The Lamar register., 1893-02-04

"ouiu iuruisn our mouse Tor us from
cellar to garret when you and are
married."
Was that faint chuckle that came
IRON the other side OF tine thick bank
OF ferns and palms?
One morning Uncle George failed to
come down to breakfast. This was
not an unusual thing, for Mrs. Leslie's
avuncular relative was in the habit
oil taking long morning strolls, .jest
10 prace up my appetite bit," he
would explain.
But when he failed to come back to
lunch, to dinner-when night arrived
and still no Uncle George-Mrs. Leslie
began to be alarmed.
Il am afraid something has han
pened to him." she said to her hus.
oand. He Is not very much ar-
quainted with the city. Who knows
murderedg' anu
So Mr.. Leslie hunted up the chief Of
detectives and reported the mysteri-
Gus disappearance. He described the
matter all over, and before she silent
had made up her mind what course
she would pursue with regard to the
pleasant friendship that had sprung
up between herself and Josiah Evans,
who though considerably older, had
gained more of n hold upon her affec.
tons than she had realized.
Very unlike his sister his conversa-
ton, devoid OF any approach to Curl
oaty, had been very agreeable in
the many times they had chanch-
ell TO 20 for the evening maA to-
cether; now as she looked back over
the spring and summer she realized
that 1t had happened very often that
he had started out Just about the
time she did, and she remembered too.
that he had been very ready to re-
spond 10 her invitation to come in
when they got back from the office
and seemed in no hurry to 90; it had
a come about so naturally that she
had given the subject no further
thought. but It was evident from what
she had heard that evening TINT Miss
I.ucrctia was taking serious view of
the matter. and that il was by no
means an agreeable one to her.
And so she thinks there's danger
o, his becoming Interested in me does
shsf" thought Martin, what n mis-
take but a moment after when she
thought to convince Miss Lucretia OF
her mistake by being careful 20 keep out
OF her brother way she was Obliged to
confess, that Il would not be so easy
for her as she nt first thought, bu.
those dull gray eyes, which seemed to
have so little expression. flashed now
with determination which would
have made Miss Lucretia vince had
she caught but one glimpse; once sure
that q course OF conduct was best,
Martha Osborn was not the one to
faitcr, so IL Was not strange that
weeks passed by without Josiah's
having a cAauee 20 speak to her.
l. Ths sense OF loss this gate him re-
Sea!ei the fact OF which he had hither.
20 been unconscious that he really
cared for her, and the more he
thought about the matter. the more
determined he felt that he would as.
s-rt his rights and ask her TO be his
wife.
His parents having died when lie
was very Young. ne had always look
ed NJ TO Hiss Lncretia, whowas many
years his senior. but surely n man OF
tor,y might think for himself; how
ever. he found it much easier TO plan
than TO execute. for all his Efforts to
see Martha failed.
For "a while. Miss Llcretia kept
close watch, but not seeing anything
to arouse her suspicious, concluded
the lessons she had given him had
proved sufficient. aud that IL he ever
had cared anything for her he had
forgotten all about it, so she cleaned
house, made preserves and gathered
all the village gossip to her hearts
content
Autumn came. and with it, the
favored time for Josiah to obtain the
interview he had so long desired.
.'she won't see mo coming il GO after
dark" he said 20 himself, so she
can't keep out OF sight aud send some
one else TO the door that's certain"
and rs il TO favor his plan, Martha
herself answered his ring,
Don't call your mother" he said
as soon as he was shown into the
cory parior, 81 have an errand 70 you
first. Will you 20 to the concert with
me tomorrow evening""
Here was indeed great temptation;
she had felt very strong desire to
attend this concert and now to have
this chance-could she refuse?
Taking advantage OF her evident de-
sire to compy with his request, he
went on, "lve hardly caught
glimpse OF you nil summer and I've
missed you very much: there's no use
of my going into any roundabout
way; don't know how but do
know that I'm very lonely; will you
consent to co with me through life"
For a few minutes Martha was SO
y 1 n