Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-05-03
A REPRINTED HEROISM.

1t was not poor Ethel's fault in the
least She could not prevent Tom Ken
dali loving her any more than she could
help being the dimpled, merry little body
that she was. Tom could not have told
you when he began to care for her, be-
cause as far back as he could remember
Ethel had been the prettiest girl in the
world to him
Only low garden wall separated the
two houses, and it was quite natural that
Tom should come over it every day. 1t
was little shorter way than around
through the gate, he would say; and
Ethel gazed admiringly at him as he
cleared the wall at a bound 1t was lone
some at home for him with only the old
housekeeper and his father, and they did
not take the lively interest which Ethel
did in kites and dead insects. Toms
mother had died in giving birth to him +;
so he had never known the tender words
and loving touches for which in his child.
lsh way he had unccnsciously hungered
His father, a sombre, studious man, lost
all his interest in the world in losing the
one woman who understood him and
frightened his home like a sunbeam.
Though he was very fond of Tom and
kind to him, in his own quiet way, vet
the child stood little i'll awe of him, and
gave his father none of the childish con
tdences or merry chatter which might
have reused the silent man
They were not rich, but Mr.. Kendall
had small income from certain proper.
ties he owned, and on that they lived the
father among his books and studies, and
the son growing up, as children will It
Is way they have.
Ethel's mother was widow and
wealthy. Besides being the only daugh-
ter, Ethel was an heircss in her own
right, and would be mistress of large
fortune as soon as she reached the ace of
twenty two. Mrs. Van Zandt was fully
alive to the importance of her daughters
prospects, but the thought of money
never troubled either Tom or Ethel.
As they both grew older however,
and Ethel was almost eighteen, the I'M
pleasant fact became evident TO Tom that
Mrs Van Zandt disliked him He had not
noticed it as child perhaps the dislike
was only passive then-perhaps not there
at all; but it certainly seemed to be there
now Her bow was frieid, her manner
icy; the dear little drawing room had
lost its coziness for him.
And now, unknown to Tom, the worst
had happened. Mrs Van Zandt had for
hidden Ethel to have anything further
to do with him, and Ethel had heard the
edict in silence. Accustomed to obey.
her silence was taken for assent; and
Mrs. Van Zandt congratulated herself on
the management with which she had set
tied this little affair.
And poor Tom He could not under
stand, at first, why all his invitations
were refused by Ethel, why she was no
longer sat home' to him, no more de
lightful little strolls; no more rides
What was the matter? There was only
one solution of the mystery, and that
was one which he did not like to discuss
even with himself
One moonlit evening Ethel had gone
down TO the garden, and there, leaning
on the little wall, was Tom She started
back, but he called her so imploringly
that she half hesltated, and then was
lost; Tor in another moment she too was
leaning on the garden fence
"0h, Tom, Tom, - she whispered, 81
must go back-I mustl"
ttNou con hare l.,
in command, half entreaty, ''what is the
matter with you anyhow Lately you
refuse to see me; you run away if 1 come
in sight, and now you are unwilling even
to speak to me. No shall not let you
go till you tell me. Out with it,"
And as the dismal story was told Tom
gnawed the ends of his moustache dill
gently, and then the wretch laughed
actually laughed. She looked up at him
in surprise
DO not be angry, Ethel" he said
"Of course, it is rather serious; but do
you think it will stop my loving you7
Why, Ethel, dear, nothing on earth can
do that. I wish though had known this
sooner, although ] have suspected as
much from the first | shall set my wits
to work at once, and we'll see, Ethel
we'll see. So don't cry Certainly you
must obey your mother as well as you
can; but have not made any promise
to her, nor do intend to give you up
Well seei"
And little later as Ethel went softly
up stairs, she thought to herself how wise
and brave he was