The Van Buren press., 1895-02-02

say that the dogs home may keep it9"
Content, are you mads What do
you fnean3"
"It's Tom," monned Content "1am
sure he was going to say something to
me last night, but somehow he could
never manage 1t, and. he will never
speak now. Mother. would it bo very
wicked not to tell anybody about the
money ut presently Surely 1t wouldn't
be difficult to keep it secret about
this new will for time?"
And deceive Tom? My dear Con.
tent! and what about the cxplana.
tion and confcssing the truth? Would
he respect you, or could you respect
yourself? II 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 1t home,
and Tom came no more.
~ don'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"
"Yes, 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 ono afternoon, mother lam go
ing to do something dreadful!'
my dear child" demonstrated her
mother.
you sec," continued Content,
Erred wouldn't marry me because
was poor, and now Tom won't marsy
me because l am rich, SO l must do
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 ! am sure he loves me.
II it was sotne misfortune which
parted us, I could bear it; but this
wretched money"
Later in the afternoon, Tom Barn.
ard, coming back through the fields
from q long round, caught sight Of
some ono 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 q tremendous effort to up
pear cool and unconcerned, but his
voice shook when he began to speak.
"How do you do, Miss Weston? It's
IA nice day for walk, isn't it?'
1t was 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.
II say, do hope yos haven't been
ILL.," he said, hurriedly. "You ought to
have change. But you are going
away, aren't you?"
"Yes. we are going away" said Con-
tent. II don't care much for the viii
lage now. Everything is SO different" I"
you mean that you find the people
behave differently to you because OF
your money!" he asked.
"Ycs, horribly diffcrent!" said Con-
tent, cnergctically, throwing stone
down the stream MS far as it would 20.
edith will be awfully lonely with
out you," he said. ut has always
been q joke in our house that she
cared less for any of us than for Sweet
Content"
"Oh, please don't use that name any
morc!" cried Content. II am going to
change, and be called Gloriana. The
other is not applicable. I'm not con-
tented Mt all"
But you have every-advantagc,"
pursued Tom, awlkwardly, his hungry
eyes fixed upon her averted face.
II havcn'tl" she flashed out II
wish l 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? Nor cried Content, turn
ing an indignant face upon him.
"They arc afraid of what people will
say, and they let the thought of that
ruin girls life."
IL don't think you are quite fair
to me, Content" he said, with diff.
Guilty. II gave you up because OF
your money, and it was very hard"
Ibid 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
rue, and all that property to manage,
when don't know anything about it,
because you are afraid"
ION my word Of honor, Content, 1t
isn't that. | knew that with that
to.l,k