Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-01-11


vited to attend. No one had been left
out or forgotten but the one person
whom poor Mrs. Bevan would have
wished to be present, Tessa thought
sadly.
The dead woman, who had been of
so little account to anyone in her life
time, had suddenly become invested
with all the dread Importance which
death gives even to the meanest and
lowliest ones.
Mrs. Calender, who had systematic
ally overlooked and ignored her when
alive, now spoke of her with lowered
voice and in tone of deepest respect
and affection, which half amused, half
irritated Tessa.
The girl had slipped unobserved out
of the drawing room-where the
female relatives were discussing under
their breath the merits of the dead
woman-into the cool scented garden.
Austen and most of the gentlemen
were still in the dining room. and she
was free to wanderup and down undis-
turbed.
She opened the gate by-and-by and
looked out into the quiet lane. The
! twilight was gathering rapidly; here
| and there u glow worm twinkled its
tiny lamp on the hedge, and a few
stars shone feebly in the clouded sky.
As she stood leaning against the gate
she noticed mans figure approaching
down the lane.
He walked slowly, and his hat was
pulled down over his eyes, and, as he
came nearer, Tessa recognized Antony
Bevan. With quick impulslye move
ment she went forward to meet him
and held out her hand.
''Mr. Bevan-you know?" she asked
softly.
''Yes, know. | got your note this
morning; and could not rest-I felt /
must Gomez fancied might possibly
see you" he said hurriedly. when
was it?n
Three days ago." 1essa glanced
anxiously back at the house. The
laurel walk; but, to her relief, the
blinds were drawn down and the gas
lighted.
'tDid she speak of me?n
Speak OF you? / don't think she
ever thought of anyone but you"
Tessa said with sad directuess. .'She
sent you message with her dying
breath.
What was it?"
Resolutely Anthony forced himself
to speak calmly; but the drawn face
and set lips told Tessa how hard the
struggle was, and her heart ached for
him.
!" Nh love to Anthony-my best
| love that was all. She never thought
of Austen---of anyone but you" Tessa
said sadly.
81 am glad of it; confound him.
and Anthony's eyes flashed angrily.
..He has kept US apart all these years.
She would have forgiven me and sent
for me long ago; but she dared not be-
cause OF him."
Tessa's cheeks flushed. 1t was one
thing to be sorry for Antony, but
quite another to stand by and hear
Austen blamed--whether justly or I'M
justly mattered not to her one whit.
She was his chosen wife; she must
stand up for and defend him Loyalty
before all the world
She looked up with indignant eyes.
ASK yourself--was there no cause?"
she said coldly. Contrast his life,
his pure blameless 1ife---with yours"
''Oh, know! Austen was always a
saint and Antony gave bitter
sneering laugh-''alway5 the straitest
member of the straitest sect of the
Pharisees! He was never like other
young men-never knew their tempta-
lions and follies.'
"You have no right to speak against
im'-Tessa raised her pretty pale
face proudly-''to me at all events
and will not listen!"
'.Ah, forgot" and Anthony put a
OBTAINING hand gently upon the girls
arm. mo; / had no right to do so.
You are to be Austen's wife, hear?''
Eyes
Tessa looked back into the eyes
which were regarding her with an odd
compassion with defiant smile.
''Ah he was always the lucky one!''
ANU AnOoHJ gave an 6HFlOuo ihuS H.
He gets all the good things OF life!
And so you are to be my sister Miss
Caroline? Well, / don't envy Austen
many of his possessions, but / do envy
him his wife, he added with hard
laugh.
Tessa looked at him wistfully.
"Yod are married yourself, are you
not?" she asked. sis your wife liv-
ing?"
"Yes; we have three children now.
dare say they have told you hard
things about my wife, Miss Caroline
have they not? She is not lady, you
knew; but she is good woman, and
she has been good wife to me. Poor
Milly" he went on, with the old indie
Unable regret in his voice. II should
like you 10 know her some day, Miss
Caroline. / think you would like
her."
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