The Forrest City times., 1890-05-24

be by-and-byl could have lanGhe4 aloud at the absurd idea As thohgh such tri1e could matter to the proud and lucky girl who, some time In tho happy future, would be Dick Martin oau's wife!
 Dick noticed and answered my smile. and went on brightly
 Hate and Irene were . little too strong for me, Mrs. Gerrard-and somehow my secret was told. I do not know how; perhaps hereyes asked it if her lips did not"
 .sDick, how dare you?" interjected blushing vividly at this libel on my maidenly self. Fl remember that afternoon if you do not. l know you startled and took me completely by surprise I thought you were going to say something about the game or the weather. as we stood resting under the tree, and quito suddenly 1t was that.
 With which lucid explanation re- tired behind mothers chair.
 ..Oh, was 1t, my dearp No donbt you are right--as told you, my mem ory is a little misty on that point. All l can clearly call to mind is your answer, which, while it made me wildly happy. filled we with feeling of remorse--I was asking you to give up so much for my sake; for, in my sober and reflective moments, it seem- cd to me that Mp. Gerrard must incv- itably suspect my motives and object to me, and that must either rob 1rcne of all she had grown to look upon us her right or give her up. was not strong enough to suppress my love for her, nor vain enough to think could make full compensation for all her losses, if I persisted in claiming her hand. But thank Heaven 1t will bc all smooth sailing now!"
 .sThank Heaven. then. Dick, for uncle Archie's wife, since she has helped us out of our terrible difficulty. But am not hattered. sir, to find that you took me with such extreme re- luctance after all.
 Dick laughed. not making the least attempt to defend himself. Mother looked at us with puzzled smile. and said, in half-reproach- full tone
 ..Well, well, young people are queer creatures. 1 suppose you two care for nothing while you have each other.
 And you. mother" cried Dick and |; and, though poor mother shook her head and did her best to maintain her role of gentle martyrdom, she could not help being pleased with the spon- tancity of out reply.
 You are good children" she said, looking from Dicks face to mine; ..but cannot understand you, all the same. thought Irene, at least, had some love for the old Hall, and would regret being shut out from the house 1 in which her father was born.
 .'Indeed should. mother.' broke 1 in, indignantly. ..But why should we contemplate being shut out from the dear old place? Do you think uncle Archie's wife will be such Gorgon as l to object to tho visits of her husband nearest relatives--or that he has mar. ried some wholly unpresentable crea- turep'f
 Heaven knows what he has mar. ried." mother answered bitterly. and l seemed 10 measure all the depth o her disappointment as l heard the harsh words fall from her gentle lips | for as rule, shc was most charitable 1 in all her judgments, and always sel her lace against scandalous gossip, .Heaven knows whom he has mar. ried. But we can hardly imagine thai i he has made a very wise or prudent choice. When men of his age fall ir love, there is no supreme act of folly that they will not commit" ..Well, let us hope that uncle Archie has not been tempted to do anything that is not for his good. said with n successful attempt at cheerful uncon- cern; ..and, at any rate. until she makes her appearance and says or does something to convict herself, let us give Mrs. Archie the benefit of the doubt
 Dick nodded approvingly at me; and from that time. and through the busy weeks that followed. l kept per sistently to that argument. with the result that l persuaded mother to make the best of the unfortunate even, and answer uncle Archie's apologetic letter with few cold but friendly words. More l could not extort; and even this concession cost me much coaxing and her many tears.
 II cannot pretend that I think he has behaved we'll and l will not. Irene. He does not think it himself. ' she said, as she directed the letter with a reluctant hand. "For your sake. and for the sake of old times. will not quarrel; but, having treated us as he has, he cannot expect com. pliments and congratulations from me-
 felt there was some justice and truth in her words, and, though would not make the admission. did not attempt to conlrovert them. Uncle Archie's letters were not onl, unquestionably apologetic they were curiously reticent. He told us that he was married and tbat his wife was young, but of her name and antecc. dents said simply nothing
 Naturally tho curiosity felt on thi: point was not confined to ourselves but was shared by all Ludleigh, through which the news of tho Squirc's marriage spread like wild fire" Never had tho gossips of the place had so fine u feast of wonder and conjecture, and, am sure. my ears, as we'll Ii, those of my uncle and my unknown aunt, should have tingled from morn, ing till night II there was any truth in tho old saying.
 Dick had gone back to his tempt, chambers to plunge with double xest into tho work that was for two now and mother shut herself up and re- fused to see all callers for fortnight; so had 10 bear the brunt of all the