The National tribune., 1890-09-18

| defiance of tho edict lately gone forth in the
| Bradbury household, the young lady in ques-
tion took pains to meet the man under cloud
| with gracious smile, and twice during the
evening permitted him to follow her and en-
| gage in confidential conversation.
The last prolonged conference was broken up
| by the unexpected appearance of Mrs. Brad
| bury, who iciy acknowledged the Captains
| deep bows and hurried her daughter away
| plea Of the late hour. The girl however did
! not leave so hastily that she had not time to
hear "The Art Gallery at TO-" in pleading
| tone, and nod assent. with a defiant look mann
maward
| A week later, Mt the close of a brilliant day,
| the sunset light touched to Opalescent splen-
| dor the white shaft of the great monument,
and warmed to rosy tints the cold marble of the
| Capitol itself High up on the western front
of that stately building calmly surveying the
| beautiful city, stood man and woman. They
had slowly toiled up the long flight Of steps
the rough temporary structure IN use during
| tho building of the new Capitol front, and
these two people seemed, as it were, completely
isolated from the world At this hour the ma
jestic pile is emptied of its din. The workmen
have gone from among tho massive blocks of
building. stones. Sight-scers rarely climb these
tiresome steps when the building is closed.
| The two seemed alone in the sublimitY of
their surroundings.
The sun went down; gray shadows aud soft
mighty structure, as the lover on the steps ca
res5ed with eyes and voice and lips the sweet
woman whose face, young and warm and ten
der, turned in confidence to his own.
. 1t ia late we must 60"
1t was the woman Prudence that spoke.
and you will risk your fathers anger. ]
may go to him2 You fear uothingP
" Is this not FREQ country" cried the girl
paily and she turned, saluting tho monument
OF independence upon which she stood, and
with u half-mockiug, halfeRrnest laugh. she
blew upward from her finger-tips a kiss TO the
bronze maid of freedom who crowns the stately
dome. American girls arc not shut up in
moated castles, nor spirited away to mountain
Businesses, but" looking at him silly, they are
occasionally disnherited"
Are thcy2' laughed the lover; "Well IL
one fair lady in particular can live on Cap
tan's pay, and DO happy in his love, he az least
will have no regrets for other treasure, 10
craving for greater wealth. But will she, dare
she risk such lilo aad possible poverty and
depryation2"
The young woman laid her hand in his, hold
out TO her, saying meokly, "We will risk the
world together, Roger"
in that hour there was no disturbing recol-
lection of red hair and a Roman nose.
The bomb was precipitated in the Bradbury
home tho next morning in manner not cal
CuIatcd on by the lovers Breakfast had pro-
CetuBl IN silence. lbIANUuiyt HIt was aD-
sorhed in the paper John, jr., cut his steak
with hard. determined look, while Eyalyn
Gdgetcd guiltily in her chair, apparently on
the point Of breaking the silence, yet afraid
OF her own voice.
Papa" it was Evalyn who had finally gath
cred the courage TO speak. Tho stout, good
humorcd man looked up from his paper with
absorbed inteTrngatory Ycs2"
May | scs you after bTeakfa5tp with
little gasp but it had the true ring Of the
Bradbury decision. "And l." added John, jr.,
have word to say to Evalyn. As my remarks
arc not confidential. aud on family matters, |
prefer TO speak now
Proceed" said Eyalyn coolly. "You have
my permission
Strained relations had replaced the bon COM
radere OF brother and sister. and the defiant
CLEAN in the girls eye did not argue well for
any show of brothcrly authority or unreason-
abieness.
Eyalyn," continued the young Doctor, lay
ing down his fork. " how does IL happen that
you have dcfied the wishes OF your mother and
brother, and have entered into ciandcstine re-
lations with a man forbidden your fathers
houser You have not only met him repeat
edly. but IN all probability have put yourself
IN the clutches OF u fortune hunter"
John Bradbury" The slender girl was
on her feet. She looked inches taller in her
superb wrath. She was one OF the few women
vino are beautIiied by anger. The flash in her
eye the red flush either cheek made bright
face brilliant one.
Children intorposcd the calm voice OF
the mother. such an exhibition is unsecmIy.
You surprise me. John. IL you have anything
OF Importance TO say. 10 so without rudcnCs5 10
your sister; aud, Eyalyn, when your brother
has done. you can be heard in your own de-
fruse, Your father is the proper person to
judge of the matter
Dr. Bradbury, whose mind was really very
much III yidcd at this time on an important
case, gave his attention with sli2htiy-bore
look lie wasa man who absorbed in his pro-
fcsslon, casscd all matters of youthful grief
and sentiment as trivial aud uumportant mat
tiers for women 10 deal with, not business men.
- have only TO repeat to you. father con-
tnuod John, that Eyalyn, in defiance OF our
wishes and of propyioty, is secretly meeting
this man Nixon, who is forbidden our house"
And whyY" burst the girl in tense, angry
tones. Simply that you feared | would care
for him. 1t was not because OF the uniounded
rum0r, which you never believed, but used us
an excuse To separate us. | have seen a letter
from his post commander, which completely
oxoneratos him. You knew of this and yet
declined to make amends 10 him. Papa" con-
tinued the ,iTi, " moro honorable, true-heaTt-
cd man never lived than Roger Nixon, and "
Evalyn, do you mean to say that you are
in love with that mani p"
1t was her mother who spoke, and while the
girl blushcd painfully at the cruelly-blunt
question, she returned her mothers glance
fully and unillnchinsly.
g do and | now want to explain 1t all TO
papa lie Is always so kind that l do not
think he will be willing To persecuto man
who has committed no greater crime than TO
love his daughter"
Poor, dear martyr!" sneered John under
his breath. Evalyn gave him a withering
glance but would waste no more words ON
him.
well, WELL" said Dr. Bradbury, ST., "this
Is a most unexpected turn of events. | thought
Nixon quito fellow" Evalyn looked de-
lighted. But your mothers opinion ought
TO satisfy you"
But mamma has been prejudiced by John.
| think, papa, when my happiness is at stake,
that his commercial ideas OF marriage should
not be takon into consideration"
But. child would you marry in spite of the
wishes OF your lamily2"
Papa, dear. can't you SEQ it is only wicked
prejudice2 lie is noble and good, and Il
love him dearly. /" -
Miss Bradbury fell back on wOman's last
argument. Her sobs seemed to shake the reso-
luton OF her father.
" My dear, my dear, stop crying! Let us be
reasonable. l have no wish to see you msera-
bic. and l am sure your mother has not nor
John. John may have boon too hasty and -
Papa, you are too lovely !"-and two arms
were around his neck, and hot tears were fall
ing OH the broad. shining expanso of DIR. Brad
bury's shiIt-frout.
81 ~