The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-03-15
CHAPTER IL.


1t was Saturday in September: the
| day was bright and the air warm.
Mary was happier than usual: Harold
was com; ing back. They were going
| out together sGmewhcre-by tram an
,rain-into the country: they would
have tea in some quiet place. They
would come home in the evening hand
in hand, happy Harold murmuring soft
thing.
She told Mrs Nickel at dinner about
her lover The good lady was truly
sympathetic: Il love story moved her
deeply: she had Eeen young herself:
she inquired it he wa; steady and re-
spectacle. what trade he followed, il
he had a good temper, if he was in
good health. TO all these questions
Mary rep. led satisfactorily. My dear"
said Mrs. Nickel-shc pronounced it
| my Tear but never mind, ard she
| took Mary's hands in her own soft.
plump hands you are going To To Il
happy woman. Nothing, my dear.
makes IL woman happier than a good
husband and a house full of children.
And when shall You marry, my dear?"
Il don't know. Harold says he thinks
months" After dinner Mrs. Nickel
sa: for few minutes talking over the
glowing prospects stretching fair and
far before her young friend and pro-
tege. Then she grew sleepy. and ris-
ing slowly, for she WIS an adiposc per-
I son, she went upstairs and lay down
uCon her bed, and dreaming that
she was buying wedding present fell
| asleep.
Two o'clock struck. Mary collected
her work, and put it carefully away on
the side table ready for Monday. when
she was to return for it. Then she
put On her h"t anil !:acFc+. md lett the
room. She Remembered afterwards
that the cupboard door was stand
ing open with the cash box in full
sight.
The house was quiet; the German
commercial gentlemen were away in
the city or elsewhere promoting the
great commercial interests of their
country: the Service having recently
taken in stokage we've resting or slum-
boring: the hall porter slumbered on
his chair. Mary passed cut nOise!essly
Now, as she won't down tn, stops into
the square. she might have observed,
had she looked t, the left, a face that
was furtively watching the door of the
private hotel from corner where the
square Is connected with the Minories
by u little street. But she did not turn
to the left at all: she turned to the
right. and walked rapidly away. Then
this face became figure, none other
than the figure of Harold We're. Mary's
young man. Harold made straight for
the private hotel: he walked up the
steps: he passed the sleeping hall
porter: he pushed open the door of
Mrs. Nickefs private room: he looked
round and he went in.
| He came out immediately afterwards,
and noiselessly stepped out of the
house.
Mrs. Nickel, upstairs. slumtered. In
! the kitchen the cook aud the house
maids nodded: in the hall the hall por-
ter droned and grunted. \ peaceful.
| lumbero,ls private hotel it was. And
Mary sat in the tram going home,
where Harold was to meet her.
/ An hour afterwards he came: Mary
knew his knock. and ran to let him in.
He wa smiling. happy, joyful: she ha l
! never known him TO welcome her with
$, mach Joy in words and manner: it
overcame her to think that this man.
so clever, so beautiful. should love her
SO much.
We'll, l am quite ready. dear" she
said
SO am 1: let us lose no time, then.
September will soon be over, ami win
ter comes. But you know, dear. there
is no winter whe:e love rules the heart
can there be-"
Mary went on: first. and Harold was
just closing the door. stop" he said.
I've forgotten my stick" He did close
the door by accident as he ran into the
| house again, but came out 3 moment
afterwards. There" he said, that s
Gone with" He turned very red for