Middletown transcript., 1891-07-16

her indifference, which. amount ed al
most to unconscionsness of bis exis
tence. Dick was accounted g
CATCH" He had married his cousil
and was now a portly and comforta,
bly, perc de fdmiNe. but he had neve
ceased 10 look at Lyddy in puzzle
way.
" Bennett tf-yes'; ';he's in the Sent.
mel Office, but there are lot Of mel
there. sWon't you just step in here2
He opened the door of the law offic
which was empty save for a somnolen
tortoiseshell cat, and went away with
out look of surprise. Dick was al.
ways polite and considerate.
Brewster Bennett did not keep he
waiting, and he greeted her in his oil,
manner, which quite lately had de-
generated Tito something friendly an,
business-hke. Lyddy was brief ant
business-like, but she felt a dreadful
uncertainty, about the steadiness o
her voice. 1t helped her, however
TO see that he was really perturbed q
we'll as sympathetic, and stroked .th,
tortoiseshell cat the wrong way with
shapely. ringed hand.
Of course you can have it, if yor
really want it. It is hard to imagin,
yeu a schoolmarm. The winter schoo
in that district is rather hard 10 teach
as you know. Ishall have to tall
Enoch Mann over. He's got the ides
into his head that man ianeeded te
teach q winter school. Plldrive ovel
to the Corner and see him this after
noon. Why can't you 20 with me
You might have great influence"
If he had suggested that her society
would be pleasure to him, Lyddy
said to herself that she would have re-
fused to 60, even at the risk Of Enoct
Mann's remaining obdurate. She
would have liked much to refuse, Al
it was, but it seemed to her foolish
aud suggestive Of resentment, an ap-
pearance which her pride sought
above everything. to avoid.
"I'll haye my horse here directly :
he said, eagerly snatching at an i'm
piled acceptance. and soon Lyddy,
a most unquiet soul, was driving be-
side him through the peaceful haze Of
the late October afternoon.
She was glad that after they left
the village. where, in the frank,
Cherryfield manner every one stared
inquiringly at them, he became very
silent. ss al fst
How beautiful the day wks !, The
balmy air, the unlocked blue Of the
sky, and the golden haze that trans
figured everything like fairyland
atmosphere. The old soft fancies
stole unawares into Lyddy's brain.
She remembered, oddly,a dream of
the earliest--and lsilliest-days of
their acqusintance. She had inn
agined herself coming home from
church with him, his wife, and she
always had a dove.colored dress on.
He had said that nothing suited her
complexion like dove color.
A wind blew suddenly from the
river with q chilling hint of winter
Lyddy started, and smiled at herself
with bitter scorn. She observed how
scanty and shriveled was the gold Of
the naples, and through the barred
boughs the sky was growing gray.
I" You are shivering. You are not
dressed warmly enough. I'm afraid
you don't take care of yourself in
these days. he said in q tone that was
almost lender. ~ .s..essl
They were driving into Enoch
Mann's lane by that time. iss
"No; he amt to home," Lyddy
heard, in shrill female voice, in re.
sponse to Bennett's inquiry. "He
said he was a.goin' to your Office this
forenoon, and he was a.cemin home
round by the Paper Mills. ! sh'd
think you might a. known he could't
get home bY this time"
Bennett returned to Lyddy's side
with q half.quizzical, half anxious ex.
preston of countenance.
"I did know he couldn't get home, :"
be said. looking steadily into her
eyes. /" You are not going to forgive
me? Ah, Lyddy. I thought a man
who had loved you as long as / have
was entitled to so much of an OBJ
portunityl You think / ought to
have found it out long ago. l did
he first time ever saw you, but l
lidn't mean to drag wife with me
INTO poverty. Don't tell me that it
i. too late. that you don't love me
now, ,Lyddy J"
The implication stung Lyddy'sl
pride. She felt that she would
Iacrifce anything to be able to tell
,im that she had never loved him.
"You had no right to deceive me
md bring me. here for this !" she
.ried. have nothing to do with
owe or lovers. l feel like an old
Woman. We are miserably poor, and
o get that school means everything
o me !''a
And to get you means everything
o me / shall meyer cease to try,
Iyddy, until you cell me that you
lon't love me"
Then I tell you that nothing
would induce me to marry you !"
;ried Lyddy. with fierceness which
vas quite overdone.
Poor Lyddy |! she had been re-
igiously brought up, and had early
mbibed the lesson of Ananias and
Mr.. Brewster Bennett did
lot fail to see his advantage.
What have | done, Lyddy 7" he
aid, with a thrill in his voice. "Are
,ou angry because have had to push
ny way in the world, and haYe had
10 time to sigh like a furnace and
make ballads to my lads eyebrows ?"
"If you will talk Of a way for me
o earn my living. will listen. No
'ther subject interests me-" said
Iyddy.
"Alas! And / only know how to
arm it for you p
Thoro ,yoe q s;lanoa thar Pra4star