Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-26


both sorrow and anger contending in his
glance. Presently her defiant air softe ned and
the mystical light OF new love shone in her
eyes.
do not be angry, Thomas. cannot help it.
My fate has come. If he loves me must needs
love him back"
If he loves you? You do well to put in that
if"
Nay" said the girl, raising her hcnd and
giancing proudly at him, Il do not well! He
Is a gentleman. Gentlemen do not kiss girls
without loving themr'
There was something almost sublime in the
innocence of this speech. and oven Thomas.
angry and incredulous as he was, hesitated
before dispelling the tlelusion. The pathos of
her eyes and voice touched the rough man in
some tender spot. and his own tone in an
swering her grew more gentle.
Put not your trust in man, but in God who
knows mems hearts, Their ways are not our
ways. nor their kisses the kisses of honest
men, who have no time for folly! he Is gen.
tleman, as you say" he went on, after q mo-
ments pause, and, therefore, it is not likely
that he will marry the daughter of poor
farmer. but some lady in his own rank of life.
It's no use being vexed with me, Bronny; my
| conscience obliged me to warn you, and I've
done itI'
As he finished he whistlcd for Math and set
off down the hill without waiting for Bronwen
cacy caused his haste. He knew that the girls
pride must have received heavy blow, and
that, when she realized it, she would choose to
be alone and unmatched. Probably his zeal
FOR her welfare had injured his own cause, but,
if so, he could not help it. He had seen some
| rs she held to be impossible were of daily &C.
| currence. 1t is certain that he left sore
heart behind, it he bore heavy one with him.
Although Bronwen told herself that she did
not believe a word of it. and that it was but the
outcome of jealousy and spleen, the beautiful
gossamer webs which she had been weaving
were shattered, and the first evanescent
glamour OF bliss was gone forever.
She sat on, her head held proudly on high,
until Thomas had completely disappeared from
view; then, with quick gesture of self-aban-
donment, threw herself prone among the
heather and the ferns. handouts of which she.
In an excess of intolerable pain and rage,
plucked up by the roots and scattered around
her.
In mood, as in temper, she was entirely I'M
governed, and every emotion with her was
given Its full play. 1t was Il liza wicked I'M
founded, malicious liel How was it possible
that she. Bronwen Llanaber. the spoiled dar-
ling of her father, and of every one else,
should be insulted by show of love. without
any meaning-reality in it? 1t could not be!
II 1t were SO she would hate the man SO that
nothing would be left save God forgive
her! what dreadful thoughts were these that
came? No, no. it was not true! She would
give no credence to it. Again she could feel
those strong young arms around her, that warm
kiss on her mouth. She loved him! she loved
him! What was the world to them? Let il 60.
he loved her sufficiently to dare its censure for
her sake. So much the better if it frowned upon
them. They would but draw the nearer and
brave its anger together. Well, was it for her
that she was not able to discern at that moment
the heart of the man to whom she was giving
her ardent affection! Not that that same heart
was much worse than others, but of a surety it
was poor thing for a woman to stake her all
upon. Compounded of conflicting elements
OF vanity, ambition, weakness, good nature
ana longing for admiration. On the whole a
| slight and unsatisfactory nature was that of
George Beldon.
The young fellow was not easy in his mind
about his mornings proceedings. He had
been playing with fire and, though no scars
were visible. he had miserable consciousness
that he had burned his fingers more than a
trids. And yet-considering the force of the
| temptation-had he not behaved better than
would most men under the like circumstances?
Confound it! Every fellow kissed pretty girl
now and then. and what worse was any one for
the transaction?
Nevertheless Bronwen's face-with its look
| OF awakening passion and intensity-haunted
him, and prevented his attaining to any great
peace Of mind
II must get out of this" he muttered, as he
beled them carefully. Not all his perplexity
prevented this methodical performance of a
habit
Then his eye fell on the piece of white
heather still decorating his coat, and at the re-
membrance 1t evoked he was weak enough to
experience glow OF something not unlike sat-
isfaction. But stern conscience pricked him
immediately, and he took it out, with the wise
resolution of throwing il away, and stopped
short-weak again.
80 long as keep it hidden" he decided at
last, lit does not matter. Poor little Bronny!
1t will not do to let her see that l value it, but
II put 1t away i'll my pocket book wonder
why fate should be always placing one in awk-
ward situations when one doesn't go out Of
ones way to seek them. better intentoned
fellow than myself doesn't exist, and yet, hang
me il I'm not always getting into some scrape
or other! Am to blame for longing to bask In
every ray of sunshine that comes across my
pathT At this moment he opened the afore-
said pocket book to place within its leaves the
treasure and token Of this poor victory over an
graph, at sight Of which he reddened and
swore little under his breath. Not that there
appeared anything in the photograph to arouse
his ire. 1t was the presentment OF a we'll
featured, conventional-looking young lady,
faultessly alfred in the latest fashion, and APP
pearing prim and demure as society de-
mands that its feminine votaries must do.
To George-whose particular property the
original, along with an excee dinghy handsome
fortune in her own right, was about to be-
come-the picture did not come as an alto
gether pleasing reminder of duty.
Critically and unsympatheticaly regarding
lt-as he had never done before-he decided
that dear Clara must have been in rather a
cross mood when it was taken. At least il GER
tainly had very naughty and repellent ex-
preston.
And-yes, there was no doubt that her lips
were too thin, her eyes too close together. and
her nose just trife too pronouncedly aqui-
line.
Perhaps, however, q certain dark and spark
ling face rose before him in too marked a con-
trast for him to do justice to the somewhat
severe charms of the lady there photographed.
"Yes, it's quite time L left here, if Tn not
to make worse fool of myself he decided.
And then he remembered that the last of
dear Claras letters remained unanswered.
II will answer 1t in person, that will be best
She is already dissatisfied with my prolonged
absence, and if once she grows suspicious
there'll be the devil to pay
Poor Bronwen i hope she's not too hard
hit. She's beautiful ideal sort of creature.
entirely out of place in the kitchen of a farm,
house. And yet-heigh-ho! / suppose she'll
end by marrying that grim-faced fellow and
sinking all her idealsm in the practical work
OF q farmers wife. Well, it is no business of
mine, but one can't help feeling sorry, all the
same"
In this and similar fashion did the weak man
soliloquize, while screwing up his resolution to
the point of leaving the farm and the girl to-
gether. Fortunately for the fufillmept of this
resolution, friend of his, a young fellow who