.
We have a powerful friend. Where are
you going in such hurryW
That is good joke. Why, did you
not order me to the lakeS?"
"Oh yes, for Julia's bracelet. forgot
all about that"
"Very likely; but it is not my business
to forget your orders"
"Dear Walter! But, dearest, things
of more Importance have happened
since then. We have been insulted. Oh,
how we have been insultedw
THAT we have" said Walter, sternly.
And nobody knows the truth"
"Not yet"
"And our secret Expresses meteor
ments me-degrades me-"
"Pray don't say that"
Forgive me. L can't help saving it,
feel it so bitterly. Now, dear, l will
walk little way with you, and tell you
what L want you to do this very day;
and you will be darling, as you always
are, and consent"
Then Mary told how Mr.. Hope had
just shown her singular affection; next
she reminded him of the high tone Mr..
Hope had taken with her father in their
hearing. why" said she, there is some
mysterious compact about me between
papa and him. | don't think shall ever
have the courage to ask him about that
compact, for then | must confess that
L listened: but it is clear we can depend
upon Mr.. Hope, and trust him. So now,
dear. want you to indulge your little
wife, and let me take Mr.. Hope into our
confidence"
TO Mary's surprise and disappoint-
ment, Walters cOuntenance fell.
Il don't know" said he. after a pause.
Unfortunately it's not Mr.. BARLEY
! only that's against u.s."
"Well, but, dear" said Mary, "the
more people there are against us, the
more we need one powerful friend and
champion. Now You know Mr.. Hope
Is a man that everybody loves and re-
spects. even your father"
! Walter just said, gloomily, Il see OBJ
jections, for all that; but do as you
! please"
Mary's tender heart and loving nature
couldn't accept an unwilling assent.
| She turned her eyes on Walter little
reproachfully. That's the way to make
me do what you please"
81 don't intend it So" said Walter.
when husband and wife love each
other as we do, they must give i'll to
each other"
That's not what we said at the altar"
"Oh. tho marriage service is rather
one-sided. | promised very different
things to get you to marry me, and l
mean to stand by them. If you are inn
patient at all of this secrecy, tell Mr..
Hope"
81 can't now," said Mary, a little bit
terly.
"Why not. since / consentw
AN unwilling consent is no consent"
MARY, you are too tyrannical. How
can / downright like a thing | don't
like? yield my will to yours; there's a
certain satisfaction in that. l really
can say no more"
"Then say no more" said Mary, al
most severely.
AT all events give me kiss at part
ing"
Mary gave him that directly, but it
was not warm one.
lie galloped away upon his Grand,
and as she paced slowly back toward
Mr.. Hopes Office she was a good deal
put out. What should she say to Mr..
Hope now? She could not defy Wall
ter's evident wishes, and make a clean
breast of the matter. Then she asked
herself what was Walters objection;
she couldn't conceive why he was afraid
to trust Mr.. Hope. 1t was a perfect
puzzle to her.
Indeed this was q most unfortunate
dialogue between her and Walter, for it
set her mind specializing and guessing
at Walters mind, and thinking all man:
ner of things just at the moment when
an enemy, smooth as the old serpent,
was watching for an opportunity to
make mischief and poison her mind.
Leonard MOnckton, who had long been
hanging about, waiting to catch her
alone, met her returning from Walter
Clifford, and took off his hat very re-
spectfully to her, and said:
Miss BARLEY, think"
Mary lifted her eyes, and saw an elder
ly man with pale face and dark eye
/ brows and cast of countenance quite
unlike that of any of her friends. His
face repealed her directly, and she said,
very coldly:
yes, sir; but have not the pleasure
of knowing YOU"
| And she quietly passed on