The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-01


GoeCy wool Of the black hood was 30
very lovely Would he mark the differ
cnrc, and regret
She took mp her work and began ia
turn down e hem; but she could not drive
away the haunting thoughts which tor
montcd her.
Three ycarsl" sta murmured. 1T il
a long engagement; and l have heard
e said that men gie not patient walters.
1 wonder ii lac has ever wished 10 De free
again
The ride proved Of much benefit 60
Eva, who was brighter and gayor for
laws after Seeing this, Torn took her
with hun frequently. mover thinking that
he was causing his bctrothcd pain 10y so
DOING. llccamC oitCncr than ever 10 tho
rottare. PLAYING chess and cribhaec with
Evaat tho center table in the evening
while Mis- Martha sat hy with her sew
,,..- and wished shc were Iva age.
"Do YOU think Twill stand any chance
# peit.og the school az Dodds Corner
next fail Dr. Edgecomt, asked Iva
enc evening.
you surely don, think Of applying
for itt C,.st Tom. w hy, the Chllui'h
ar, little heathcns. They throw INK
bottles and spitball5 at the teacher ana
swear like troopers. NO, no. we must
not Let YOU go there"
Il must work for myself, the glil
said. Il cannot consent TO remain de-
pendent on any one.
"Wait until next fall comes before
Won begin 10 worry Tom said. Its
only March. now. and something better
may turn zap in tho next six months.
Eva. as was her custom, left the room
as soon as the game of chess was over.
Tom always had % few minutes alone
with his betrothed before leaving the
cottage
IL am 50 tired of boarding he said,
when. after some unimportant converse
ton, he rose 20 go. Il wish had
home and he sighed.
For some minutes Miss Martha stood
where lac had l,ft her, one hand bearing
rather heavily on the small hall table.
Could ne only have known what stress
sine laid upon his careless words. She
mechanically repeated over and over the
last sentence lac had uttered, and remem-
bafel the bitterness of his tone. Then
She walked slowly into the small larlol
again. and dropping ON her knees by an
easv chair, buried her face in the soft
cushions
IF am no longer young, she said in
hOarse voice. He sees his mistake
now that Eva Is here 10 point a Compar
is1n. And vet how can / give hun up
How can / offer him his freedom; Could
live on without the hope that l held so
close 10 my heart for nearly three years:
But I must decide. Not now. j Will
wait Just a little while, % be sure he mas
ceased 20 love me"
Now was Miss Martha's chance TO say
something tender and cheerful, but the
words refused 10 form themselves ON her
lips. She was very shy, and lately She
and Tom had seemed 10 be drifting very
tar apart. o..
Tom looked at her q moment. as II
expecting her to speak; but az she dld
not do so he turned almost angrlly from
her. q dark red flush of wounded PRIDE
diving his frank, fair face He wished
he had not uttered that longing ior q
home.
"Oh. l forgot to tell you, he said, as
he reached the hall door, that my
brother Arnold is coming TO RoseVllle to-
morrow. He has some affection OF the
head. and wants 10 put himself under
my care for q month on two. lie VIII
leave his law business entirely IN ms
partners hands. Poor Arnold! lie has
other than physical troubles! There S
an old saving that women are at the
bottom of an mischief, and men are such
fools sometimes! Good night, Martha;
and the door closed loudly.
Eva noticed that Miss Martha was very
male and distract the following day, and
was not looking her best when Arnold
Ed1acoult came with Tom TO call she
haduever seen this brother before, but hl
We So like Tom in every way that she
liked him at once He was, however
more a man Of the world than Tom. and
while Toms face wore a look OF FRANK
GOOD nature. Arnold was clOuded by an
expression Of melancholy and discomfort
This Miss Martha ascrlbed TO those secret
troubles of which Tom had spoken, snC
she wondered ii some woman had Jnte1
the handsome lawyer.
Several weeks passed by, and MIS-
Martha was no longer her former bright
cheerful self She did not know what 4
p WAS now 20 be without that sharp pan
~ heart. and the csirangement bet" eel
herself and Tom seemed to grow create
every dav. lie Withdrew more anC
more into himself, and 5hc made no ii
, fort 10 restore the old pleasant relation
between them. She watched HIM closely
and saw that lie seemed annoyed an'
} dist,esseda at Arnolds decided attention
4 10 Eva. Once she heard him remonstrat
, with his brother, bat Eva's name va
= die only word she caught distinctly. 81
. thought TON Jealous and afraid that IL
q rirTs heart would be won from himself
b. 1T mus. come" Miss Martha Toui
> rnurmur 70 herself 4 must oiier hln
D his freedom. Why cannot be brave an
e doitct oncs2 lie loves Eve, but lac
5. rot free - win her, and Arnold cttea
r. sons p,il ana trouble him. But hoy
L can oiso linn up. viii TclV jus.
o Tbus from day to dag she put of til
!. oyil hoi,f in which she was 10 zee las
a dearest hopes cuImtle TO dead ashe.
C She shuaderal when abe thought {
= amending tie rest Of her life vithou
n Toms love.
= One evening The two young men cam
- bv invitation to the cottage 10 supper
z Miss Martha sent them into the gdrie
= To- smoke while she, with iva aSslsI
= ance. was busy laying the table with u
y hest dan1k and china. Presently sh
7 went into the parlor to get from the Of
= cabinet which stood between the VII
= dows some silver spoons which had b
y, longed 10 her grandmother. The shu
g ters were closed. but the windows wei
20 opsn. and the low murmur Of Volc,
% came to her ears. She knew the pIo'l
ere were lust outside on the rustic Denci
], ana she was about 10 close the cabin
- and sneak 10 them, when she hear
~ Tom's voice uttering words which SCENE
- 10 fan on her heart like drops Of molte
lead -.
. "Itis great mistake for a man 10 g
~ gage himself To woman older li'N
81. himself. lie is sure 10 repent soon
re late. was fool, and now that Io'
~ Eva with all my heart, as nave co
fessed TO you, / wish the Other WaS
.. Guinea And what am | TO do' y
l.,,.l, bird. r,o 20 lcr-cOuiOuuu II all