The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-18

advice. Mrs. Thayer. she knew, would
exclaim in horror over the matter. The
major had limited the course she would
have to take, which was to show Arthur
he had no connection with her life-if
she could.
But deep in her heart she knew she
could not do that.
which made her flush until the dew of
shame stood upon her forehead. He had
never been to see her, she had always
been to see him.
She knew that this was true. She did
not attempt to conceal 1t from herself
now. The charm of those rides with her
uncle was the chance of seeing Arthur.
The sweet. never wearying charm that
made this summer one of perfect happi-
ness that had almost made her forget
her city ways and friends, that had
made her brown and strong with the
soil and wind-was the contact with the
robust and clean and wholesome young
mana sturdy figure with brown
throat and bare strong arms.
Then her Self-accuSatiOn came back.
She had gone down into the field to see
him, perhaps the very man who was
with him then was one Of those whom
he had punished.
Her little hands had clutched. "Ill
never go out there again. I'll never see
him again, never!" she said, with her
teeth shut tight.
Mrs. Thayer did not take any very
great interest in the matter until Mrs.
Salisbury held a session with her. Then
she sputtered i'm deep Indignation.
"Why. how dare he make love to my
niece? Why, the preSumptiouS thing!
Why. the idea-he's a wOrkingman."
Mrs. Salisbury remained quiet. She
was the only person who could manage
Mrs. Thayer.
"Yes'm that's true. But he's a. col
lege-bred man, and"
college bred! These nasty, little
western cOlleges-what do they amount
to. Why. he curries our horses"
Mrs. Salisbury was amused. "I
know that is an enormity. but / heard
the major tell of currying horses once"
THAT was in the army-anyhow, 1t
doesn't matter. Edith can simply ig-
more the whole thing"
II hope she can; but I doubt 1t very
much.'
What do you mean?"
81 mean that Edith is interested in
him."
Il don't believe 1t! Why, it is impos-
sible! You're crazy, jeanette"
Hes very handsome. in a way"
Hes red and big -jointed, and he's a
mudsill," Mrs. Thayer gasped, return
ing to her original charge.
Mrs. Salisbury laughed. being mall
evolent enough to enjoy the whole situ-
alton. "Well, wouldn't try to do any
thing about it, Charlotte" she said.
"You remember the fate of the Brookses
who tried to force Maud to give up her
clerk. If this Is a case of true love, you
might as well surrender gracefully"
But l can't do that. I'm responsible
for her. I'll go right straight and ask
her"
Charlotte" Mrs. Salisbury's voice
rang with a stern note, don't you pre-
sumo to do such a thing. You will pre-
know her own mind, and If you go up
there and attack this young man, you'll
tip the whole dish over. Sit down, now,
and be reasonable. Leave her alone for
awhile. Let her think it over alone"
This good counsel prevailed, and the
other woman settled into a calmer state.
well, it's a dreadful thing, anyhow"
Perfectly dreadful! but you mustn't
take a conventional view of it. You
must remember. a good, clean and
healthy man should come first as a
husband, and this young man is clean
and healthy, and must admit he seems
d dS ldS as CdIl ste De-
sides, you can't do anything by storming
up to that poor girl. Let her alone for
a few days"
Following this suggestion, no one al
luded to the fight, or appeared to notice
Ediths changed moods. But the young
er woman could not forbear giving her
ap occasional squeeze of wordless SYM
pathy, as she passed her.
1t was pitiful to see the tumult and
fear and responsibility of the world
coming upon this dainty, simple heart
ed girl. Life had been so straightfOr-
ward before. No toll. no problems, no
choosing ones things for oneself.
Meanwhile Arthur was longing to
see Edith once more, and wondered
why she had stopped coming.
The major came up on Friday and
Saturday. but came alone, and that left
only the hope of seeing Edith at church,
and the young fellow worked on with
that to nerve his arm.
The family respected his departure on
Sunday. They plainly felt his depres-
sion, and sympathized with it.
Walk home with her-I would"
said Mrs. Richards, as he went through
the kitchen.
80 would I. Dang me If I'd stand
off," Richards started to say, but Ar
thur did not stop to listen.
AS he rode down to the city, he recov-
cred, naturally, little of his buoy
ancy. Sleep had rested his body and
cleared his mind for action.
He sat in his usual place at the back
of the church, and his heart throbbed
painfully as he saw her moving up the
aisle, a miracle of lace. and coolness,
and fragrant linen. enveloping her
fresh, young form, so erect and grace
full and slender.
Then his heart bowed down before
her. not because she was above him in
a social class-he did not admit that
but because he was lover, and she was
his ideal. He was cast down as sud-
denly as he had been exalted, by her
failure to look cautiously around, as
was her custom, in order to bow to
him.
He stood at the door as they came |
out. though he felt boyish and foolish i'm |
doing so. She approached him with |
her eyes cast down, but as she passed |
she flashed an appealing. mystical look |
at him. and flushed u radiant pink |
then slipped out of the side door.
She left him stunned and smarting
for a moment. He mounted his horse |
and rode away towards the mountains,
his thoughts busy with that strange
look of hers. He came to understand |
and to believe at last what her first re- |
coiling perception told him. She an.
pealed to him. and she trusted In him. |
Then something strong and MASTER
full rose in him. He lifted his big brown |
fit In the air in a resolution which was |
like that of Napoleon when he entered |
Russia. He turned and rode furiously |
back toward the town.
As he walked up the gravel path to |
the Thayer house it seemed like a castle /
TO him. The great granite portico, the |
curving flight of steps, the splendOr of |
the glass above the door. all Impressed |
him with the terrible gulf between his |
fortune and hers.
He was met at the door by the girl |
from the table. He greeted her. a q his