Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-06-06
a REPENTED HEROlSM.

1t was not poor Ethels fault In the
least. She could not prevent Tom
Kendall 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 be-
gan to care for her, because as far
back as he could remember Ethel had
been the prettiest girl in the world to
him.
Only low garden wall separated
the two houses, and it was quite nat
ural that Tom should come over it
every day. 1t was a little shorter
way than around through the gate,
he would say, and Ethel gazed admir-
ingly at him as he cleared the wall at
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 insects. Toms mother
had died in giving birth to him; so he
had never known the tender words
and loving touches for which in his
childish way he had unconsciously
hungered. His father, a sombre, stu
dious man, lost all his interest in the
world in losing the one woman who
understood him and frightened his
home like a sunbeam. Though he
was very fond of Tom 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
condolences or merry chatter which
might have reused the silent man.
They were not rich; but Mr.. Ken
dali had a small income from certain
properties he owned, and on that
they lived the father among his
books and studies. and the son grow
ing up, as children will 1t is a way
they have.
Ethels mother was a widow and
wealthy. Besides being the only
daughter, Ethel was an heiress in her
own right, and would be mistress of
large fortune as soon as she reached
the age of twenty-five. Mrs Van
Zandt was fully alive to the impor-
tance Of her daughters prospects,
but the thought Of money never
troubled either Tom or Ethel.
As they both grew older, however,
and Ethel was almost eighteen, the
unpleasant fact became evident to
Tom that Mrs. Van Zandt disliked
him. He had not noticed it as a
child; perhaps the dislike was only
passive then-perhaps not there at
all, but it certainly seemed to be
there now. Her bow 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 Ac-
customed to obey, her silence was
taken for assent, and Mrs. Van Zandt
congratulated herself on the manage
ment with which she had settled this
little affair.
And poor Tom He could not un-
derstand, at first, why all his invita-
tions 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 did not
like to discuss even with himself.
One moonlit evening Ethel had
leaning on the little wall, was Tom.
She started back, but he called her so
imploringly that she half hesitated,
and then was lost, for in another mo-
ment she too was leaning on the gar
den fence.
''Oh, Tom, Tom, she whispered, Il
must go back-I must y
Now see here, Ethel, he said, half
in command, half entreaty, what is
the matter with you anyhow Lately
you refuse TO see me, you run away If
/ come in sight, and now you are un-
willing even TO speak TO me. No-1
shall not let you go till you tell me.
Out with it -
And as the dismal story was told
Tom gnawed the ends OF his nous
tache diligently, and then the wretch
laughed, actually laughed. She looked
up at him in surprise.
DO not be angry, Ethel, he said.
"Of course, it is rather serious; but
do you think it will stop my loving
your Why, Ethel, dear, nothing on
earth can.do. that. l wish though |
had known this sooner, although
have suspected as much from the
first. | shall set my wits to work at
once, and we'll see, Ethel, we'll see.
So don't cry. Certainly you must
obey your mother as well as you can /;
but have not made any promise to
her. nor do intend TO give you up.
Well see ~
And little later, as Ethel went
softly up stairs, she thought to her
self how wise and brave he WAS.
The day was glorious. the salt