The Republican., 1889-02-02

world than Tom. and while Toms face ,vora
a look of frank good nature, Arnold,s ,vaa
clouded by an expression of melancholy ana
discomfort. This Miss Martha ascribed ~
those secret troubles of which Tom had
spoken, and she wondered if some woman
had Tilted the handsome lawyer.
Several weeks passed by, and Miss Martha
was no longer her former bright, cheerful
self. She did not know what it was now ~
be without that sharp pain at heart, and the
estrangement between herself and Tom
seemed to grow greater every day. He
| withdrew more and more into himself and
she made nO effort to restore the old pleas.
ant relations between them. She watched
him closely and saw that he seemed an
| moved and distressed at Arnold's decided at.
tentions to Eva. Once she heard him ra-
monstrate with his brother, but Eva's name
was the only word she caught distinctiv
She thought Tom jealous and afraid that
the girls heart would be won from himself.
1T must come" Miss Martha would muir
mur to herself. II must offer him his free
dom. Why can not be brave and do it at
once! He loves Eva, but he is not frA to
win her, and Arnold's attentions pain and
trouble him. But how can l give him upl
will wait just little longer"
Thus from day to day she put off the evil
hour in which she was to see her dearest
hopes crumble to dead ashes. She shud-
dered when she thought of spending the
rest of her days without Toms love.
One evening the two men came by invita-
ton to the cottage to supper. Miss Martha
sent them to the garden to smoke, whiIe
she, with Eva's assistance, was busy lavs
ho fol1 Ia n
Presently she went into the parlor to get
from the old cabinet which stood between
the windows some silver spoons which had
belonged to her grandmother. The shutters
were closed, but the windows were open,
and the low murmur of voices cane to her
ears. She knew the brothers werejust out
side on the rustic bench, and was about to
close the cabinet and speak to them, when
she heard Toms voice utterIg words
which seemed to fall on her heartike drops
of molten lead"
ut is a great mistake for mar TO engage
himself to woman older than himself. he
is sure to repent soon or late. Twas fool,
and now that love Eva with al my heart
as have confessed to you, l wis1 the other
was in Guinea. And what am Ito do. My
honor binds me to her-confound it all.
Miss Martha did not wait to herr Arnold's
answer. She walked slowly and falter-
ingly from the room, and went u, stairs to
the spare chamber, where she locked her.
self iu.
The young men wondered why supper
was so late, but just as their patience was
entirely exhausted Eva came to call them,
and then went in to find Mss Martha
already seated at the head of the small table
laid for four. She made no excuse for delay,
and the supper was so excellent that the
young men forgot all about their vexaton.
The evening passed very quietly, Miss
Martha evidently making an effort to be en-
tertaining; and seeing this. Tom and Arnold
left very early, the latter, as Miss Martha
noticed, having hardly spoken to Eva since
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 old Hannah, who
quietly laid letter on his desk and went
out again.
The young Doctors face grew very white
as he read what Miss Martha had written.
Without explanation or excuse she re-
quested that their engagement might beat
an end, and said that as it would be better
that they should not meet for aWhil at
least, she was going to an aunt's in another
town. to stay several nontbs Fyfssr
remain at the cottage with old Hannah
For some time Tom sat gazing at the let
ter, as if turned to stone. Then he toucheda
lighted match to it and watched it burn away
to ashes.
THAT is over" he said, aloud. u have
been expecting it. l have seen it in her
face, and yet had not the courage to ask
her about it."
1t was sultry July day, the railroad
journey dusty and fatiguing, and Miss
Martha was very glad to step out OF the
cars at Roseville. 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 a 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 to forget it, 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 to say that's you, Miss
MAJ VI ilcu d ldulllistt SolCC, ohu Ahtoo
Martha paused beneath the shade OF
spreading elm as Mrs. Marsh came hurrying
toward her. "Well, you've come too late.
Love laughs at locksmiths, you know. It's
all over-Eva's gone of with him. and
they're married by this time, haven't a
doubt"
Miss Martha staggered back and put her
hand over her eyes. The shock it was to
her to hear OF Toms marriage showed her,
to her modification, that all hope had not
been crushed from her heart, as she had
thought.
IL expected it," she stammered.
''Well, it's more than any one else did. He
went off soon after you left, and no one
thought to see him again. But back he
came yesterday, and eloped with Eva late
last evening. o, it was wicked, it was
scandalous; and the whole story is all over
town. wonder now if you know about
Miss SomerbyW
No." said Miss Martha, white to the
lips.
"Well, it seems he was engaged to this
Miss Somerby, rich old maid. She isnad
enough at being Tilted. Somebody tele-
graphed to her father, and he was herethis
morning." y
What! Tom engaged?" cried Nartha,
in amazement.
"Who said any thing about Toml You
| must be wandering in your mind. II is
Arnold Edgecourt I'm talking about.n
Without another word, without the slight
| est excuse Miss Martha broke avva, from