New-York tribune., 1896-10-04
SISTERS.

which made last Summer-to me at ied7' ~
exceedingly pleasant? 1t is with the 'housh'
of your kindness still fresh In my hei"oiy
that i dare to ask that question "hich haS
been growing more and more important 10 NY
mind ever since | left home. Will you De my
wife? i feel / am asking much of you' put IN
deed. / ask in all humility. knowing nave
nothing to offer in exchange but most sincere
affection and a great desire to make you happ!.
and il l can in any degree succeed III iia'
DANIEL MERTON
"Upford Rectory. Norfolk. September 30 lSo--.
"Dear Major Merton: i was very much sur
priscd bv YOUR letter, as it had never struck me
that you looked upon me as anything nut d
friend But !. too. have pleasant memories OF
the summer, and | feel that L should be con-
tented as your wife. however deeply might
miss my dear home and all the sad ana happy
associations with which this place is connected
and which must always make ~ dearer 10 me
than any other in the world. My rather mas
written to you, know. so need say no more.
1 am yours very sincerely ,,roN.
"'Mother" said Constance. few days after
writing this letter, II cannot do IT,
"But my dearest. you must! You KNOW IL IL
only week to the day you start and your pas
sage is taken, and ALL and your rousseau mas
gore. and ii is really quite easy ana CORONER
and Mrs. Gore will look after you, and.
WHAT is the good Of talking. mother? You
know / would travel anywhere 1t Is the thought
of meeting him at the end'
Eyes, dear" sighed Mrs. Barton, Il quite
understands: but YOU won't mind in little
while. 1t will soon wear on
but it will not! How often must tell you
that this is no sudden freak? L have thought
about it for weeks and weeks.
"Why did you not tell me, them said the
mother. reDroachfully.
because ] could not be certain what coui
endure Yes'-answerng startled look in her
hearers face-"endure l meant to marry him
without loving him; it seemed quite easy put
I
"My dear Constance. go on! What could have
Influenced you last night?
1--WE were coming home from choir practice,
and the sun was setting just as We got TO the
top of the hill-and ! stopped at the gate into
the first field, and watched the sun go down
behind the fir trees and the mists come over
the feds-and-1 found could not leave IT,
What? Leave what?
"That gate. mother No. you carnot under
stsnd it; you never would-so just try and Tor
give me. if you can"
Constance. surely you cannot be 'hhKihs-
After all these years.
mo mother; / never think, as you say. after
all these wears The present is quite enough to
think about, and-do you understands VIII
not go out to India, will not marry MAJOR
Merton. and so-wll you tell my iather OF
II will. ,..
Mrs. Barton went down the stairs with 4, a
heavy heart and on reaching her husbands
study sank into the first chair and signed.
well. Mary, what is II! ,
Il wish-I wish we had lady organists'
MARY. my dear. are you mad!
oh no." (bitterly); Il am very sane; but II !
have come to tell you something which VIII
dsappoint you."
1T has nothing to do with organists. Con-
stance refuses to marry Major Merton. ~
The rector gasped. but before he could say ava
WCrd an indignant giriSh voice prche i'll iioi
the other end of the room 49,
TT is a shame! How dare she?"
Are YOU there. Maud said Mrs Barton
Never mind; | should have had to tell you.
thing ii is q great pity. ,
"A pity. (scornfully). 1t is disgraceful And
how-how will he bear it? To have ms love love
her right. and now she filings II away Wlthou'
thinking of his heart-breaking ana some
thing very like a sob sounded 'hroush '"e
room. ~ -, ., L.,
the tone which betrays how familiar IS tne
sentence and Maud had heard it al her Ire IN IN
1esrOrse to her most enthusiastic ideas as well
as to her daily chatter. so its effect was small
Her father and mother began to consider the
position Major Merton expecting bride; thelr
friends, Colonel and Mrs. Gore. Haltlng 10
escort Constance to Bombay and be present at
the wedding; and. most important TO ,ne h',
female mind. the trousseau. which was alread!
ON it's way to Brindis What was to be done?
''Wire to Major Merton suggested the rec
tor. "'No. Constance; or Coz stance r."
mo" said Mrs Barton. decidedly; the Cores
must take our letters. and when he sees tneni
alone on the steamer half the force OF the biow
will be broken: he will see something Is @ Mrons
and that will be much better than teiegraih.
"Yes" said Maud; because he Will not nave
70 wait a fortnight for the explanation 49,,
"Of course" said Mrs, Barton. pitifully
though that had not struck me. And, by-the-
bye Maud this will put an end TO your lholai
trip" and her mother looked bewidered.
why" said Maud. quickly and the sharT
tones of her voice reduced the confused oDlec
fions surging in her parents minds into feeble
ut would not do" But through the long argu
rnent that followed they found her lmperlouS
"Why not?" difficult to answer that she lei
them In the end saying wonceringiy 10 eaci
other And why nOt?"
The Ganges steamng into Bombay Harpo
early one December morning. The passengers
most of them returning from leave. stood on decl
watching for Malabar Hill and other famiia
landmarks full of the excitement OF return u
that land which. however much they might cal
England "home," held most OF their hfes inter
ests. 49,, ,,.,.
rather distracted as they thought of the unpleas
ant task which lay before them. Maud had dis
aDneared below on some excuse. somewhat t
their relief they 'elt the sight Of the offendin'
brides sister would not be likely to soothe mat
ters with the forsaken bridegroom
Maud in an agony of suspense and half
shamed disgust with herself. was looking will
misty eyes out Of one OF the h,n wnen sh sh
had time to wonder who it was voice she knew
was saying In eager tones
Constance! How glad l ami She turned
md faced-Major Merton. He looked discon
certed for a minute. then went on: Il beg you
nardon Miss-er-Maud. l suppose i may say
but your figures are so much alike; and where i
Constance" -
Poor Maud saw that all her strate gems hat
teen useless She. Of all people, had to tell hin
through had pictured him having brain fever
ending probably in madness. when he learne'
how Constance had treated him. She yer,
young!
, feeling intoIerably guilty. but something must b
said and gathering all her courage together sh
began:
she has not come.
His face fell.
SIS she coming by the next boat then. Or
&c Naud's ewes fell before his own, "is she i'll :?
Maud shook her head. 1t was becoming almos
more than she could bear. and Major Merton