The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-03-08

by their insinuations, and petulantly
charged her with preference for his
rival, with faithlessness and duplicitv.
"Here, Charlie, take your ring" she
replied, not unkindly. ''You are only a
boy; we never could make each other
happy. once thought that we might.
but it was not to be; so let US part good
| friends, now, while there is nothing to
regret or forget"
Angry and wounded in vanity, Charlie
left herat the gate, free, and went away
free himself. But this was the least of
her sorrow; the tears that dampened her
pillow that night were not for a love
that was lost, but for love that had
never been told. What" said she to
herself, was sae meaning, tho only
possible Interpretation, of Melville's
embarrassment at finding me IN the
boat, his constraint and subsequent
avoidance, if not that he didn't wish to
meet me, having discovered that while
wore the ring of one, l had given my
heart, unasked, unwanted, to another.
He despises me formy weakness-would
not attend the lawn party because he
did not wish to meet me. And yet we
were to be such friends; he warned me
that we were to be nothing more. 1T
| is easy to be lovers or haters,' he said.
but harder to be nothing but friends.'"
4
All the summer people were now gone.
Even Charlie had left, to pass the winter
in the city; and the village became again
anonymously dull. Maple-leayes =
red and drifted to the ground, the SLOW
came and faded again from the hills,
and the clover-blossoms followed; but
nothing occurred to vary the ioyless
dreariness of Laura's life. In hotel
corridor, however, of a distant city, Mel
vile now by chance encountered Char
lie, who was beaming with happiness
and holding out his hand frankly as he
advanced.
81 once had grudge against you, old
fellow" said he, twas awfully jealous;
but it's all over now that Pm married.
Come up and see my wife. Yes, you
really must!' and taking him by the
arm and refusing mo" for an answer,
he led him to the parlor.
1t was with the utmost reluctance that
Melville consented to go. He was Sc
cretly afraid to meet her, fearing that
has emotions would overmaster him;
and yet he was longing to see her: be-
sides which, Charlie was so persistent he
could scarcely help going, whether he
wished to or not.
81 thought you said she was here?"
said Melville, glancing around the room.
''lIere she is was the reply, as a
winsome, pretty girl came forward to
meet them. Jennie, this is my friend
Mr.. Melville. 1t was case of mutual,
first-sight love-" he added, laughingly.
Wasn't it, my dear?"
"Why l thought you married-that is,
that you were to marry-Miss Mayne?"
said Melville, in a:nazement.
ooh! 1 was" replied Charlie, "but
she said was only boy and broke
it off. But we're the best of friends.
See that pretty pin that Jennie wearsf
That's from Laura"
Il suppose she is still in Falltown?"
said Melville, with q sorry attempt at
| nonchalance; and hearing that she was,
llC cACuStu IlIlotll IdGutE uuCcrtUlOHl-
ously, Jennie thought, and started at
once, travelling a night and day on his
way back to the village. -
Though it was somewhat late when.
he reached his journeys end, he went
at once to the Mayne dwelling. AS he
rang the bell he heard light step ad-
vancing in the porch, and a never-for-
gotten voice spoke through the dark
ness. Father is not at home, sir,-is
somewhere about the village, though,
think"
us this Miss Mayne?" he inquired,
though he knew full we'll whose voice
it was.
at is" she replied, startled at some
thing strangely familiar in his tone, yet
unable to see him clearly as he stood in
the shadow of clambering vine.
He walked forward. And do you
not know me? Have you forgotten? or
is It that you wish to forget?'
''No, have not forgotten" she said,
striving to speak composedly, though
her heart beat so loudly she thought he
must surely hear it.
Il thought you were married." he
went on, were married to Charlie
thought so until twenty-four hours ago;
and | have come thousand miles since
then
He still held her hand, and his tone
and actions told her plainly on what
errand he had come. Thus, with her
heart at ease, she could afford, woman
like, to be tantalizing. 81 am really
glad to see YOU" she replied. l feared,
from your sudden disappearance with
out saying goodbye, that our friend
ship was not after all, so eminently
successfulas you had planned"
''No; l confess that | failed" he an
swered, "my friendship grew into love
long before l dared to acknowledge it,
even to myself; and now, in wild, sud-
den hope, have come to see what has
become of yours. May not hope that
it is something more than friendship,
Laura?"
"Oh! it is easy enough to be lover,
you know you once said," she replied,
with a smile. Whereupon, jumping to
a conclusion, he kissed her, and told her
a number of sweet things which an out
slider might have considered the most
absurd kind of fiattery-how constantly
he had thought of her, and what thrill