Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-04-18

cnln, was Scuddlng up F0urteenth
street in an element defying humor,
when this word burst from his lips, in
a tone of amazed ment. Marie Prot had
just passed him on the crossing at
Fourth avenue; a sudden backward tilt
of her umbrella had shown him her
face plainly, pale and strange, with that
absorbed, unseeing look that mental
suffering gives. Her swift step fall
tered an instant at the sound of his
voice, and at that instant be was by her
side.
81 knew I could not be MISTAKEN"
he said, breathless'y; but you of all
people. and at this hourl What in the
world brings you into this regionp"
He is holding her hand In his warm,
friendly clasp. and looking down
seafchingly at her half-averted face.
'Oh, was walking away from tine
furies," she said, trying to speak
lightly; "but they have come with me.
think L really did not know where 1
was going. 1 only wanted to walk.
Did you ever have that feeling. sgd
ney, that you were too unhappy to be
qulet?"
''She asks me if have ever had that
feeling. All, Marie, there are few
feelings, born of unhappIness, that L
have not had, You ought TO know
that, my dear"
''But but trey pass away some
time. don't theyr" she asked wistfully.
People can't go on suffering-some
change, some relief, must come"
81 don't know, he answered. with
long sigh. perhaps. 1 have not
found It yet"
''Oh, Sydney" she said, passionate
ly, with a wild burst of tears. sydney,
Sydneyl'' She laid her cheek on his
shoulder, sobbing like a child.
He had taken the umbrella from her
hand. and held its shelter between
them and paSsers-by. Sydhey's knowl-
edge of suffering had made him very
tender toward the pain of others. He
allowed his companion to weep unques-
toned, patung gently from time 10 time
the little quIyeriug fin gers that clutched
his arm
'How good you areI'' she stam-
mered, whisperIngly, at length. "Oh.
Sydney, how could you forgive me-
how could you ever look at me again,
IL l have made you suffer-like this?
1 never knew it could be so terriblel l
did not dream of what you felt when
we parted; you were so noble and so
good. You never made me understand
how cruel Oh, and you bore it all?
can pity you nowF"
Yes. dear" he said, tenderly. 81
am glad to hear you say that. / am
glad you have, at last, some pity to
give me-"
''Oh, but you do not need any more
Surely you cannot still care as you
used to"
.'Oh, hushr' Sydney interrupted,
very gently, Hush, my deari hush.
Mariel You have never understood
my love if you think it could change
or pass away in a lew months or
years."
And do you love me this minute.
now-as you did theni"
"Always-alwaysl''
"But if l should tell you that l had
thrown my heart away, unasked, un-
sought-oh, so hOpeleSsly, SD yainly,
and if l should say to you, will you
take my promise to lie your wife -ah,
not soon, but some time, when L am a
better and happier woman?' - if L
should ask you TO accept the poor ser
vice of my life and let me try to love
yOu-would that atone q little for the
pain and trouble of the pasl?'
"Oh, Marie, you do not mean it?'
His grasp frightened on her fingers.
''Do you think what you are saying?"
Yes. yes, yes!-lf you will take my
poor haif-broken heart-but not YETI
she checked herself riteOusly 81
could not love you yet-bye-and-bye it
all may come right And, meanwhile,
if you wish it, We can be engaged. You
must stay near me, Sydney, and be
Ia1 ha1
to live. You know how hard it is
how impossible it seems that joy or
hope can ever come againH'
"You have given joy and hope to
me, know" he said, In a low, happy
voice. ST am willing 10 wait for love
as long as ever you like; darling, for
it is sure to comel'
"But think-oh, Fate is strange!-
think; If l had not met you!'' Marie
leaned more closely on his arm.
'-Fate knows what she is about, !"
Sydney answered; smiling down at the
earnest, pale face. "You were obliged
TO meet me. Under the circumstances
nothing else could have happened "
Fate did know what she was about,
as she usually does, If minds finite
could but compass her Infinite plans
a few days later brought to Sydney
Worth the unexpected fulfllment of a
hope that he had patiently placed a
long way off in the future-the full
be >towal of Marie Plrot's love.
They were driving through the park
In a brilliant October sunset, and sgd
ney had been talking brightly of vsTi-
Gus matters of interest, when he threw
his head back with a short laugh, and
said, In a kind of triumphant tone:
swell, / was pleased to-dav, Marie.
You remember that fellow l told you of
that had defaultel from our onice with
a lot of money last week."
NO" said Marie, vaguely. Did
you tell meY"
Come to think of it, / didn't"
said sydney. smiling. THAT'S so.
was afrais It might annoy You. Well.
it's all right now. They've got him
ut least, not him, for he gave them the
slip at the last moment; but the moneys
safe. He took away =, ,0UO and we've
recovered all but 500; that he spent
| tell you we've been lucky, and so
has he. It's curious thing" pursued
sydney, thoughtfully; "but-I'm aw-
fully glad the scamp escaped"
"Glad?" repeated Marie. soiemnly.
"Oh, why2 He will be sure to victimize
other poor people,"
"Other rich people," said sydney,
correctingly. "Of course he will, for
it turns out that he is regular conf
dence man; but you have no idea how
much / liked him. We all did. He
came to US about SIX months ago, and
said he had just arrived IN the country,
and was quite friendless. Well, the
tirm took him on trust actually He
had gotten himself up like German
student-loug hair and broken English,
and he lad the loveliest tenor voicel
Old Bond was fairly infatuated with
this paragon. 1t was Wetzel here and
Wetzel there"
.whati" Marie grasped Sydney's
arm with both her hands.
my dear grill" He reigne1 In the
horse, and looking down at her white
face In amazemen. "What is the
mstter?'
ssWetzel was his name?-and he
went aSa7P-when?-whenY" she de-