Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-03

her own, and also q neat seal She felt yery
curious; she wondered how far the intrigue
with DR.. Reed had gone, and if Miriam
| really meant to marry Sir Jamss.
"And her takog all his beautiful things
too" reflected Ford, with disapproval
Diamonds and all
She looked at her letter again, and thu
temptation became too strong for her 6h'
broke the seal and found there was lettel
| and an inclosure, also sealed. Then she
read the letter to Dr.. Reed
! "Dear DR.. Reed" Ford read with amaze
ment "will you very kindly give the in
closed letter, as you did the last, to whom
| it is addressed. I do not know how tt
thank you enough for your reticence to
dav. Yours very sincerely, NJ C"
"Well, this beats everythingT exclaimed
Ford aloud in her utter astonishment Then
she looked at the inclosed letter addressed
to Private Dare at the barracks.
"Private Darep repeated Ford. "Why,
that's the man who was shot on the sands,
when Miss Miriam stopped the bleeding.
And she can't be carrying on with him too,
surely? If she goes on at this rate she'll
come to grief as sure as my name is Rose
Ford.
Then she began looking at the letter to
the soldier, and once more temptation as
sailded her.
81 NAV as well see what's inside" she at
length decided. And she did see what was
inside, and she told herself it was disgrace
ful. What! Miss Miriam. who was en-
gagged to Sir james MacKennon, who was
to be married to him soon, to be writing
thus to a private soldier! 1t was monstrous,
Ford told herself, absolutely monstrousl
''Dear, dear Hugh" she read, 81 must
see you once more. Can you meet me to-
morrow night at the same hour as we met
last-eleven? 1t so, enclose your answar to
my maid, Ford. The same answer as be-
fore, nothing more, and I will place the
same signal-the light in my window-to
let you know I can come.-Yours faithfully,
sM."
Faithfully, indeedr' repeated Ford;
"nice faith I must say. Well, I couldn't t
have believed it of Miss Miriam-I couldn' t
indeeuI'
However, there it was in black and white
before her, and Ford was forced to believe
the evidence of her own senses She was
forced also to carefully reseal both letters
and with many misgivings posted them.
Sir James stayed to dinner, and Ford felt
positively sorry for him. When Banks said
to her after dinner:
"Sir James seems uncommon sweet on
Miriam" Ford gave her head little
founce, but had the discretion nevertheless
to hold her tongue.
"Rose, continued Banks, who was wash
ing the silver, which had been used at din
ner, contemplatively taking spoon out Of
the jug of hot water before him, ''don't you
think folks are better married than single?"
'That depends on many things" replied
Ford.
'In course it depends; but 'spose two
people who are bit sweet on each other
like you and me say, eh?"
''Speak for yourself, Mr.. Banks"
81 am speakin', Miss Rose; I'm speakin'
quite plain-and think they are"
"Are what?"
"Better married; 50 tell me what you
think"
There are many things to be considered.
'tIn course there is-but don't you like
me bit, Rose?" And Banks dropped his
towel and his spoon, and seized her hand.
IA very little Bit" answered Rose,
coquettishly.
Better than that great lumberin' fellow,
johnson, the orderly, eh?"
f'Ohi johnson is nothing to me, answered
Ford, with toss of her head.
yet he brags ye're his sweetheart"
he has?''
'.Plenty, dare say" answered Banks
with grin, "But I've only got one"
Jane the housemaid?"
Jane the housemaid be hanged! No,
Rose, ye know better than that-my sweet
heart is not far off from me now."
'Oh! indeed"
"Yes-but oh! bother it, there's the bell;
that's tor cofee-well Rose, won't ye give
me" but Rose had fed before Banks had
time to make his request.
"But it's quite different Just amusing
oneself like that" thought Ford, as she
went tripping up the stairs, leaving her dis
swain behind her; "there's no
harm in nonsense-but about poor Sir
James-well neverp'
Sir James, however, was feeling quite
content and happy at this moment Was
not every day bringing him nearer to per-
feet happiness? If his Miriam looked a
little pale and tired, he was only dreaming
of the time that he might watch over her
and be near her in sickness and in health,
He was hanging over her now at the yery
moment when Ford was pitying him, watch
ing her white supple fingers glide over the
ivory keys.
'May I come tomorrow" he whispered.
"No, not tomorrow" answered Miriam,
without looking up.
"But it's so long to the next day." said
Sir James, smiling.
'1t will pass away-I have great deal to
do tomorrow" and a slight shiver passed
through her frame as she spoke.
Then Colonel Clyde approached the two
at the piano, and asked Miriam to sing a
song that was a favorite of his, and while
Sir James was seeking for it among her
music, he began to tell the story to Colonel
Clyde about the soldier Dare having re-
fused his money, and that he was quite sure
he was gentleman.
'1t is possible" answered the Colonel.
gravely. 81 have known of such cases be-
fore.
''I felt quite ashamed that I had offered
him anything" said Sir James, he looked
SO disgusted-but here is the song, Mir
iam:" and Miriam took it in her trembling
hand.
She did not sing it very we'll; she was
glad when the evening was over and when
Sir james went away. Glad when those
kindly gray eyes were not fixed so trust
fully on her face. Their expression silently
reproached her, though there was no re-
proach in them-nothing but tenderness and |
love. Miriam hated herself for deceiyIng
Sir James, yet told herself at the same
that circumstances compelled her |
to do so. She was bound hand and foot II |
she alone could have suffered by speaking |
the truth in these days she would have told |
it. But there were links within links, |
bonds within bonds, and Miriam felt herself |
powerless to escape the meshes in which she |
had become entangled.
And when, on the following morning, |
Ford placed letter in her hand addressed |
TO Miss Ford, there was look in the lady's |
maids blue ewes that made her shuddar q |
look which told her as plainly as words that |
Enrd q lnncrar raSraantod ha1. h. 4