The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-19

! grew too wise for self delusion, and
duly took up the burden of living
| again.
Fortunately there was no complica-
| ton of poverty to make Mrs. Hayes
more wretched; she had enough money
| for Seaport's standard of living: Don's
earnings had never been relied upon;
they were uncertain at best, and had
mostly been put into the Samuel +.
Jones. Still. things had to be managed
| for the old woman. and II came to be a
matter of course for Mary to live with
! her,
| So time went by placidly, without
! happiness. but with peace: and ON
Mary's part. with the deepening love
which Is the strange gift that death
sometimes bestows on those whom he
robs. Although there had been no
words that bound her, she knew that
! she was bound: and II seemed TO her
| that all the world--her world must
know 1t. too 90 when. one winter
afternoon as they We're walking down
the river road. Dick Wheeler spoke ou.
and asked her to marry him, her refusal
was full of outraged love.
|
aid Hayes and I'-she said. the color
hot in her face. her eyes threatening
him with a straight look.
| "Oh." said Dick. blankly: and was
silent for moment. looking with abb
! sent eyes at q big coaler coming up the
river to one Of the wharves: she was
being towed by three dories, and Mary
said. nervously. something abou, its be-
| ing hard work. Dick did not seem to
hear her.
No" he said. in a low tone. 81 didn't
know that there was anything settled
| between you and Don. But. anyhow.
Its nearly two years since then, and
DO you think that makes any differ
ence?" she flashed out. do you think
I'm that kind of a girl? If II was twenty
years. it would be just the same!"
And poor Dick, abashed. began to say
| that ii would be different If there was
anw chance. but Mary knew there
wasn't; and perhaps, sometime
"Chance?" she cried, the tears brim-
ming over suddenly. "No, there's no
chance: l know that. But do you sup
pose Tm-rm faithful just because he
might come back
young man insisted, "of course I would
understand but you haven't; and. Oh.
| Mary won't you just let me care for
you? I'll be satisfied with that, If
you'll just take me?"
TN never take you. Dick Wheeler"
she said, painting and nearly crying,
'and-and don't you ever say any such
| thing to me again" AS she spoke she
| flew suddenly ahead along the road,
and left Dick looking dejectedly after
her. He had meant TO see her home"
but after such a rebuff he had TO
turn back or at least appear to turn
back. He really skulked doggedly be-
| hind her. for he couldn't let her go
down the lonely road in the darkness.
Mary's face was still flushed when
she came into the kitchen, and found
Mrs. Hayes trotting about making bis
| cults for tea. The little old woman
| looked at her keenly for a moment; she
had her suspicious and her hopes.
Dick Wheeler had stepped in earlier in
the afternoon to ask how she did-"to
pass the time of day" Mrs. Hayes
said; and in a casual way had asked
when Mary would be in. He wants to
ieet HeE' anu VAIN nome WIN ner,
she chuckled to herself; well. well,
that's right. That's how it ought be. l
| hope the child will take him.
There was a curious Inconsistency
about Don's mother She loved Mary
| for her faithfulness to Don, but-why
| should the girl lose a good chance ?
She had no small fears of any discom-
| fort to herself. any neglect-she knew
| Mary. So, with the best will in the