The Dickinson press., 1892-08-13

Oh :1S-
She turned away abruptly, so sud.
@ealy that for n moment Tom was
conscious OF an idotic desire to take
hrr in his arms and comfort her.
Ne: usually he was a keen hand at
reading a character, and some inward
monitor warned him even now that
She pretty, child,like widow was
only acting a part. But we are only
mortal. ard Tom knew too well
what poverty was not to feel for the
others who sUtIer from its. blightingin.
ilaencc.
Il an very sorry-Mrs. Kerr, l
think you sail?-but cannot decide
ROW" he said. almost humbly.
Il Will bring my sister to-mor-
row.
Maggie listened with interest to the
story OF the interview, but, sister
ike, she by no means liked Toms
eaeomiums concerning the widowed
rosseSsor OF the instrument chosen
by IL weil-lmown music an.
81 declare you are quite in love with
her. she said, half jealously. "It
would be Il romance ii you went to
buy a piano and found a wife in
steal.'
"Naturnl enough. too" Tom re-
piled. why shouldn't l marry? !
should not be de trop then when Ned
Hartley comes OF an evening"
1t was Maggie's turn to look confus-
Ell now. Ned Hartley aforesaid, q
great chum OF Toms, and q dashing
young journalist OF some repute, GER
tainly spent Il deal OF time in Maggie's
company, to Toms secret gratilica-
ton, for Ned vas q good fellow and
we'll able to afford the luxury OF q wife.
1--WE will go and see the lady," she
said. 81 can'ttrust you alone again."
Tom.assente ], although not with
out certain missivings. Being, like
most OF the craft, of u sentimental,
emotional nature, he did not care to
bring his divinity under the cold,
practical eye ever of his own sister,
and us she sat awaitingthe arrival OF
tine disconsolate widow, and coolly
criticislns the unfortunate piano,
Tom began to scent something like
trouble in the future.
"My dear, the THINGS regular take
ill.," she said decidedly. ".Any one
but you would have known that half
those advertisements were mere
dodges"-
mot forgetting that you advised
the dodge to be triel," Tom retorted.
Any further conve. sation was ter.
minated by the entrance Of Mrs. Kerr,
who stood in the doorway looking
from one to the other. A stray ray
of sunshine touched her lovely hair
and sweet pathetic face so soft that
even Maggie, the practical, was fain
to admit that TOMS extravaganza
had not been SO exaggerated after all.
~ am sorry to have kept you wait
ing" she commenced, "but"-
"It is" Maggie cried, impulsively,
"~actually it is, dear Marion"
Dear Marion, thus accosted, smiled
redly, and returned Maggie's warm
embrace.
"It is an old school friend OF mine
the latter said, incoherently. atom,
you have heard me speak OF herr
What a memory you have to be sure
And to think OF you being married,
and l never knew it! And u widow al
so! Let me see, l have not seen yor
for four years, since you left Mrs
Grimshaw's s.. You must come and see
our house the dearest little place in
Hampstead l call it,"
Tom, looking on, thought that al.
though Mrs. Kerr seemed pleased
to see her old friend, she was strange
ly ill at ease She parted Maggie'e
questions both hurriedly and confus
eddy; the strange feeling that she was
playing Il part struck him with a new
and uncomfortable force.
you must come and stay with us
and ii you are leaving here Tom shall
find you a customer for the piano.
Maggie decided vigorously. "Any one
so long rs he does not buy it himself
Your late husband must have beer
sadly taken in, dear; that SNOWY
thing is not worth picking up in TIN
| street."
Tom never quite knew how it cam
about, but q fortnight after Mrs Ker
found herself established at The Lau
rels for q few days before, as she said
she could finally dispose OF her furni
ture and piano before going abroad.
She seemed very pleased to come
and yet at the same time strangel,
10th; at IL time she was in the bes
and brighte t Of spirits, at anothe
the beautiful face looked sad and sor
rowful, and occasionally fearful also
One evening she knocked timidly q
the door OF Toms sanctum,. and
having taken the seat lie offered
looked into Ills face and said in
fearful voice:
81 have n confession, a shamefr
confession to make, and it had bette
be made now. Whenm my parents bot
died last year found myselfpenniless
frienaless and without u situation.
was getting desperate when l was ir
PRODUCED to u tradesman whose bus
ness it w,,, found, to buy chea
pianos and sell them to unsuspectin
customers eager for q bargain. l wa
n good lure and l played an import
ant part ior two years.
81 have taken cheap lodgings i
suburban London, a piano has bee
brought in, our advertisement inserte
Ill the Londondaily papers, and-wel
you coll guess the rest. l tried to d,
ceive you. What could do, as yo
were a stranger to me then?-but
have suffered. would nothavecom
here unless 1 hid been forced to, an
: you can not tell how l have longe
for q little rest and quietness. M
employer was angry: but Iwasequall
determined, and besides, l ha
promised to go back again; but I ca
, not go now. Ii you can only say tht
!, you forgive me, remembering ho
hard l vas punished"
, Tom murmured q few incoherel
words and the next thing that ha
pened was that his arms were arour
her, and she was crying gently on h
> breast. She made an inefectu
struggle to free herself, but the clas
was strong and kind.
CHATS the place." he said, 1irml
crest there my darling"
:, And with these words ringing in Ii
: ears she struggled no longer.
, 81 have not finished vet" she sal