Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-01


Deans had occasionally received summer
visitors, delicately broached the suggestion
whether he might be so fortunate as to find
a temporary home at Cote Farm. Dean
took the suggestion in good part, and
though he was sensible of the danger of in
PRODUCING handsome stranger beneath the
roof that sheltered his guileless sister Meta,
he consented to write home and inquire if
his people could conveniently entertain an
invalid, with what result the reader already
knows.
Very happy had those two months been to
Meta Dean, during which Gerald Latour's s
stay at Cote farm had lasted. The circle
OF Metals acquaintances was necessarily q
restricted one. Since she had left the board
ing school at Taunton, where she had been
sent for her education, she had not left Cote
Farm. The sons and daughters of the
neighboring farmers comprised her little
world, and though the lads were honest and
brave, they were rough in their ways, and
in no respect corresponded with the ideal
man of Netta's day dreams.
The stranger had not been many days sin
the house before Meta began to make COM
parisons between him and the men of her
acquaintance, very much to the disadvan-
tage of the latter. Gerald bore all the out
ward insignia of well-to-do, middle-class
gentleman, with good deal of savoir faire.
He was well read in general literature, and
with bright and sprightly wit he con-
trived, as soon as he began to regain his
strength, to make the days pass very pleas
antly to Meta. who often wondered how
she had borne her existence before he broke
in upon the peaceful flow of her life-"vege-
tating," Gerald called it-and how she
would endure it when the time came for La
tours departure.
1t is rarely possible for a maiden to occupy
her mind with thoughts Of the man who has
stolen her heart away without betraying the
secret which she jealously seeks to guard.
Meta had an uncomfortable habit of blush
ing, and often as she encountered Latour,
the tell-tale signal would convey to the
quick eyes of the man everything that poor
Meta sought to hide.
Latour's vanity was touched at these
signs, which he knew so well how to read,
and before long he had drawn from Meta
the confession of her love. How far mat
tiers had progressed between them on this
August afternoon must now be told.
Meta, Latour was saying, shave you
thought over what was saying last night?"
Meta confessed that she had, and, bend
ing her blushing face over her work, piled
her needle more diligently.
"You see, dear, would notask it of you"
resumed Latour, ''only nv uncle, to whom
owe everything, has so completely set his
mind on my marrying my cousin Helen that
he would withdraw his.capital from my bus
iness and cut me out Of his will ii he knew
that even as much as thought of marrying
anyone else. That is sacrifice could not
afford to make for your sweet sake. There
will be little Nettas to provide for by-and-
bye, you know"
At this remark Nettl blushed more vio-
lently than before, and she bent her head
still lower over her work.
"Give me my own way in this one thing,
Meta, Latour continued, land you shall
have your way forever afterward. Lift up
your head, my pretty one, and let me see
your face"
But Meta did not comply with this re-
quest, and presently something like a sob
broke from her. Gerald cautiously came
down from his Misunderstanding an ugly
tumble ii he moved hastily-and approach
ing where Meta was sitting, threw his
arm around her. and asked her with pas
slonate concern he knew so we'll how to as
sumo. what is the matter, Meta, dar-
ling?"
81 cannot do this A private marriage,
unknown to my father and to nv brother
Mauricel What would they think?" asked
Meta In low, pleading tones.
Latour had an answer ready to lull Netta's
dutiful fears to rest He painted in more
vigorous language than any he had hitherto
felt 1t necessary to employ the certainty of
his uncle's anger and the dire results which
would result if once the news of his
nepnew's marriage leaked out and reached
his Uncle Marchant's ears, and wound up
ny declaring that in very little time
Meta, if she would consent to give way on
this point, should return to Cote Farm and
make her marriage known to her father.
SO long as my uncle thinks 1 am not
married." Latour explained, 'the will be
eontented. Helen does not care for me, and
all that is wanted is little time for her to
ind suitor more to her mind, and shall
be free to do as like. Only until then do
1 ask that our marriage be kept secret %
But Netta's objections were not silenced
yet. Lstour had still another argument in
reserve.
"You do not love me, Meta he cried.
"or you would agree. 1t must be nv way
or not at all. Surely you can see that IF
cannot obtain nv uncle's consent to nv
marriage with you-and that is impossible-
and you will not marry me quietly we cam
not be married at all, and we must part for
years-perhaps forever, who knows?''
No sooner was this vision conjured nm he
fore Netta's mind than her courage began to
give way. There had been traitor in the
camp even while Meta held out against
LatOur's pleading. Her own heart, which
had passed entirely out OF her keeping, had
seconded all Gerald's pleadings, and now.
when his arguments overpowered her reason
and she saw nothing before her except years
of weary waiting for the man she loved, or.
worse still, lifelong severance, Netta's
gave way, and she consented to
steal from the home where she had tasted a
full cup of happiness and plunge herself
into the unknown depths of an. untried ex-
perience, trusting and confding in the love
Of the man who had won all her heart.
Laeou- returned to town a few DAYS later.
and week afterward came back to the |
of Cote Farm by stealth. The |
morning after he journeyed down to Somer- |
'etshire Meta was missing.
She had gone, leaving no trace behind |
but one short note saying that |
'he would come back again very soon, and |
hen she would tell her dear father eyery-
hing.
Farmer Dean gazed at Netta's note with |
iazed eyes, like one stupefed. His Meta |
gone! Stolen away like thief in the night |
Zone, without word of explanation or a |
moment given to FAREWELL He could not |
believe it. 1t was too terrible. But there
vas the letter, and, alas, there was no Meta |
% brighten Cote Farm with her presence and |
ler merry laughter.
Would he ever see her face or hear her
sughter again? he wondered.
II.
Maurice Dean, who went down to Somer.
etshire on hearing news of his sisters dis
ppearance, was sorely perplexed tn mn.