Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-11-22

"If George has gone wrong, it is no
affair of mine"
"Had YOU made it your affair in
the outset, il might have saved him
a deal Of embarrassment and suffer
ing, and others Also" she rejoinei
AT one time you would have done
it. | am sorry you are so grossly
altered"
"The alteration may not strike
every one as it does you. They may
see il in a different light" was his
superclious reply, aud Maria's
cheek burned once again. They rose
20 part.
81 forgive You for the injurious
suspicious you have cast on me. |
know you do not really feel them,
and | forgive you all else. From
henceforth we meet as"
Strangers" he put in-for she
had momentarily stopped.
81 was about to say rs friends; for
the present, perhaps, | should sub
stitute 'acquaintances.' When this
soreness, which we probably both
feel, shall have subsidized We may
become friends again; nothing
more" she pointedly added. "But
life is not SO long, or friends so
plentiful that we can afford 10 give
up those OF years
1t scarcely surprised Maria, and
it certainly did not pain her as II
would formerly have done, to hear,
on the very next day, that MIR.
Letsom was to marry Miss Chambers.
She had an idea that his implied
engagement to herself mad alone
prevented its being entered into
before. Her uncle spoke to her
about it as soon as ii came TO his
ears, and his tone was more cordial
than it had been since the spring.
"This is shutting and changing"
cried he. "What do you say to l.,
. Maria?"
| 81 can only hope, uncle, that it
will be for the best"
"Did he give you up?"
l "Some,hing OF that sort may be
: said on both Sides" she answered.
= Gle has wished TO do so some time,
e as believe; and |, on my part, had
begun TO think it might be well SO
!. to do; for | heard something TO has
= disparaqement that made me un
}. easy"
"What was il: Anything serious?'
1 Il do not consider it would be
quite fair to repeat 1t, uncle. Mr.
Letsom is certainly old enough to
t, take care of his conduct; and my
e motive mi ght be misjudged."
d "True. How is it that he ba'
n made all this money" pursued Mr.
l. West.
Il did not know ne had made
7, any," she replied, looking up. "H'
9 mas four hundred year salary now
u and it will rise to more"
. ale has made some thousands o
Il pounds, he tells me, by specializing.
. "Speculating in WHAT" asked
: Maria, a curious doubt stealing owe
J. her.
,s In consols," he said. "France
is in high feathers over think
- she i, going to ride in her carriage.
Is But if it had not greatly paine'
- Maria to hear of the new engage
4 ment, a keen and bitter pain fel
- upon her when its ostenslble caus
n was given out in the house and IT
a. vicinity: Mr.. Letsom had trans
!, ferred his affections TO Mis-
!, Chambers; for he could not max
one mis- wife who might steal hi
money from him" The GOSSIP
is5 reached Maria's ears, and she tool
- refuge in solitude. Very dark in
Il deed did her sorrows seem to be II
- that hour-very heavy was her cross
- GLOW long-how long am to bea
u this humiliation" she breathed
" almost in a murmuring tone. "llov
long is this cloud to rest upon me"
Poor troubled spirit. is it so darl
- that you can not realize the graciou
y promise-All things work togethe
II for good to them that love God
T" Have you so soon forgotten the i'm
T prisohed days of Joseph, the long
g affection of Job? Your trials ar
IL not as great as theirs were; but the.
bore up, believing that light woul'
g surely arise out Of darkness. Th
= longest night will have an end
The keenest suffering will find it
% alienation. "The angel of the l.or'
II encampeth round about them tina
W fear Him, and deliveIeth them"