The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-04-08
sun, CECIL COUNTY. MD, FRIDAY, APRIL s, Is92

to sit up awhile, the old servitor re
solved to tell the story of Wanda's love
to him. It cut him to the heart to
wound the young mans feelings, but he
knew the task must not be shirl1ed.
i ''Now, Master George" he began, in
an agony of apprehension, ''you mustn't
take on, but I've bit o. news for thee,
lad, as wunnot perchance be welcome.
''You mean Miss Arlington's engage
ment to young Evesham?" came the
question, SO calmly and deliberately ut
tered that Bladon gazed in stupeied
wonder.
"Why, yes," he said, "that's what
meant; but how came thee to hear Of
| it?"
"Her mother told me yesterday Oh,
dear old friend, don't look so woebe-
gone. One would think that you were
the deserted lover to see your long face.
1t is thing for us all to rejoice at, that
the sweet girl has won the love of such
sterling fellow as Harry Evesham."
''But l thought you loved the lass
thysen?"
''Loved her; of course l did, and shall
love her as long as have sense to ap-
preciate the sweetness of her character. =
''An' yet you give her up SO quietly.
Why, when | was a lad"
s.You were a terrible fellow among
the lasses, don't doubt. Bladon; but
am afraid you cannot quite understand
my feelings for Miss Arlington I hard
ly can myself. You see was not so
far wrong when told you she was to
be nothing more than a sister to me-"
san you're not fretting over the loss
Of the lass?"
"No,' said Arundel calmly, ''for I
have not lost her yet. do not think
Harry Evesham will refuse to let her
still be my loving friend and sister"
Like as not,' Bladon confessed, but
the reflection did not give him unal-
loyed pleasure. 1t was bad enough for
the young master to be smitten with the
charms of a pretty girl, but to carry his
devotion to her fireside, when she was
a married woman, was a proposal be-
yond the old mans philosophy.
Weeks passed by, and George Arun-
del was pronounced sufficiently recov-
cred to return to his lodgings in Glas-
/ vi COtISC OOllllctu was IIlu-
nifceIitly recompensed for all the trou-
BILE he and his family had been put to,
and candidly confessed that he did not
mind how often he turned his house
into hospital, under similar circum-
stances.
Things had settled down into their
old groove. The sunshine of early
spring was already loosening the ice
barriers of the big river, and the chill
dren were looking forward to the
emancipation of a long holiday, when
an event occurred that was of SO start
ling nature that it completely changed
the aspect of affairs. as far as Wanda
Arlington was concerned.
This was none other than the pay
ment of the sum of ten thousand dollars
to her order in the First national bank
of Glastonbury. There was no clew to
the payee. The bank officials in New
York who had transmitted the draft
declared that it was sent in the regular
way of business at the request of a per-
feet stranger.
When the first gush of surprise was
over, the ladies concluded that it was a
| tardy acknowledgement of the girls
kindred, and that Wanda was quite
justified in taking possession of it.
Thus it fell out that Havana lost its
teacher even before the vacation, and
Mrs. Evesham welcomed back again
the sunshiny presence of Harry's prom
| ised wife.
Of course Miss Arlington wanted to
give all her money to her benefactress,
and, equally of course, Mrs. Evesham
refused to talse advantage of her gen.
erosity, though it was agreed that the
interest of the money should be largely
spent in the current expenses of the
| household.
| Then they hurried to notify Mr..
Hardcastle of the singular windfall, in
the hope that the news would reach
Harry before he started fop Europe, but
here they were disappointed,
Harry sailed on Wednesday. Your
communication so important that shall
be with YOU in few days to personally
discuss Matters" the genial old gentle
man telegraphed.
And none was more pleased at Wan
da's good luck than George Arundel.
He had been the first to congratulate
her and combat a half-formed intention
to refuse the money, which in the first
surprise was seriously meditated.
Bladon was the only one who did not
seem quite satisfied with the situation
of affairs, or why did he mutter SO mo-
rosely to himself one day when he was
smoking his pipe under the apple tree,
$50 that's what that lawyer chap
come down from New York about It's
the first secret You ever kept from me,
Master George, and / don't think the
better of you for it. 'Taint SO much the
money-what's ten thousand dollars to
him if he had his rights-but it's the
keeping it back from me that hurts,
Then TO hear them girls talk OF the
lass relations getting streak o. con-
science an Master George sitting by as
dcmure as cat by cream bowl--Lord,
it's enough to make sitting-hen
laugh" M
CHAPTER XIV,
| HATES RolGAEcE-