The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-10-17

pOSSlDle udIlpeT OF Tile SITUATION. Inc
wondrous mothers eye could detect the
faintest signs-interpret the very slight
est symptoms.
"How long does your pretty friend
think of staying with your she would
throw out with a tinge of strained in
difference which she quite intended the
heiress to notice. Another time she
would say, "There is long head under
those golden curls, my dear, mark my
word. l am very glad my boy was
safely booked before that very clever
little girl got chance of laying siege to
him."
"Oh," laughed Marian, 81 don't think
you need have feared. lie does not
seem to take to her at all"
A portentous elem" was her lady
ships sole response to this little outburst.
When she had sounded Marian about her
son, she had taken upon herself to inn
ply-which was in no degree the case
that she was acting with his full con-
nivance. The heiress had long been al
lowing her hopes to grow in this direc-
ton. Dalyell she knew was rich, and if
he sent word that he loved her, there was
no earthly reason for suspectins his sim
cerity. From that hour she had given
full reign to a girish dream conjured up
years before, and each week, each hour
since he had reverently kissed her cheek
ON being accepted, Marian's love for the
first and only man who had made her
heart beat grew wider, deeper and more
intense.
Lady Charlotte's misgivings were but
too we'll founded. Those dark circlets
round hiseyes when he appeared at break
fast after well nigh sleepless nights told
their tale. Herdoubts once aroused count
less trit1es light as air crowded in upon
her to confirm them. She would declare
him looking ill., deplore his wretched ap-
petite, beg him to see doctor, ask if he
had any hidden trouble, and even beg him
to go away for week or two and try a
thorough change.
But he seemed wrapped In stone. To
all her inquiries, her entreaties, he would
only answer that he was pretty we'll
that there was nothing to reveal-that he
would stay where he was.
In the caste to which these two belong
there are barriers of pride which even
motherhood dare not break through.
But oh! beneath this reserve what tear
ing storms were raging in John Dalyell's
breast! His only refuge was in solitude,
and even then what torture! He was
wretched with his mother, more wretch
ed still with Marian, and worst of all
when with Miss Templemore. His new
born passion pursued and detied him like
those Nemeses sent by the Olympians as
scourges to hapless mortals of which he
had read in the classics.
For John needed no Fred Warrender
to tell him his duty now. He had long
since formed to himself the only code of
honor as applied to an engagement which
will bear the test of logic. Whatever
latitude may be extended to the feebler
sex under like conditions, John held, and
rightly too, that man who wins from a
woman her confession of love-her con-
sent to be his own forever-is virtually
married to her from that instant, SO far
as his own liberty is concerned. and that
in such case as the present he must be-
have as though he were already mar
ried man-that is, put the new tempta-
ton away from him, crush it, hide it.,
stamp it out, even though the effort
should kill him.
And yet-and yet-oh, heaven, why
why had he not met her before? After
week of such suffering then as he had
never known or dreamt of, John Dalyell
came to the only sensible determination
the desperate circumstance allowed of.
He informed Lady Charlotte that he
would take her advice and go away.
''And where will you go?' she inquired
gleefully.
Here was a poser for her son. What
should he say? he had never thought about
his destination. AS he hesitated for re-
ply she said:
81 have the very thing, John. Our
good friend Mr.. Price is off to Scotland
for some salmon fishing. Go with him.
He will be charmed. He always is
charmed at everything"
"But he does not start till the day after
Tomorrow" objected her son, casting
down his eyes.
'But it is so good to havea companion,
and surely day can make no difference. :"
And so it was settled, and that one day
did make all the difference.
[To BE CONTINUED