Passaic City record., 1893-01-28


old gentleman on the piazza there
Judge Patterson, of Wytheville.
She said this with an inimitable de-
mure archness of expression, and !, as
in duty bound, fastened to reciprocate
the confidence.
"My name is Percy Howard; and ! am
the nephew of the respectable old gen.
tleman walking in front of us-Mr.
Joseph Barksdale, attorney -at-law, OF
Middleton, Pa"
She laughed as she answered:
sWhat lovely name you havel so
romantic and chivalric in sound.
adore pretty names; don't you2"
| I assented ; but cold chill ran through
me at the thought. ssSuppose I had been
obliged to inform her that my name was
Peter Tubbsp And / then and there
formed solemn resolve to relinquish all
claim to my Aunt Fosters fortune, and
retain my own name of Percy Howard.
Henceforth the more that saw of the
fair Ethel the more enamored did be-
come of her sweet and winning graees.
In less than a week / was convinced that
she was the one woman in the world
whom destiny had marked out for me;
and at the end of the second week took
my uncle into my confidence and COM
municated to him my intention of asking
her to become my wife.
~ see no objection, my uncle replied
after moments grave thought ''pro-
vided she will accept you. She is
charming girl-a little romantic, but
sensible; and will, 1 am sure, make a
good wife. Fortunately, your aunt's
money will enable you to live in COM
fort, whereas without it you and your
wife would starve; for, as understand,
she has nothing of her own, and is de-
pendent on her uncle, Judge Patterson.
Indeed, I heard him say yesterday that
he would never consent to her marrying
a poor man."
Here was dilemma. After resolving,
for Ethel's sake, to keep my name, here
found myself reduced to the alternative
of relinquishing it in order to gain pos
session of her! To resign her felt to
be an impossibility, whereupon I at
length, not without pang, informed
Uncle Joe that had concluded to ac-
cept the conditions of my aunt's will and
claim the fortune. But should have
to explain it to Ethel, and what would
she say2
Ethel listened very attentively, as in |
pleasant little retired nook on the lawn,
called ssthe lovers seat,n told her |
about my great-aunt's will and its abb
surd condition. Her sweet face was full |
of sympathy, but when I asked her to
share with me my life and my fortune,
there came an ominous silence. She |
looked down, and with the point of her
parasol carefully turned over and exam
ined FREELY which lay motionless upon
the grass.
"Ethel," exclaimed, anxiously, ssif
you have any feeling of pity. give me an
answer at once. I cannot bear this sus-
pense. Surely you do care for mel"
"I-I do care for you, Percy" she
said slowly, and then paused. Appar-
emily she had satisfied herself that the
ay was dead, for she now began absently
to dig a grave with her parasol, into
which she lightly showed him, then add
ed, sadly: ssBut don't know that I can
marry you."
sWhy not, darlinga What obstacle is
there2"
"Why, only think, Percy, what a
dreadful thing it would be to have to go
through my whole life as-as Mrs. Peter
Tubbs!" And here she hastily covered
up the FREELY and buried it out of sight,
as though it had been that hated name.
81 know it darllng," l answered sadly |
and sympathetically. 81 hate the name |
as much syou can possibly do, but sure
ly you love me sufficiently to be willing |
to make that sacrifice rather than cast me
off entirelya"
"But,D she answered, glancing up
appealingly from under her long lashes,
sscould not you make a sacrifice for my
sake2 Give up the money and keep
your beautiful name."
ssBut, dearest, we would be so poor!
could not think of exposing you to the
trials and ills of poverty"
.sOh. I don't care for money!" she
lQJcrIuptcu, DEls5utiys w So1AeN AA'N
in a nice little cottage, which could
make lovely with roses and honeysuckle
and I would learn to cook-it's all the
fashion now for ladies to take cooking
lessons-aud we could be just as happy
there as in palace. If you do truly
love me, Percy, give up the fortune; for
really I could never be happy as Mrs.
Peter Tubbs; and I'm not sure but that
-perhaps-L should not be able to love
you SO much if sou were not Percy
Howard, but Peter Tubbs. It's silly l
know; but L always associate people
with their names"
This last consideration was serious
one, felt, and / sat in silence, while
Ethel commence ascraping bits of gravel
on the grave Of the FREELY.
'sSupposc you take until tomorrow to
think it ovcr2" she suggested; land
then I shall know how much you do
really care for nc"
And thca she rose and we sauntcred
slovlU hacI, to the hotel; she apparently