The morning call., 1891-09-08
TOM BERNERS'
EXPERIMENT.
BT c. V. MAITLAND.

had been making that half gay, half shy
allusion to their wedding trip next month
Why, only the other day he had been full OF
eager suggestions and pleasant plans, and
bright little pictures of the scenes they
would visit Did he think her unmaidenlY
for this one poor hint Of hers, that Montreal
WAS not so very far cut Of reach from
Niagara, and if they we're going to the
latter
Milly had tears in her eyes as she got up
from her low seat by the library IRE, where
the lovers had been left to themselves for
the most part of this rainy morning. Ihere
were plenty of other guests IN the house
the drawing-room. the MUSHROOM and
billiard-room were full; and how the library
had Just these two in it was an odd thing
which had occasionally happened before,
and.whch Tom Berners at least had never
cared to question, but simply and gratefully
to accept To-day, however - although
Milly, with her eyes on her embroidery, had
not observed 1.-THE had glanced round I'M
easily, as If for a way of escape, on hndlng
they were left alone; and he had moved
about restlessly, getting up more than once
10 watch the dip, drip of the rain upon the
windOW-IaueS and had actually seemed
more interested in the discussion OF the
weather, than in any other TO. lc proached.
Then Miliy hnd observed that she was IN
hopes the storms had taken possession or
this month, because they meant TO leu the
next one 20 scot free; and had ShylY forced
herself to that little remark about Niagara,
thinking to please her lover in 50 doing. As
Il didn't please him, however
As l said she gol up from her low seat by
the FIRE, and walked proudly away-to hide
the tears IN her eyes-to the window, where,
ike her lover r few moments ago, she
stood looking out at the drenChed landscape.
Just q dull gray over everything; the SOD
den lawn, the broad, low-lyng pasture
feds beyond; the dismal little river wind
ing in and out among them; dreary look
in Milly's lace, too, as ii pressed against the
pane; the past mad been so overcast, and
now the future, which Tom Berners had
promised her to make so bright
Suddenly she turned round with:
You did not tell NE your sister was eX-
Decting any other guests to day. But surely
il cannot be an ordinary visitor In all THIS
pelting rain"
Tom Berners hesilated an instant Then
he came and joined her at the window.
The carriage, with its curtains all butt lned
down to keep out tile storm, had by this
time dashed around the gravel sweep before
the window The occupant, or occupants,
could not be seen; only the one portmanteau
strapped behind, outlined under tile pro-
tectng oilclotb.
Berners had turned paler than before.
sit is not an ordinary visitor, Milly." hA
said quietly.
The girl looked up at him in surprise at
something in his tOne-something In his
face, too, now that she observed it.
What is the matter? Who is itP Surely
you are not i'll? she cried.
She had put her hand quickly on his arm,
her own fGce paliug little; but he took nc
notice.
Not an ordinary visitor" he repeated.
1T is my cousin, Philip ChalOner."
The color rushed into her face. She let
her hand fall from his arm; but she gave no
other sign, still keeping heT clear brown
eyes appraised to his.
His had dropped upon the ground, how
ever. He went on, nurriedly:
Perhaps l have done wrong; If so, you
must forgive me. You remember, when
you first consented to be my wife, you told
me you had been engaged before"
when | was Il, she said, in a low voice.
but that poverty on both sides had parted
you; and that you we're afraid, perhaps,
you might not be quite able to forget"
Again her lips moved; but this time no
sound came from them. Her eyes had not
once quilted his unconscious face.
If, - he went on, still with his gaze upon
the ground, There were no poverty to part
you now? Mildred. Philip ChalOner Is no
longer poor man; he comes to-day to ask
whether you have forgotten the past. To-
day you must choose between us, freely,
knowing each OF US will frankly accept your
decision"
There came DO answer in the pause. Now
at last her eyes were lowered in their turn,
and she stood before him very cold and
still. His questioning eyes could get no
answer as he looked at her.
did not mean to take you thus by sur
prise, he added, hurriedly- Il did not eX-
pect MIN to-day until | got his telegram at
N IN tel
you all the morning l wrote to him, in
viuDg him; but l did not think that be
would ba so sudden. You will forgive that
Mildred?"
There came listening look into her face
as If some distant sound shut out his voice.
And then he heard II toO-a mans tread in
the hall, coming this way.
1t is his step" she said, under her
breath. She was all white and quvering;
he could see the strain she put upon herself.
Suddenly she turned to him as the step
drew nearer:
lone moment" she said, in a husky
voice, as low as to be almost whisper :;
tell newly have you done this thing?'
For an instant he changed color. This
thing ?"-how could she know that Philip
Chaloner was no longer a poor man, be =
cause the successful lover had loved hi
love, "even TO the half of his kingdom? ?"
The Berners estate was large enough for
two, Tom Berners had told himself and
Philip; and Philip must share with him as
a brother, as the two had almost been
when boys. But how COLD Milly know of
this arrangement?
He did not dream she did not when he
began to answer, somewhat incOherently,
that he did not know until last week her
former lovers name - and then - and
then
She cut him short, pressing her two
trembling hands together.
Zone moment" she said again, sis 1t that
you have ceased to love me?
"MillyP' Just that one hoarse, broken
word was all the answer that she needed,
looking up into his haggard Ease. And she
slipped her hand into his arm and turned
round as the door was opened.
Berners. as if in a dream, felt himself
drawn gently toward it. As if in a dream,
he saw the girl upon his arm putting out
her free hand to the newcomer.
I'VE are very glad TO see you, Cousin
PhilIp-Tom and l. You see, call Toms
kindred mine already"
She was not pale now. She was blushing
quite r0sily; but there was 10 tremor in the
hand she yielded to Philip Chaloner's eager
somewhat agltated clasp She met his ques-
tiOning eyes fully and freely, and he saw
that the old loye-light was gone from hers.
But not when she raised them shyly to Tom
Berners, saying:
Make our cousin welcome, T0m"-clasp-
ing her two hands now together over the
strong arm on which she leaned.
Chaloner was man of the world; he un-
derstoOd the situation, aud was equal to it.
But Tom Berners, as his wife aiterward
told him, stood half dazed.
las if'-she added woman's eyes at
twenty-one were not clearer than a MISS
OF seventeen, to know true man from a
foD too poor TO love-
But Tom Berners never regretted his ex-
pertinent, and was always glad that Philip
Cha!oner. by way Of consolation, had that
slice of the estate.
And so was Philip Chaloner
LIKE THE PIED PIPER.