Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-15

Martha;" and the door closed loudly.
For some minutes Miss Martha stood where
he had left her, one hand bearing rather
! heavily on the small hall table. Could he only
have known what stress she laid upon his care
less words! She mechanically repeated over
| and over the last sentence he had uttered,
and remembered the bitterness of his tone.
| Then she walked slowly into the small parlor
again, and dropping on her knees by an easy
| chair, buried her face in the soft cushions.
II am no longer young" she said in a hoarse
| voice. He sees his mistake, now that Eva is
mere to point comparison. And vet how can
give him up? How can offer him his free
dom? Could live on without the hope that
held so close to my heart for nearly three years?
But Imust decide. Not now. will wait just
me-
Eva noticed that Miss Martha was very pale
and distrait the following day, and was not
! looking her best when Arnold Edgecourt came
with Tom to call. She had never seen this
| brother before, but he was SO like Tom in every
way that she liked him at once. He was. how
ever, more a man of the world than Tom. and
while Toms face wore a look OF frank good
| nature, Arnold's was clouded by an expression
OF melancholy and discomfort. This Miss Mar
tina ascribed to those secret troubles of which
Tom had spoken. and she wondered if some
woman had Tilted the handsome lawyer.
Several weeks passed by. and Miss Martha
was no longer her former bright, cheerful self.
| She did not know what it was now to be with
out that sharp pain at heart and the estrange-
! ment between herself and Tom seemed to grow
| greater every day. He withdrew more and
more into himself. and she made no effort to
restore the old pleasant relations between
them. She watched him closely and saw that
he seemed annoyed and distressed at Arnolds
decided attentions to Eva. Once she heard
him demonstrate with his brother, but Evas
name was the only word she caught distinctly.
She thought Tom jealous and afraid that the
RI art no from n
1T must come" Miss Martha would murmur
to herself. Il must offer him his freedom.
Why cannot be brave and do it at once? He
loves Eva, but he is not free to win her, and
Arnold attentions gain and trouble him. But
how can give him up? will wait just little
longer"
Thus from day to day she put off the evil
hour in which she was to see her dearest hopes
crumble to dead ashes. She shuddered when
she thought of spending the rest of her life
without Toms love.
One evening the two men came by invitation
to the cottage to supper. Miss Martha sent
them into the garden to smoke. while she, with
Eva's assistance, was busy laying the table with
the best damask and china. Presently she
went into the parlor to get from the old cabi-
net which stood between the windows some
silver spoons which had belonged to her grand
mother. The shutters were closed, but the
windows were open, and the low murmur of
voices came to her ears. She knew the brothers
were just OUTSIDE on the rustic Dencn, ana Sne
was about to close the cabinet and speak to
them, when she heard Toms voice uttering
words which seemed to fall on her heart like
drops of molten lead.
1t is great mistake for a man to engage
himself to a woman older than himself. He is
sure to repent soon or late. was fool and
now that love Eva with all my heart. as
have confessed to you, wish the other was in
Guinea. And what am / to do. My honor
binds me to her-confound it ALL
Miss Martha did not wait to hear Arnold's
answer. She walked slowly and falteringlv
from the room, and went up stairs to the spare
chamber, where she locked herself in.
The young men wondered why supper was so
late. but just as their patience was entirely ex-
hausted Eva came to call them, and then went
In to find Miss Martha already seated at the
head of the small table laid for four. She made
no excuse for delay. and the supper was SO ex-
cellent that the young men forgot all about
their vexation.
The evening passed very quietly. Miss Mar
tina evidently making an effort to be entertain
ing: and seeing this Tom and Arnold left very
early, the latter. as Miss Martha noticed. having
hardly spoken to Eva since supper She
thought this was out of respect for his brothers
feelings, which had SO lately been revealed to
him.
The next day Tom was surprised in his Office
by the appearance of old Hannah, who quietly
laid letter on his desk and went out again.
The young doctors face grew very white as
he read what Miss Martha had written. With
out explanation or excuse she requested that
their engagement might be at an end, and said
that as it would be better that they should not
meet for while at least. she was going to an
aunts In another town, to stay several months
Eva would remain at the cottage with old Han
nah.
For some time Tom sat gazing at the letter.
as II turned to stone. Then he touched a
lighted match to it and watched it burn away
to ashes.
That is over" he said, aloud. II have been
expecting it. have seen it in her face and
yet had not the courage to ask her about it."
1t was sultry July day. the railroad Journey
dusty and fatiguing. and Miss Martha was very
glad to step out of the cars at Rosevile She
walked slowly up the dusty road leading to her
cottage. 1t was nearly three months since she
had left home, and during that time she had
neither written nor received a single letter
She had not given Eva her address, and no one
knew where she had gone. She had wished to
cut herself loose from the past. hoping to for
get it, but she had not forgotten. and her
heart had not lost its dull pain. Recollections
OF Tom stung her she saw the familiar
streets and stores. Perhaps he and Eva we're
married
You don't mean to say that's you, Miss Mar
thar cried familiar voice, and Miss Martha
paused beneath the shade of a spreading elm
as Mrs. Marsh came hurrying toward her.
locksmiths, you know. It's all over-Eva's
gone off with him. and they're married by this
time, l haven't doubt
Miss Martha staggered back and put her hand
over her eyes. The shock it was to her to hear
OF Toms marriage showed her, to her NORTH
cation, that all hope had not been crushed
from her heart, as she had thought.
II expected it," she stammered.
We'll, it's more than any one else did He
went of soon after you left, and no one thought
to see him again. But back he came Yesterday
and eloped with Eva late last evening. Oh. it
was wicked; 1t was scandalous; and the whole
story is all over town. l wonder now if you
know about Miss Somerby?''
NO, said Miss Martha. white to the lips.
well, 1t seems he was engaged to this Miss
Somerby, rich old maid. She is mad enough
at being Tilted. Somebody telegraphed to her
father, and he was here this morning
what. Tom engaged" cried Martha, in
amaZement.
Who said anything about Tom? You must
be wandering in your mind. It is Arnold Edge
court I'm talking about"
without another word, without the slightest
excuse, Miss Martha broke away from the hand
OF the friendly gossip, and almost ran down
the street. When nearly at her own gate she
rushed blindly against somebody. and looking
up with a hurried excuse saw-Tom.
''Martha!' he gasped. forgetting for the mo-
ment in his excitement the gulf between them.
You have heard it all! l see it in your face.
Come right in; you look really ill. / did not
know you cared so much for Eva. But the
scandal will all die out, and know Arnold will
be good to her. He sent me telegram saving