Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1893-04-14

out. not for herself, but because she
was your friend-because she was
near you"
She had turned ashy pale. The
palIor of her cheek was reflected on
Varian's. lie had not thought to
speak so soon. Their eyes held each
other for a long, breathless pause.
In an instant the young man was on
his knees at her side.
'Laural Lauraw
''No, no, mol" She shrauk away
from his touch; but he had seen the
expression of her eyes, and all his
pulses beat in the intoxicaticn Of a
new hope.
''You must go away; you must
never come back, she cried hoarsely.
Laura! You can't mean that?'
the poor fellow gaspcd.
She had risen to her feet.
"Wby2 Why?o he stammered,
following her as she retreatcd from
him. A light burst upon him, in-
duced by something in her face.
at cannot be that You are
not thinking of Elsa, of Miss Hart?
But this is folly, madnessl For girl
like you-head and shoulders above
other women-such a stand is incom,
preheusible"
"She loved you; she trusted me-"
said Laura, rigid and white in her
effort at self-control.
"Good heaven! I" the man exclaimed,
driven to bay, "you would not have
me marry girl do not love simply
because she happened to fancy other
wise? l deplore the delusion, but
what more can l do? Laura" lie
pleaded, "you will not say me nay?p
"Yes." She still stood rigid. with
downcast eyes.
cat least" he pleaded again, "will
you not tell me that you care for me
"a little?"
Not even then would she raise her
eyes.
every well. shall 90 now, but /
shall come back. DO you hear me?
Time works many changc,-tnd
shall return"
And, SO SAYING, he left her.
But she never hoped for his return.
She never expected 1t.
The last of the warm days had
7IowiFr; TIC AUTUMN rTferh00Ts we're !:
growing short. Laura worked on,
leading her own solitary life.
She had resigned herself to the soll-
tude in which she seemed to have
been abandoned. Her pencil never
faltered in these days. But the hand
that welded il had grown thin and
white, and the blue veins showed like
delicate tracery under the transparent
skin.
She was coming home late one dark
afternoon, when, in the gloom-filed
landing before her door, she made out
an indistinct form. 1t did not move
at her approach, and only when she
had thrown open the door did she rec
ognize who it was.
Then she staggered back little.
..You see, l have come back-as |
told you would" said Varian.
In the stronger light of the room he
saw how changed she was and how she
trembled.
'Iaura-my poor girl"
Even then she strove to push him
from her.
"Good heaven, Laura?' he cried,
stepping back; edo you not know that
Elsa Hart is marricd?''
"Marriedw
He drew a folded newspaper from
his pocket.
"You see, she was married two
weeks ago, and to a man | happen to
know, clever young artist, rising in
his profession, who spent his summer
sketching on her grandfather's farm.
Now, Laura, will you come to me?''
sob, how could she. how could she''
Forget me so sOon?" laughed
Variau. "Pardon Inc, dearest, but
think you rather overrated the depth
of her feelings. She liked me no bet
ter than she would have liked many
other men who happened to be little
kind or attentive to her. She is a
dear. sweet little woman, but"-he
broke off immediately-"why should
we talk of her. You have not yet
answered question once put to
you"
"What question ?" The girls eyes
would not meet his.
81 asked you once if you cared for
me-a little"
Then, indeed, her gray eyes met his
with the full glance of the Laura of
old.
81 Think have always cared
from the first-more than a little"
she said. Il Washington Post.
To Cure BuniOn.
Battle the affected part in hot water
to which teaspoonful of sap, table,
spoonful of starch and a few drops of
aruica have been added, wipe dry
with a soft linen towel and apply