The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-02-16

| ana honestly mourn WuGu uuO VI buSh
number defects from the course, and joins
the great shortly of the married. They
are always a little disappointed in the alb
| sconding member, and have peculiar
greved lonely feeling for her desertion.
They do not grudge her her happiness but
| they wonder at her choice of it.
Miss Elizabeth experienced all these feel
ings after she had read Helen Armstrong;
! letter.
| She shivered little and drew her chair
closer to the fire. She felt unreasonably
angry with Helen. Presently she rang the
bell, and said to the maid who answered it:
"You may put out all the lights and lock
| up" and then she went up to bed, feeling
more lonely than she had felt in many a
day.
She went on to her friends wedding, and
found Mr.. Cochran just as she had expected,
a stout, middle-aged uninteresting man.
Why is it that we are so apt to be disap-
pointed in our friends husbands? It seemed
as absurd for him to be in love, as it would
have been for him to wear a doublet and
hose. There was incongruity about it.
However Elizabeth smothered these unfa-
vorable impressions in her own bosom, and
helped Helen in her wedding preparations
with all the sympathy and cheerfulness,
that she could muster. Tho excitement Of
a wedding is very contagious and irresisti-
BILE, and in spite of herself Elizabeth was
seized and swept away by it. What with
the unpacking of the wedding presents, the
arranging OF dresses, the decorating OF the
house, and the constant meeting with other
people, all filled with the same enthusiasm
and interest, Elizabeth found herself full of
tremulous excitement. Her heart beat and
thumped unreasonably when she finally
walked up the aisle before her friend on the
night of the wedding, she was as full Of
emotion as any girl of eighteen.
She helped Helen change her white satin
gown for the plain, little travelling dress
and it was then, while they were alone,
together, that Helen suddenly said:
Elizabeth, whatever became Of Tom Bar
burym
Elizabeth colored. HE is at home" she
said, shortly.
Helen was arranging her hat and did not
look at her, but said, quietly: 81 always
thought he was such very nice fellown'
Elizabeth was silent. 1t was only few
minutes aftcrward that Helen said goodbye.
She threw her arms around Elizabeth's neck
and kissed her again aud again. Good
bye, DEAR" she said, and then she looked
straight at Elizabeth out of her wet grey
eyes, and added: 30. Elizabeth, l am so
happy"
Somehow Elizabeth felt that she had re-
ceived the charge to go and do likewise"
She tried TO think it was by accident that
Helen had mentioned Toms name, but acct
dent or not, the thought persisiently stayed
in her mind that Helen believed it would be
a good thing il she should marry Tom Bar
bury. She could not rid herself of the i'm
preston that she had somehow received
Helen'S consent and blessing.
She thought of Tom great deal; she
couldn't help it. He was so superior to
Helen's husband, in fact he was superior to
most of the men she met. She began to feel
guilty that she had not appreciated him
more
On the long Journey home she INDUCED in
a great many day dreams. What if she
should marry Tom after all! Her home was
absolutely hers in her own right. OF course
he would come there and live. Perhaps he
would give up his business and look after
hers. She was sure there must be plenty
to do, for lawyers were always bothering
her, bringing her some papers or other to
sign. But even if he kept on at his old bust
ness, which had certainly been good and
profitable one to him, well, it wasn't so
btT all ullu lOE lilO llESb Llllo III
ten years Miss Elizabeth mentally shifted
shoe leather without finding the odor disa-
greeable.
Then the thought darted across her mind
that perhaps Tom would never ask her
again. She nervously and hurriedly tried
to remember how he had taken her last re-
fusal. He certainly hadn't seemed crushed
by it. but perhaps man gets used to that
sort Of thing after awhile IN fho,,ubt Of
tine first time ten years ago, when he had
told her that he loved her, and she had de-
clined to take his honest manly love. All,
he felt badly enough then! Miss Elizabeth
groaned.
II wish, wish that 1 had married him
then,n she said to herself, Il would be a
happier and better WON an to-day if l had"
Then she thought of all the other times.
Sometimes he had asked her seriously, some
times almost as if it were joke. This last
time, she remembered that his kind, good
face scarcely changed at all when she said;
mo, dear Tom, it can never be-" What if
he should never ask her again! But she re-
assured herself. OF course <e would, why
twas habit of his that had almost become
chronic! And the very next time she would
well, she wasn't sure-but she might say
'tyes"
1t never occurred to her that it was rather
selfish thing, to give him her hand now
because she was getting little old and
lonely, and needed him.
He came to see her as soon as she came
home, and heard all about her visit and the
wedding, listening with that look of pleas
ure which his face always wore when she
talked to him.
As he arose to go he said:
Elizabeth, we have little girl, a sort of
cousin staying with us. She is very young
and shy, and I'm afraid she isn't having a
very good time. May bring her to see you,
and will y GU help me to make it pleasant for
her2"
.Certainly, Tom," said Elizabeth, gra
ciously, 'let me help you all can. shall
be very glad to do sou
She thought afterward that it was just
like Tom, to be thinking Of some ones
else pleasure He brought the little cousin,
pretty girl Of about eighteen, with face
as innocent as child, and soft, timid man.
ners, that won ones heart.
Miss Elizabeth invited her 10 dinner, she
gave little party for her to introduce her
to the young people of her own age, she
took her to drive and had her come and
practice her music on her own grand piano.
She was very kind and sweet to her, and all
for Toms sake.
He has asked me to help him." she
thought, land will show him that l can