Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-07-29

Mfs. marty came down Ito supper,
but Isabel had headache and par
took OF that meal in her room. Bel
ton fell to speculating as to the prob
able truth of this story. and wonder
ed if the headache would have pre-
vented her appearance had she known
that Tom had driven awN. For a
vague feeling that Tom was right in
his conjecture had taken possession of
his mind.
L can tell better on further ac-
| quaintance. he mutttered softly, If
abe Is the paragon ! hope she i. we'll
lssdssod- Ifrots~rocs nsn aAaasl
The next morning they met at
breakfast, and this impression was
still further strengthened by her man
ner and conversation. And it was
not altogether an unfavorable impress
sion, for along with it arose a feeling
of relief that it should be so-which
feeling was SO slight as to be almost
imperceptible.
But when day or two had been
passed in her society. Belton felt the
charm of the siren too keenly to mis-
take it, and with honest loyalty
towards his absent friend took him
self to task.
I'm a nice sort of friend to try
and cut an old chum out, though it
has been an involuntary kind of busi-
ness, he said to himself, the third day
after his arrival, as he resolutely took
down his neglected fish pole and made
ready for day beside the river.
Isabel stood on the porch as he de.
parted, her large, dreamy eyes looking
over the distant fields with a weari-
ness in their depths which the most
casual observer would have noticed.
But they frightened as they fell on him.
She bent over the low railing, and
leaned her curly head close to his.
Going to desert me?' she said gaily.
The voice was CHEEKY and careless.
but the look thrilled him. He hastily
turned f;s eyes toward the river, wind
ing among the green hills for miles be-
yond, and tried to speak lightly in his
turn.
Yes, the fish wait for no man, and
the season will soon be over. must
take them while l can
IF every good thing the gods pro-
vided was taken so quickly also
what then?'
The best has been taken, he an
swered gravely. 1t was not for me,
and with look of rebuke that brought
the blood to her cheeks, the young fish.
erman passed gravely on.
4 thought men were as easily
caught as fishes, she murmured disap-
pointedly.
i thought all women honorable
till now, he murmured, as he toiled
along the dusty road.
The day was very sultry, but the
tall trees above the river bank cast a
kindly shade which Belton never felt.
The fish were plentiful but their
capture was not even attempted, for
his pole rested beside him, and the
young worms crawled from out their
old tin prison into freedom once again.
Till the shades Of evening fell upon
the river, and deepened the gloomy
recesses of the wood on either side, did
Belton sit there, thinking-hoping-
dreaming of that which he had sufii-
cient strength and honor to resolve
should never come to pass. Ii poor
Tom weie-no, he could not wish for
that. To what depths had he fallen
when the possibility of dear friend 8
death could even fit shadow like
through his mind.
Before he reached the hard, dry
road which led up to the house be had
to pass through long narrow lane
which divided two large estates. He
left the woods behind him now aud
entered it. Although he walked along
with bent head and eyes steadfastly
fixed upon the ground, he had not
gone far along that quiet pathway be-
fore he became aware of another's
presence near. Gazing up he saw the
subject of his thoughts coming slowly
towards him.
Here is the fisherman, but where
are TIN fish? cried Isabel, when she
came within speaking distance.
i have been unlucky,' he answered,
glad to hear her speak in such mat
ter.of-fact tone. He might have
known. however. that it was but as
sumed, when he saw the hand that
held an open letter tremble as she
tried to wave it carelessly before him.
News, she said, our mutual friend
arrives tomorrow.