The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-05-12

WIN uS.
1t was the only place he could think of.
1t was not very private place, but there
was always the chance of table in the
corner. Fortune fayors the brave There
was table unoceupied, and, as if this man
were her particular fayorite, there was no
one seated at the tables in the immediate
neighborhood. He would have to make
haste. People would be trooping in to
luncheon.
But when the Major once came to de-
cision he always set to work to carry it out
on the spot. He had made up his mind to
spike those guns which were pouring such
deadly fire on his dying and wounded
comrades, and he had buckled on his sword
and walked out and done it.
He ordered ices for three as the waiter
hustled up. The ices were brought. and
began to melt in the heat Immediately.
But neither he nor she noticed that they
were there.
"a man feels strange coming back to
England after so many years ABSENCE
he said. "There have been so many
changes"
"You should not have stayed away SO
long"
"What was there to bring me back?"
"Were your old friends of so little ac-
count theu?" she exclaimed, with flash of
angry disdain.
81 had not many friends in England
you know that had no relations that |
cared for. And then one of nv best
friends died. should have liked to have
seen your brother again"
"Dear Matthew He was very good
brother to me, and l loved him dearly
But | think he was little hard were girls
were concerned, He did not understand
them" She thought of the arguments
he had used to induce her to take that
rich elderly merchant for her husband and
felt bitter, but then she remembered the
tender kindness of that husband and was
softened and remorseful. But the vague
unease and restless dissatisfaction which
had stirred her through all that wealthy.
comfortable, tenderly- cared-for married life
forced her into speech again, perhaps be-
cause this mans presence had made her so
acutely sensitive to them. ale thought
that woman had only to marry hus-
band who could give her food and fine raj
ment to be happy"
"But you were happy in your married
life If l had thought otherwise"
"My husband was tenderness itself to
me, she said, as he stopped. "And what
would it have materedt to you whether he
were good or not, considering that you
could not even take the trouble to say
goodbye to me that time when you went
away! And We had been, thought, such
good friends"
81 could not! If l had, l should have
broken my promise to your brotherl''
"My brotherl Your promisel" Her
breath came hard and fast, and there was
something in her eyes which made his fall
for moment before hers, so foolish, so
heartless, so needless did that look in them
make that promise seem to-day. "Tell me
what it was?"
~ will not say anything about the prom
Use now. 1 will only tell you that it nearly
broke my heart in the keeping of it. But
l had given it, and kept it. Do you re-
member that day in the drawing room? l
was nearly mad with your sweetness and
beauty. | began to say Something, and
then your brother came betweeAus. He
was right, for it was dishonorable Of me To
speak then. You were only Just beginning
your life. 1t would have been shame of
me to try and fetter you before you even
knew what life was; and l was poor.
Your brother saw what felt for you. He
was very sorry, but he made me see that l
had no right to try and win you. Hesaid
truly that l had nothing but my love to
offer you. You would not be happy as
poor mans wife. He said, too, that if you
had grown to care for me little it would
only be girlish fancy, which you would
soon forget in the pleasure of the life open
ing to you. So 1 promised to leave you
free, and 1 went away"
She drew in long breath.
"Ahl How hard you both were to me!''
she cried
"But loved you'll Oh, how loved you'll
l have loved you till this day. 1 would
have come back when you were free, butt
thought that you must have forgotten all
about me. remember the sentence had
begun, and 1 felt that you would hate and
despise me for not having come back to
finish it. Milly Millyl Let me finish it
now, I can't go away without you. Win
you promise one day to be my wife?''
The ices melted away in their glasses,
people came and went, and wondered as
they ate their own luncheon what those
two in the corner had to say to each other,
they talked SO long and earnestly together.
The waiter grew tired of lowering about to
see if they meant to pay for the ices they
had so recklessly wasted.
1t was she who was suddenly aroused to
the lapse of time by the remembrance of
Steve.
"Where can the boy be?"
The Majors face was picture of guilty
dismay and contrition. He remembered
his command to the boy. They went off
hurriedly to find him, the Major confessing
his sin in making him an aecomplice to
their meeting. They found the boy where
they had left him. He had waited pati-
emily there for nearly two hours, and at
last, in utter WEAKNESS from the heat and
inaction, had sat down in corner and
fallen fast asleep. The attendant, smiling,
pointed him out to them.
she would not go away, SIR, as he had
promised to wait for you here"
"He shall have thai gun FOR his own.
am his debtor foreverl' said the Major,
touching the sleeping boy on the shoulder.
"When he is old enoughll- she ssi;Esd mas
thy be- lDUy sprang up into eager, wake
full me- II will not have him shoot him
self before he can become V. c., to make
another woman as proud as myself" His
eyes answered her. And there were no
three persons so happy thaS day in the
Stores as the beautiful woman, the V. c.,
and the schoolboy.
c. L. Allen in American Agriculturist
for May, says Because the generous mss