Omaha daily bee., 1885-08-01
THE TEST.

widow generally does when she msrrles .
second time. You are going to make
fool of yourself. Arthur Austin
doe,n't love you. 1t is your money he
wants."
Thus spoke Aunt Margaret, prlm and
grim, behind her inevitable knitting.
needles. Her niece, Sybells Ruteven, a
young widow, looked a. her Indignantly.
"Why, Auntle," she said, show
naughty OF you. And have l no charms
that a lover should not be possible to
me"
"You are very pleasing and very hand
some, too, Sybella," said Mira. Margaret.
but can't you compare this man your
self with poor. dear Reginald, who
scarcely took his eye, off of your face,
and who would do anything to MAKO you
happy? I'd rather live onths memory of
such q love as that than take q pretence
of love like this. Why, this Arthur
Austin is too selfish to love any one but
himself. l tell you there's neither ssnti-
ment nor passion In him. He Is an ex-
%travagant fellow, and he Is lazy, too.
The lord happened to give him the sort
of looks you like, and so you've been
Silly enough to urn your back on good
men, and hold out your bands to
him"
"Oh, suntie, any one would think l did
the %courting," said the little widow,
'Hold out my arms, indeed"
.'It's all the same thing" said the elder
LADY "all the same thing. You dropped
into his like o RICE cherry when he held
them out, and It's dreadful to me to see
you expecting 80 much when you'll get 80
little. A gay honeymoon, perhaps. After
that neglect, the psngs of jeslousy-with
good reason, too, 10 doubt-snd bitter
lifelong regret"
"Auntie, dear, l love him, aald Sybel-
la. 81 used to say no woman could love
twice, but this second love is very strong,
and ns sweet 40 if l were eixteen again
1 trust dear Arthur perfectly. If l had
dearer to him. He has often said that
he wished / had not. But I'll not be
angry with you, a%untie; only I'll teet
him. I'll prove him. You shall own
how generous he is, and how fond of
me-"
81 trust So" said the old lady; Indeed
l trust so. But don't believe it; and,
besides, you arc having your wedding
dress made"
Great grief had come to Sybella when
her young husband was torn from her
heart; and she had been wretched for
long years, but this wound had healed at
last, and then arthur Austin had come
into her life, s~ulting her 80 perfectly,
zlng her every dream of what a man
should be. Often she wondered how H.
was that che should ever be 50 happy
again.
Doubt hlm7 All, she would not dare
to doubt him. But Aunt Margaret
should be sstisied.
"You are looking grave, my DEAR"
said Arthur, as they eat together the next
evening.
And then 1t was that, sore against her
will, Sybells kept her promise and told
Arthur one day how the - Bank had
failed and left her pennilesu. She told
the story before Aunt Margaret, listening
grlmly behind her everlasting knitting,
and she wound up by adding, "and, dear
auntie. here. what will she dog
Her lover had listened very gravely,
but when abe had finished he bsnt over
her and kissed her.
"Somehow l love you better for this,
Sybella," he said, "and Aunt Margaret,
will she not be my aunt also from the
day that makes us one2"
Then Sybella, ashamed of her trick,
wept upon his shoulder; but somehow
Aunt Margaret looked no less grlmly
upon the handsome Arthur, and only
said after ward:
"Wait a week, child. Promise me to
walt q week before you undeceive him."
Then Sybella said: "You are unjust;"|
and was seriously angry with Margaret
for the first time In her life.
Four days had passed.
1t was a bright day, and there was TO
be a pleasant park party that afternoon. |
them. They were all old friends, and
Mrs. Ruthven was In her gsyest mood,
and chatted merrily with aIl-perhsps a
little more with a shy young fellow of
eighteen who was in the company than
with any other because of his youth and
shyness.
Arthur Austin had begun the dsy In
his usual good spirits, but as 1t went on
he grew gloomier, and gloomier, and at
last relapsed into peifecS silence. In vain
did his betrothed endeavor to cheer him.
He scarcely spoke or looked at her, and
at last his manner began to have effect
on the whole party. One after the other
grew dismal, and the return home was as
solemn as a funeral procession.
At Sy bells's door Austin lifted his hat,
coldly, and babe her good evening, with
out even a pressure of the hand.
"Are you coming in, Austln?' she said,
a>ftly.
"No," he answered.
care you liz"
AT that he turned sharply upon her
and said nloud:
mo, / am not ill. 1 am not blind,
that Is all. Nor deaf, either. 1 have
watched snd listened to-day to my cost.
Good evening""
what does he mean, aunt2" cried Sy-
bella, VII On the door had closed. ''What
has been done2 l saw nothing"
"He Is pretending to be jealous of
young Martin" said Aunt Margaret qui.
city. "Sybella, have courage. Hs means
to quarrel and break with you, now that
he thinks you penniless. Tell him the
truth, and he will soon recover from his
jealousy. Keep it to yourself, and you
Ill -