The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-01-31


you mean?"
''It's Tom" moaned Content. "Tam
sure he was going to say something to
me last night, but somehow he could
never manage It, and he will never
wicked not to tell anybody about the
money at PRESENT. Surely 1t wouldn't
be difficult TO keep IL secret about
this new will for timer
'And deceive Tom? My dear Con-
tentl And what about the explana-
ton and confessing the truth? Would
he respect you, or could you respect
yourself? If Tom really loves you, he
won't let your money keep you and
him apart"
"Another man might not, but Tom
WILL" persisted Content. "You will
see, mother"
And Mrs. Weston did see. Edith
came in after breakfast and, after
learning the news, carried it home,
and Tom came no more.
II dor't want to hurry you, dear"
said Mrs. Weston one day, ''but don't
you feel that we ought to be thinking
of leaving this place? There is Uncle
Antony's house standing empty and
waiting for. us, and your presence is
really needed in London while they
make these final arrangements"
"hes, l suppose we must CO." said
Content, moving abruptly to the win
dow.
: She stood for some minutes looking
out, and then turned and said. in a
tone of strong resolution: "Give me
this one afternoon, mother. am 60
ing to do something dreadfu1r'
"My dear childr' demonstrated her
| mother. -'t,+.3. -
You see,"s continued Content,
Erred wouldn't marry me because
was poor, and now Tom won't marsy
me because am rich, SO I must do
something myself" v
''Do be careful, dear" 49, #.
Yes, mother, will have thought
it all over, and I don't think it would
be right to leave things; like this. I
love Tom, and l am sure he loves me
If It was some misfortune which
parted us, ! could bear it; but this
wretchsd money"
Later in the afternoon, Tom Barn
ard, coming back through the fields
from long round, caught sight OF
some one on the wooden bridge that
crossed the stream. The slight figure
leaned over the hand-rail and the
fluffy golden curls were unmistakable,
and Toms heart began to beat tumultu.
ously. He had carefully kept out Of
Contents way since the news Of her
fortune had come, and he had hoped
desperately that she might depart
without his having to bid her farewell
He made tremendous effort to ap
pear cool and unconcerned, but his
voice shook when he began to speak
"How do you do, Miss Weston? I'll
"a nice day for walk, isn't it?''
It was damp, dismal afternoon
and the observation was therefore
scarcely appropriate. Content, wht
had been dropping stones into the wa
ter, turned round suddenly with ,
wildly beating heart and avery whit
face.
1T rained this morning" was th'
only thing she could find to say; bu
the sight of her face had changed tn
current of Toms thoughts.
"I say, do hope you haven't bee,
ILL.," he said, hurriedly. "You ought t.
have a change. But you are goini
away, aren't you?"
"Yes. we are going away" said Con
tent. II don't care much for the vii
lage now. Everything is SO different
"Xou mean that you find the peopl
behave differently to you because O
your money!" he asked.
Eyes, horribly different!" said Con
tent, energetically, throwing ston
down the stream as far as it would &c
edith will be awfully lonely with
; out you," he said. 1T has alway
been joke in our house that sh
cared less for any of us than for Swee
Content"
"Oh, please don't use that name an
| more!" cried Content. II am going
, change, and be called Gloriana. Th
other is not applicable I'm not col
tented at ALL"
: ''But you have every-advantage,
: pursued Tom. awkwardly, his hungv
eyes fixed upon her averted face.
r II haven't" she flashed out.
S wish I was living in the old time
, when men were brave and things wei
/ nice"
= | adu luCa dIC aoG OioNC ho"s
! asked, as cheerfully as he could.
!. "Brave? No!' cried Content, turl
. ing an indignant face upon hin
r "They are afraid of what people wi
j, say, and they let the thought of tn;
e ruin girls life"
3 IL don't think you are quite ia
to me, Content" he said, with diff
Q Guilty. II gave you up because (
your money, and it was very hard"
: "Did ever ask you to give me up
J. cried Content "Was it my fault tn,
: the money came? Why should ye
d punish me for it? Isn't it bad enoue
i to have a lot of money thrust upc
q you that you don't want, without 20,
d treating me as If it was some crime
= my own?'
n Content, don't"
t He took a step forward, but she he
t up her hand.
"You know you were afraid of VIII
d people would say. You leave me to