The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-04-02

The next morning went 10 the Office with
heavy heart, and the first person saw was
/ Alice mounted on her stool and writing away
rs composcdly as though had not lain awake
half the night worrying about her. must
confess my usually amiablc temper was rutled,
and did not receive her very pleasantly when
I she slipped into the dressing room beside INC,
/ and putting her arm lovingly around my neck,
/ Whispered: Don't lac cross, George"
answered iiltle gruiliy, Why shonldn't
! j be cross2 do you think you hayo treated us
fairly? Way didn't you say you were not
coming back2"
"Don't don't Georgie!" she pleaded; 81
cannot bear it, IL you give me up haven't
! friend in the world
soCtoncd a little at that and said =" ] don't
want to give you NJ but Go want 20 know
why you kept me awake last night with
! anxiety rs 90 your whereabouts"
She ClaSpcd me still closer ln her arms, Sob
bng out: Dil You DO that? ! am so sorry.
! ] never thought that you would be anxious;
/ but indeed. indeed ] bad 10 co.
+" Had 30 60! Why aud whoroY' asked.
'Don't ask me- she said. " / cannot tell
\ you now, but some day she sighed
YEARLY, some day j may come back, and
! then ] win tell you"
"Come b3csY %, course yoa will, and that
/ just now. will get permission 20 30 with You
aud will pot son IN YOUR little bed 20 rest til
+ you qut sobbug aud trembling like the Little
! goes you are
No no." she answered. Il cannot go; I
u have another boarding place. Bot indeed, 1
I don't want yon aud Agnes 10 lose anything on
/ the fat ! wall pay for nay room just the same
1 Til you fud someone else 10 take It'
/ must routuss ] dad not know what 10 make
I of THIS. Mas size crazy, ar md we been deceived
! in herr ] looked down into the innocent blue
eyes and felt thUTc WIS 10 wr0uEdoipg there,
! bur it was evident >hc needed someone 10 care
I Coz BIER aud would uut give her up. / pleaded
aud pleaded u sr1'drd.
i rcVruarHud her with lack ~ good faith, all
60 no purpose hut DO distress her. She would
not go lasa. aud she would not tell me where
her new home was % be, aud so we parted
cDldiv. Agnes was both hunt and angry when
j told it over 90 her iu Tire evening, aud We
. agreed that ihC world was wide enough Ter al
81 us; but all tie same we gricycd for our little
friend.
Mir Lawrence called Tor few minutes in tho
evening 20 inquire 81 ala was well with us, and
I uskcd many questions aboIt Alicr's absence;
but our Agdr,s were too sore 10 say much about
it, aud we gave him little sgtistac; ION beyond
the bare fact that she had changed her home.
The next evening he Chilled again aud
brought his friend, Mr. Forest and whether
we saw him through cur mutual friends ewes
or were attracted by his gentle manners. we
were certainly most favorally impressed with
him. In my opinion, be was not so handsome
as Mr.. Lawrence; be WAS too dark aud too
mssterul IN his WAYS, and his ewes had a way
OF looking clear through you; hut, as / SAID
before, he was very gentle aud ] would have
liked him very much bat for u certain inquis-
tyenCss that was lniolcrable Even his init
macy with Mr. Lawrence did not warrant il.
and after he had asked nae all about our do
mestic affairs aud finally begun on poor lice
j thought 10 was little too much, aud shut up
like an oyster. III be bad not been Mr. Law
rence's friend aud introduced by him, am
afraid ] would have been RPgressFely rude in
stead OF simply negatively so.
When ] came from the Office the next dav
was good deal annoyed 10 learn from Mrs
Parmcrly that Mr. Forest had made her q long
visit.
And, my dear" she went on, you have no
idea how nice he is, and what an interest be
takes IN you all, and even IN that poor mis-
guided young thing, Mrs. WOOdson and do
you know, my dear think he has ana idea Of
/ trying 10 persuade her 10 come back 10 yOu,
and even asked her address, which, Of course,
j couldn't give not knowing il myself"
My heart sank within me. j had that un-
defined prcmouilion Of dread that overwhelms
Us all at times aud wished most heartily that
Mr.. Forest was ia the deserts Of Africa / did
not know what iearod, only ] wished be
would mind his own Business.
] was not az all surprised when We were
seated IN cur little paror after dinner 10 have
another visit from our friends but / was pre-
! pared for them. 30 Spanish duunna was ever
more non c0mmittal than J. and thoroughly
/ vexCd with both Mr. Lawrence and his friend.
4 j saw them depart with pleasure.
Agnes and ] talked il all over. We were
! both hurt at AlICes conduct, but were agreed
! that that was no reason why Mr. Forest should
I interfere IN The matter. The fact that tie was
4 under the same roof gave him no privileges of
1 friendship, aud / begged Agnes not to tell Mr..
/ Lawrence one word that would give him a clew
/ 10 our former friend. Agnes laughed heartily
l at this, iu spite Of our trouble.
why" said She my dear child, when
could 1 tell him IL ! wished 10. ! never see
/ him but in your presence, and then he gen.
I orally lorgcts / am ia the ROOM"
] felt my face grow hot Rt this, but said
severely, DO you know ] should think il a
/ sin 10 talk like thaty ! never would have be-
] lieyed you would trae with anyone as you do
\ with INN" And assuming my most majestic
air, ! sailed out OF the room.
Oh, dear everything is at skies and sevens
with us. Agnes offended, Alice gone, and that
disagreeablc Mr. Forest weaving Mr.. Lawrence
away from Us