Thomas County cat., 1890-10-30
REPENTED HEROISM.

1t was not poor Ethel's fault in the
feast. She could not prevent Tom Ken
dali loving her any more than she could
help being the dimpled merry little body
that she was. Tom could not have told
you when he began to care for her, be-
cause as far back as he could remember
Ethel had been the prettiest girl in the
world TO him When she was only a
very little girl, whose long yellow curls
fell down to her waist, it was her school
books that Tom carried: it was to her
that he brought her offerings of apples
and sticky taffy; to her that he sent all
his valentines valentines with impOS-
sible cupids shooting arrows through
magenta colored hearts s-but Ethel
thought they were perfect, and side by
side the two would spell out the stupid
little verses.
Only a low garden wall separated the
two houses, and it was quite natural
that Tom should come over it every
day. 1t was little shorter way than
around through the gate, he would say,
and Ethel gazed admiringly at him as
le cleared the wall at a bound. 1t was
lonesome at home for him with only the
old housekeeper and his father, and
they did not take the lively interest
which Ethel did in kites and dead in
soct. Toms mother had died in giving
birth to him, SO he had never known
tie tender words and loving touches
for which in his childish way he had
,uccopscionslv hungered- His father, a
is0ber, studiouS man, lost all Ills interest
in the world IN losing the one woman
who understood him and frightened
his home Ike sunbeam. Though he
was very fond OF rOm and kind to him,
in his own quiet way, yet the child
stood little in awe of him, and gave
his father none of the childish conf
dences or merry chatter which might
have reused the silent man.
They were not rich, but Mr.. Kendall
had a small income from certain pro-
perties he owned, and on that they lived;
the father among his books and studies
and the son growing up as children will.
1t is way they have.
Ethels mother was widow and
wealthy. Besides being the only dau-
ghter, Ethel was an heiress in her own
right, and would be mistress of a large
fortuEe as soon as she reached the age
of %. Mrs. Van Zandt was fully alive
to the Importance of her daughters
prospects, but the thought of money
never troubled either Ethel or Tom.
AS they both grew older, however,
and Ethel was almost Is, the un-
pleasant fact became evident to Tom
that Mrs. Van Zandt disliked him.
He had not noticed it as a child
perhaps the dislike was passive then
tainly seemed to be there now. Her
brow was frigid, her manner icy; the
dear little drawing room had lost its
coziness for him.
And now, unknown to Tom. the
worst had happened Mrs. Van Zandt
had forbidden Ethel to have anything
further to do with him, and Ethel had
heard the edict in silence. Accustomed
to obey, her silence was taken for assent;
and Mrs. Van Zandt congratulated her
self on the management with which she
had settled this little affair. Unpleas-
ant it was to her, as trouble of any
kind always was, but she considered it
duty to herself that her daughter
should make a brilliant match. AS for
the unimportant matter of her daugh-
tiers sentiments in the case, it troubled
her not bit, and as for Tom Kendall,
"Pooh! all childish nonsence"-and UP
went the aristocratic nose The very
ribbons in her stylish breakfast cap
bristled with dignity.
And poor Tom! He could not un
de:3tand, at first, why all his invita-
lions were refused by Ethel, why she
was no longer ''at home" to him: no
more delightful little strOlls: no more
rides. What was the matter? There
was only one solution of the mystery.
and that was one which he Gid not
like to discuss even with himself.
One moonlight evening Ethel had
gone down to the garden, and there.
leaning on the little wall, was Tom.
She started back, but he called her so
.mploringly that she half hesitated and
then was lost, for in another moment
she too was leaning OH the garden
FENCE.
"Oh, Tom, Tom," she Whispered, 81
t.ust go back-I must"
"Now, see here, Ethel" he said, half
IE command, half entreaty. what is the
matter with You, anyhow? Lately you
refuse to see me; you run away if I:
,csIs in sight, and now you are unwill-
nS even to speak to me- No. i shan
nc: L.. you go till you tell ne. Gut
viii. it..'