The Portland daily press., 1890-04-26
A REPENTED HERoISM.
rTimes-D Democrat


least. She could not prevent Tom Ken
dsll 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 his offerings of apples
and sticky taffy; to her that he senf>ell
his Observation-Disclosures with impossi-
BILE cupids shooting arrows through ma
genta colored hearts-but Ethel thought
they were perfect, and side by side the
two would spell out the stupid little
verses.
Only low garden wall separated the
two houses, and it was quite natural that
Tom should come over it every day.--1.tt
was q little shorter way them around
through the gate, be would say, and
Ethel ggaazzssa adm.ringly at him as he
cleared the wall at bound. 1t was lone
some 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,
70 he had never known the tender words
and loving touches for which in his child
ish way he had unconsciously hungered.
Bis father, a somber, studious man, lost
all his interest in the world in losing the
enc 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.. Kendall
had small income from certain proper
ties 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.
Ethel's mother was a widow and
wealthy. Besides being the only daugh-
ter, Ethel was an heiress in her own
right, and would be mistress of large
fortune as soon as she reached the age
OF 20. Mrs. Van Zandt was fully alive
to the importance of her daughters pros
poets. but the thought of money never
troubled either Tom or Ethel.
As they both grew older, however, and
Ethel was almost IS, the unpleasant fact
became evident to Tom that Mrs. Van
Zandt disliked him. He had not noticed
it as child-perhaps the dislike was
passive then-perhaps not there at all;
but 1t 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 bod Cor
hidden 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 herself on
the management with which she had
settled this little affair. Unpleasant it was
TO her, as trouble of any kind always was,
but she considered it duty to herself
that her daughter should make brilliant
match. AS for the unimportant matter
Of her daughters sentiments in the case, it
troubled her not bit; and as for Tom
Kendall! "Poohl all childish nonsense"
and up went the aristocratic nose. The
very ribbons in her stylish breakfast cap
bristled with dignity.
And Poor Toni He could not under
stand, at first, why all his invitations
were refused by Ethel, why she was no
longer sat home" to him; no more de-
hghtful 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 gone
down to the garden, and there, 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 moment she too was lean
ing on the garden fence.
"Oh, Tom, Tom," she whispered, 81
must 60 back-I must"
"Ncw, 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 unwilling even
to speak to me. No, shall not let you
60 till you tell me. Out with it'll"
And as the dismal story was told Tom
gnawed the ends of his mustache dill
gently, and then the wretch laughed
actually laughed She looked 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 you?
Why, Ethel, dear. nothing on earth can
do that. l wish, though, had known
this sooner, although have suspected as
much from the first. l shall set my wits
70 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 I intend to give you up.
Wen seel"
And little later, as Ethel went softly
up stairs, she thought to herself how wise
and brave he was.
The day was glorious; the aalt breath
OF the sea swept over the yacht; the gulls
dipped and rose; the little craft danced
aiong-yes, it was glorious day. The
ray party on deck were enjoying it to
the utmost, and the laughter and chat
mingled with the plash Of the white
capped waves.
Ethel leaned against the railing and
watched the ripples gliding by. Very
lovely she was looking, In the soft creamy
folds OF her yachting costume, with the
bars of gold across it, and the white
wings in the little sailor hat. Lord Fenyll
st her side gazed at her In approval, and
her an awfully jolly little
girl. he had met her that day for the
flrst time, and had Immediately surren-
dsred. All the morning he had monop-
oaixed her, and Mrs. Van Zandt, at dis
lance. was watching the performance
with great satisfaction.
Already, In her minds eye, she saw
herself installed as mother-in-law in
Lord Fenyll's magnificent country house;
Ihe saw herself seated In his beautiful
carriage, smiling and bowling to congrat-
alsting friends; she beheld In fancy his
famous town house filled with her guests;
The saw-and the rose colored vision
doAted quite plainly before her eyes,
oiotting out the sea and the sky, the
ship and the scenes on deck. Mrs. Van
1andt had dozed off very comfortably.
IL is possible that her slumbers would
not nave been 80 peaceful had she beheld
.ne next act OF the drama. My lord, in
nus eagerness to fetch Miss Van Zandt a