The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-04-05

c., what is it that you have done?"
He made no reply, but actua ly fed
from the room. He re )ut Of it and
down the street, and saw him nc more.
At II Paul came home. He was evil
IDENTIFY in state of high excitement. 81
sent for you" he said, because l must
tell some one, and know l can trust
you. Sit down and listen to me without
speaking pne word. "
AS for the substance of his tale, it was
what one might have expected. He was
in love, Eadly in love, and with the very
girl-the beautiful creature whom l had
seen ON the river Her name was Isabel
The largest and finest house in the place
belonged to her father, who was, it ap-
peared, man of considerable wealth.
So far all seemed plain and easy sailing.
"You love her, Paul, said. "No oc-
casion to repeat it, And-if one may
have the impertinence to ask-does the
young LADY,
''She refuses me-" he replied. All
this time he had been walking about
the room in violent agitation. 'She
refuses me- "
Refuses you?'
Refuses me. Mind, there is rea-
son. The dear girl owned today that if
it were not for this reason-she-she"- -
Here he choked.
sis the reason insurmountable?"
"Oh" he replied. 1.-The reason is un-
reasonable; it is a mere trick of the
brain; it matters really nothing. l can
not tell you, though she has told me
the whole. God bless her Yet l can
not tell you all of it-only this, there
is upon her past cloud. Yes, admit
it is a very dreadful cloud. Through
no fault of her own-none, mind. No
one can blame her in the least; no one
would dare throw it in her teeth. By
heaven, would kill such man where
he stoodl 1t is on account of this cloud
that she refuses. She says that she will
never consent to bring her burden Of
shame to weigh down the life of man
she loves. Oh, Isabel, my dearv' Here
again he choked.
"Yet, Paul, if you would take her
even with this-this'
Even with this?' he said solemnly
why, it would be nothing in the
world to me- Less than nothing; just
a secret between husband and wife; just
painful reminiscence of the past, new
er to be mentioned between u.s.
SIS there" asked, "any one who
knows the secret?'
''Her brother knows, of course, poor
fellowl Well for him if he did not
know, because the knowledge of it will
poison his life wherever he goes. am
sorry, truly sorry for the boy. But, as
for Isabel, can take her away from
all of it. :"
And does no one else know2"
''Phere is q dreadful man who lives
here-a most horrible beast threaten
ed to cowhide him last week because he
threw out hints that he knew something
about the previous history of this fami-
ly not altogether to their credit He is
q man named Brundish; he was former
ly in very good practice at the bar, was
a q. g. and bencher of Lincoln's s
Inn and was then found to have ap-
propriated, embezzled or made away
with certain trust moneys. This was a
horrible scandal, and they disbenched
and disbarred him. He is man of in
famous private character and drinks,
believe. Probably he will drink himself
into the grave before long | am afraid
he knows something, but l do not know
how much. What does that creature
signify?"
| fhnnuhf To fnn oT7l
Of my experience with Mr.. Brundish,
but felt relieved to think that he had
not told me more. We went Oh talking
of the young lady's perfection. In fact.
we talked half through the night.
The next morning he took me to the
house. 1t was a beautiful villa, fur
nished with admirable taste, heaped
pretty things. Isabel herself-I have al
ways called her. by gracious permis-
sion, by her Christian name-received
US, and presently her brother joined u.s.
There was some constraint upon the
whole party, which was natural under
the circumstances, and was glad when
we all went out together and climbed to
the top of the headland. Here present.
ly found myself-whether by accident
or design know not-standing alone
with Isabel, the other two slowly going
ON before us down the hill She looked
grave and anxious, her cheek rather
pale knew that her mind was full of
her lover and her refusal | had no
right to speak, yet | did speak to her
about it. First, told her what Paul
had told me, that he loved her and that
she would not accept him, for reason.
Ibid he tell you the reason?" she
asked, her cheeks flushing suddenly.
mo; only in general terms, There is
a cloud upon some part of your past
"A cloud indeed" she replied.
(which would not in any way affect
the life of the man you married.
But it would" she said; 'oh, it
would! You do not know what it is, or
you would say that am right -
NAY, | cannot think, Miss Reeve,
that you are right, for you make the
man who loves you-the best man in
the world-ycu do not know what a
clever, brave and good hearted man he
is-you make him wretched when you
might make him happy" And so l con-
tinued she shaking her head, though
the tears came into her eyes, and MUIR
muring, 'Oh, | refuse him because !
would not make him unhappy"
Then | said it all over again. l beg
ged her to put this consideration out of
her mind altogether, and if she could
to make Paul happy,
She shook her head with less firmness