The Red Cloud chief., 1889-02-01

dered when she thought Of Spending the
rest Of her days without Toms love.
One evening the two non came BY invita-
ton TO the cottage TO supper. Miss Martha
sent them 70 the garden % smoke, while
she. with Evs's assistance, was busy laying
the table with the best damask and china.
Presently b went into the parlor 70 ct
from the old cabinet which stood betWeen
the windows some silver spoons which bad
belonged 70 her grandmother. The shutters
were closed. but the windows were open,
and the low murmur Of voices came 70 hor
ears. She knew the brothers were just out
side on ther rustic bench, and was about %
close the cabinet q speak to them, when
she heard Tom voice uttering words
which seemed to fall on hcI heart like drops
| Of molten lead"
ut il . great mistake for . man TO engage
himself to . woman olderthan himself. He
b sure 70 repent soon Or late. was . fool,
md now that l love Eva with all nv heart,
- l have confessed TO you, ] wish the other
was In Guinea. And what am I 70 do. Ny
honor binds me to her-confOund it all.
Miss Martha did not wait to hear Arnold's
answer. She walked slowly aud falter-
insly from the room. and went up stairs TO
the spare chamber. where b locked her
self in.
was 30 late, but just As their patience wa
entirely exhausted Eva came 70 call Thorn,
and then went in 10 find Miss Martha
already seated at the head OF the small table
laid for four. She made no excuse for delay,
and the supper WA % excellent that the
young men forgot all about their vexation.
TIL evening passed very quietly, Miss
Martha evidently making an EFFORT TO be en-
tcrtaining; and seeing this, Tom and Arnold
left very early. the latter, as Miss Martha
noticed, having hardly spoken 10 Eva sincs
supper. She thought this was out OF re-
spect 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 DID Hannah. who
quietly laid q letter ON his desk and went
out again.
The young Doctors fscs grew very white
A. he read what Miss Martha had written.
Without explanation or excuse she re-
questcd that their engagement might be at
an end. and said that ~ 1t would be better
that they should not meet for awhile II
least, she was going to m aunt's in another
town. to stay several months. Eva would
remain at the cottage with old Hannah.
For some time Ton sat gazing at tho let
ter, a. IL turned 70 stone. Then he touched
lighted match TO it and watched It burn awsy
to ashes.
THAT Is over" be said. aloud. II have
been expecting II. l have seen II In her
face, and yet I had not the courage 70 ask
her about it."
1t was . sultry July day, the railroad
journey dusty and f~atiguing, and Miss
Martha was very glad to step out OF the
carr at Rosevillc. 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 = 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 the past, hop
ing 70 forget Il, but she had not forgotten,
and her heart had not lost its dull pain.
RecOllections OF Tom stune her as she saw
the familiar streets and stores. Perhaps he
and Eva were married.
"You don't mean 70 say that's you, Miss
MARTHA" cried a familiar voice, and Miss
Martha paused beneath the shade Of .
spreading elm as Mrs. Marsh came hurrying
toward her. SWELL, you've come too late.
Love laughs at l~ocksmiths. you know. It's
all over-Eva's gone OH with him. and
they're married by this time, l haven't u
doubt"
Miss Martha staggered back and put her
hand over her eyes. The shock il was 10
her TO hear Of Toms marriage showed her.
10 her modification. that all hope had not
been crushed from her heart, As she had
thought.
II expected it," she s:ammcred.
We'll it's more than any one else did. He
went ofY soon after yOu left. and no one
thought to see him again. But back he
came yesterday. and elcpcd with Eva late
| las, evening. D.. it was wicked, il was
scandalous; and the whole story is all over
town. l wonder now if you know about
| Miss Somcrby!'
No" said Miss Martha, white TO the
lips.
We'll. il seems ne was engaged to this
Miss Somerby, "A rich old maid. She is mad
enough ut being Tilted. Somebody tele-
graphcd "a her father. and he was here this
morning."
What, Tom ~engagedr' cried Martha.
In amazemen:-
'Who said any thing about Tom! You
must be wandering in your mind. 1t is
| hTuO.u E<uyccUuTt i III tAiAluI 1Dbut.
Without another word. without the slight
est excuse. Miss Martha broke away from
the hand Of the friendly gossip. and almost
ran down the street. When nearly ut her
own gate she rushed blindly against some
body. and looking up with . hurried excuse,
saw-Tom-
"Martha." he Saspcd. forgetting for the
moment In his excitement the gulf between
them. "You have heard il oil! see it in
your face. Come right in; YOU look really
i'll. did not know you cared so much for
Eva. But the scandal will all die out, and I
| know that Arnold will be good to her. He
sent me a telegram saying they were mar
ried in Briefly early this morning. He Wa
To marry Miss Somerby next month. but no
never loved her: he was tempted by her
enormous wealth"
BY this time they had reached the cottage
and gone into the little darkened parlor,
where the shutters had been carefully
closed by old Hannah 70 keep out dust and
6ies.
"Tom,' said Miss Martha. laying her
hand on his sleeve: can you ever forgive
met soc every thing very plainly now. II
was not you ! heard say . man WAS . fool
to engage himself TO . woman older than
himself. YOU voice and Arnold's are %
much alike and I did not know OF his en-
saeement" And then she told all she had
heard wheu she had gone to the old cabinet
for Spoons the evening Of the supper.
Martha" said Tom. in his manly way.
Il never loved any woman but you. did
not know you were older han /. for you
never spoke your age. and il would have
made ucdiRereoCS 70 me anyhoW. I thought