Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-08
make these final arrangements. -

| content, moving dDTuptly W tho VIII
dow.
She stood for some minutes looking
out, and then turned and said, in q
tone of strong resolution: Give me
this one afternoon, mother. am go
ing to do something dreadful
"My dear child!' demonstrated her
mother.
you see," continued Content
Fired wouldn't marry me because
was poor, and now Tom won't marsy
me because / am rich, SO / must dc
something myself"
do be careful, dear"
Yes, mother. will. have thought
it all over, and | don't think it would
be right to leave things like this.
love Tom, and l am sure he loves me.
If it was some misfortune which
parted us, could bear it; but this
wretched money!
Later in the afternoon, Tom Barn
ard, coming back through the fields
from a 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. lie 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 a tremendous effort to APP
pear cool and unconcerned, but his
voice shook when he began to speak.
"How do you do, Miss Weston? It's
"a nice day for walk, isn't it?"
1t was a damp, dismal afternoon,
and the observation was therefore
scarcely appropriate. Content, who
had been dropping stones into the wa
ter, turned round suddenly with a
wildly beating heart and very white
face.
ut rained this morning" was the
only thing she could find to say; but
the sight of her face had changed the
current of Toms thoughts.
IL say, l do hope you haven't been
i'll" he said, hurriedly. You ought to
have a change. But you are going
away, aren't your
YES. we are going away" said Con-
tent. Il don't care much for the vii
lage now. Everything is so different"
You mean that you find che people
behave differently to you because OF
your money?" he asked.
Yes. horribly different" said Con-
tent, theoretically, throwing a stone
down tie stream as far as it would 20
Edith will be awfully lonely with
out YOU" he said. 1t has always
been a joke in our house that she
cared less for any Of US than for Sweet
Content"
'Oh, please don't use that name any
more cried Content. Il am going to
change, and be called Gloriana. The
other is not applicable. I'm not con-
tented at all"
But you have every-advantage, "
pursued Tom. awkwardly, his hungry
eyes fixed upon her averted face.
Il haven't" she flashed out. Il
wish was living in the old times,
when men were brave and things were
nice"
And men are not brave now?' he
asked, as cheerfully as he could.
Brave? No" cried Content, turn
ing an indignant face upon him
"They are afraid of what people will
say, and they let the thought of that
ruin a girls life"
IL don't think you are quite fair
to me, Content" he said, with diff
Guilty. Il gave you up because Of
your money, and it was very hard
Did ever ask you to give me up?'
cried Content. WAS it my fault that
the money came? Why should you
punish me for it? Isn't it bad enough
to have lot of money thrust upon
YOU that you don't want, without your
treating me as if it was some crime Of
my own?'
Content, don't"
He took step forward, but she held
up her hand.
You know you were afraid of what
people would say. You leave me to be
alone all my life, with no one to help
roe, and all that property to manage,
when don't know anything about it,
because you are afraid
ION my word of honor, Content, it
isn't that. l knew that with that
property you might marry anyone you
liked. and / wasn't going to ask you
to bind yourself to me-"
Then II you weren't a coward, You
were distrustful and unkind. Did it
never strike you that had right to
be consulted on the subject?'
Mrs. Weston said Tom, when he
brought Content back to the cottage
some time later, II understand that
you have been thinking of changing
this young lady's Christian name. 1t
isn't necessary. She assures me that
she is and always will be Sweet Con-
tent. "-Condensed from the Culver