Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-09-08

have, with my own eyes, seen q couple
meet for the first time ut Madeira, get
married at the Cape, and 60 on as man
and wife in the same vessel to Natal.
And, therefore, 1t came to pass that that
very evening touching, and, on the
whole. melancholy, little scene was en-.
acted near the smoke stack of the Kan
garoo.
Mr.. Tombey and Miss Augusta Smithers
were leaning together over the bulwarks
and watching the phosphorescent foam go
flashing past. Mr.. Tombey was nervous
and i'll at ease: Miss Smithers very much
at ease. and rejecting that her COM
panion's mustaches would very well be-
come villain in novel
Mr.. Tombey looked at the star spanpled
sky. on which the Southern Cross hung
low, and he looked at the phosphorescent
sea; but from neither did inspiration
come. Inspiration is from within, and
not from without. At last, however, he
made gallant and desperate effort.
Miss Smithers," he said. in voice
trembling with agitation.
''Yes. Mr.. Tombey." answered Augusta,
quietly; what is it?'
Miss Smithers," he went on-"Miss
Augusta, | don't know what you will
think Of me. but must tell you, l can't
keep it in any longer. love your
Augusta fairly jumped. Mr.. Tombey
had been very, even markedly, polite, and
she, not being fool. had seen that he
admired her; but she had never expected
this, and the suddcnness with which the
shot was fired was somewhat bewildering.
why, Mr.. Tombey," she said. In
surprised voice, you have only known
me for little more than fortnight"
81 fell in love with you when had only
known you for an hour" he answered
with evident sincerity. Please listen to
me. know am not worthy of you, but
do love you SO very dearly, and would
make you good husband; indeed I
would. am well off, though, of course,
that is nothing; and if you don't like New
Zealand would give it up and go to live
in England. Do you think that you can
take me? II you only knew how dearly /
love you am sure you would"
Augusta collected her wits as well rs
she could. The man evidently did love
her; there was no doubling the sincerity
of his words, and she liked him, and he
was a gentleman. If she married him
there would be an end of all her worries
and troubles. and she could rest content
edly on his strong arm. Woman, even
gifted woman. is not made to fight the
world with her own hand, and the pros
pect had allurements. But while she
thought Eustace Nelson's bonny face rose
before her eyes, and as it did so faint
feeling of repulsion to the man who was
pleading with her took form and color in
her breast. Eustace Meeson, of course,
was nothing to her: no word or sign of
affection had passed between them, and
the probability was that she would never
set her eyes upon him again. And yet
that face rose up between her and this
man who was pleading at her side. Many
women, likely enough, have seen some
such vision from the past and have l.isre-
garded it. only to find too late that that
which Is thrust aside is not necessarily
hidden: for alasl those faces of our de-
parted youth have an uncanny trick of
rising from the tomb of our forgetfulness.
But Augusta was not Of the great order of
opportunists. Because thing might be
convenient, it did not according to the
dictates of her moral sense follow that it
was lawful. Therefore she was woman
to be respected. For woman who. except
under most exceptional circumstances,
gives her instincts the lie in order to
pander to her convenience or her desire
for wealth and social ease, is not alto
gether woman to be respected.
In very few seconds she had made up
her mind.
Il am very much obliged to you, Mr..
Tombey," she said; '.you have done me
great honor. the greatest honor man can
do to woman; but cannot marry you"
Are you surei' gasped the unfOrtu-
nate Tombey. for his hopes had been
high. is there no hope for met Per-
haps there is somebody elsel'
and. am sorry to say, you don't know
how much it pains me to say it. l cannot
hold out any prospect that / shall change
my mind"
He dropped his head upon his hands fora
minute, and then lifted it again.
Very well, he said, slowly; ct can't
be helped. never loved any woman be-
fore, and l never shall again. 1t is
pity"-with hard. little laugh-"that
SO much first class affection should be
wasted. But, there you are; it is oil part
and parcel of the pleasant experiences
which make up our lives. Good-by,
Miss Smithers; at least good-by as
friendl'
"We can still be friends" she faltcred.
"Oh, no." he answered. with another
laugh; that is an expanded notion.
Friendship of that nature is not very safe
under any circumstances. Certainly not
under these. The relationship is antago-
nistic to the facts of life, and they, or one
or other of them. will drift either into in
difference and dislike, or-something
warmer You are novelist, Miss Smith
ers; perhaps some day you will write q
book to explain why people fall in love
where their affection Is not wanted, and
what purpose their distress can possibly
serve. And now, once more, good -byr"
and he lifted her hand to his lips and
gently kissed it, and then with bow he
turned and went.
From all of which it will be clearly
seen that Mr.. Tombey was decidedly q
young man above the average. and one
who took punishment very well Augusta
looked after him, sighed deeply, and oven
wiped away tear. The she turned and
walked aft, to where Lady Holmhurst
was sitting enjoying the balmy southern
III, tiiTOuSu WuiCu tuc SIcdt cnip wa,
rushing with outspread sails like some
huge white bird. and chatting to the cap
tain. As she came up. the captain made
his bow and departed, saying that he had
something to see to, and for minute
Lcdy Holmhurst and Augusta were left
alone.
well, Augusta?" said Lady Holmhurst,
for she called her .'Augusta" now.
well. Lady Holmhurstl' said Augusta.
And what have you done with that
young man, Mr.. Tombey-that very nice
young manf' she added, with emphasis.
Il think that MIR. Tombey went for.
ward" said Augusta.
The two women looked at each other,
and, woman like, each understood what
the other meant. Lady Holmhurst had
not been altogether innocent in the Tom.
bey affair.
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