Frederick citizen., 1895-01-25


more falsehoods, FREQ. You have been
pr:-ct sing a shameful deception, and
your brother has been helping you.
Why?"
Because I loved you, Marian, and
there was no other means to win you
in the time I had"
Whatever the time was you have
wasted it. Goodbye, Mr.. Mathers!-
I say goodbye, sir! There is no need
Of words. 1 ask no explanation!"
Dick had too much sense to persist
then. He retired in silence, with a
long. sad look, and Marian threw her.
self upon the sofa in ..assion of tears.
Before leaving the house Dick told
his uncle what had occurred. Desper-
ately angry was General Mathers.
When respectfully reminded that he
himself had countenanced the fraud,
his ingenuity was at no loss for JUS
tification. 1t was not the beginning he
blamed, nor the middle, but the end.
How could a sane man engage in such
plot, compromising all around him,
before he saw his way clearly out Of
it? So warm grew the old gentleman,
urged by a guilty conscience, that
Dick had real cause for offence. He
withdrew, and did not return.
Clement was from home, and when
he received Dicks letter urging him
to mediate, and describing his fathers
rage. he felt no inclination to come
back. Thus the General and Marian
were left face to face, and both sulked.
Not a word upon this subject passed
between them, but it is understood
that they saw less Of eachother than
parent and child usually do. As for
Mrs. Beauchamp she called in vain;
Marian would not go out and the Cen
eral would not interfere. Curiously
enough, however, the young girls
zeal for good works began to cool.
She gave up her District upon the
ground, not unreasonable that Fred
might waylay her. But from that
afternoon she had abandoned the cos
tune of the Sisterhood. And Father
Powell did not yet think it necessary
to call at a house where he would prob
ably not be welcomed by the master.
Dick wrote again and again, but his
letters lay unonened upon her table.
And the day of departure drew very
near.
At length Clement returned and he.
as a brother will, charged into the
thckest of the complication forthwith.
Such vigorous action must needs let
daylight in, If there be obscurty any,
where Marian was stubborn, almost
vindictive She could never pardon
Fred and it was very puzzling
that they should wish her to do so
when papa would not receive him.
"Fred?" cried Clement. "Fred?" and
H. 1ot., ,NI
it all.
Marian opened her eyes and flushed
I'd quivered-but it made no differ
nce, she declared. That IS to say
oick's conduct was even more infam-
Gus than that she attributed to his
brother. If he was sailing the day af-
ter tomorrow, she wished him well.
But she could not forgive him, and to
say goodbye face to face would be
o9infully embarrassing. Would Glenn
ent kindly drop the subject for the fu-
ture?
So the last evening arrived and
Dick spent it with his uncle. 1t was
a melancholy entertainment; Marian
staying in her bedroom, evidently to
escaAe the remotest chance for an in
tervYsw. But when it was time for
Dick to leave. he begged Clement in
despair to make one last effort. Glenn
ent went to the bedroom, and returned
in haste.
"She isn't there" he whispered. ex-
citedly. Now, Dick, try the boudoir"
"What does it matter il the child
isn't there?" grumbeld General Math-
ers: but Dick had flown to the boudoir.
Five minutes passed-ten-a quarter
of an hour
IT think" laughed Clement, gleeful-
ly, 81 think they have forgotten how
time flies! Shall we carry our own
cor gratulations?
Nolselessly. chuckling, they stole up
stairs and opened the door of the
boudoir suddenly. Marian sprang from
her lovers arms with a cry.
Il can undertake to assure you,
Lieutenant Mathers, V. c." laushed
the General chat your leave will be
extended six weeks on proper appli-
cation. Do you think you can be
ready, darling?"
Not till many months afterwards
did Marian begin to declare, with very
mild Indignation, that she was the VIC
tim of a cruel shame.-Fredrick Boyle.