The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-04-21

Something has happened. OH You
will never guess, never, you couldn't guess"
Something good, for once, to judge by
your looks. Well, I'm not in hurry.
Anything good is worth waiting for" He
sat down, stretched out his legs, and drove
his hands into his pockets.
"Bob," the girl began, flushing rosy
red, 81 never pretended, to you, to care for
Gilbert bit, did | ~
Bob sat up, and took his hands out of
his pockets. 'Is it off then, Fiolet?"
"Wait, did pretend ?'
"To me? No, you never did You al
ways told me that I'd got your heart,
which wasn't much good, as we agreed, if
the rest of you was going to the other fel-
low To him, of course, you didn't quite
say that"
"0f course. Ihad topretend. He asked
me every day if loved him, and stood
so, your shrinking wood Violet, you know
She clasped her hands and hung her pretty
head and looked up with limpid eyes full
of modesty and sweet maidenly love.
aYou're little devil, said Bob. "Like
that" continued the girl "Then Gilbert
used to heave sigh, and began to talk
about his ambitions. Oh! How truly
awful it would have been to be every day
and all day long with man who could
talk about nothing but his ambitious.
Said he wasn't good enough to talk to me
to me. Bob, after you d been making love
to me about anything but the higher
aspirations of the soul How long, do you
think, before he would have found itout?''
'Would have found it out" repeated
Bob. "Then it is off?
@Yes-I got this letter yesterday morn
ing. Read it. When read it l said to
my brother, George, it's no use pretending;
I'm glad of it. That is what | said.
George walked over to the Albany at once,
but Gilbert was gone George said that
something ought to be done for me, and
but read the letter first.
Bob read it. Once or twice he glanced
at the girl curiously. He was but young
fellow about town, who thought Of nothing
but what his like call pleasure, but the let
ter touched him. He handed it back Il
understand him now," he said. "You
never did care bit for him. You hated
him. Otherwise, well, it's straightfor-
ward letter, Violet. He's good fellow,
and he has spared you a mighty lot of
trouble in refusing to see you. It's most
considerate letter. Poor beggar! He
was fond of you, and you don't deserve it.
Well, if it was l who was dying, I'd have
you by the bedside, holding my hand all
the time for fear you'd go off with some
body else before was dead and, hangit,
Violet believe should have killed you
too, so that we might go off together"
sThat's the sort of love like, Bob"
said she, "Good real love without thinking
that girl is an angel. Do you really think
l could have married that thing of ambi-
tions? You don't want an angel, do you,
Bob? ?"
''No, don't I'm man of the world,
and l want woman of the world, and we
must both want all the good things we can
get Well-but-is that all? You said
first-I must read that letter. What next?
You are free, But are we any nearer than
before? Tn no richer-but poorer-and
the debts are getting uncomfortable, and
ssYou shall see, Bob. Read this"
1t was lawyers letter, stiff and formal.
Bob read it slowly. Then he cried, ooh,
Lord |" as one in great astonishment. He
finished it. He looked up. Violet nodd-
ed. "That's all, Bob.
"All? Isn't that enough? Good heav-
ems y
Gone of the partners called about eleven
o'clock, and placed this in my hands.
wish I'd known he was coming; would
have had the blinds down. As it was |
slipped on black frock, and threw myself
on the sofa, and buried my face in my
handkerchief He much affected, poor
man A good-looking fellow, Bob"
II daresay. Perhaps you'd like to be
engaged to him, too. 1t would be another
change wouldn't it But on what cOndi-
tions?"
"There are no conditions except one,
which I'm sure, shall keep with the
greatest joy-nOt to put on mourning.
That's all. No nasty ones about marrying.
Perfect confidence in me-perfect, you
see. That's the real beauty of the thing,
isn't it? I've got to forget him and be
happy. suppose we shall see an an
nouncement in the Times, shan't we? AT
ter that, Bob, l don't see why
''Violet Eighty thousand pounds =
He held out his arms and Violet fell into
them, and they kissed and purred delight
fully for five long minutes.
"You are little devil" said her old
lover 1t was the greatest praise he had
to give, and the greatest she desired
''Those angelic wood nymph's eyes have
done the trick. What good fellow he is!
What pity he couldn't give you the money
and go back to his old colony and live
there ! And say, Violet, dear, we'll have
the most glorious time.
ave will, Bob. But, remember, I'm
not going to pay your gambling debts.
Have your little hutters if you like, but if
you get into hole my money won't put
you out and I'm going my way, and you
can go the same way or some other, what
you please
"All right, my dear. It's more than
two thousand year. We can do pretty
well on that, daresay Let's have look
at your eyes again. | like 'em, whatever
they are, and-and you're a little devil,
Violet, and I love you all the better because
you are
Thus and thus was the news received.
Thus did the girl, who was all affection and
all constancy, mourn for the man she had
loved so tenderly, who was taken from her
so cruelty.
In a little seaside place quite deserted
in the early spring, the condemned man
sat in the hotel, which he had all to HIM
self. Before him was pilesof MSS. on
which he worked laboriously. He lived
the most simple life in order to make as
much of his last three weeks as possible.
After breakfast, after lunch, before dinner,
i u