The McCook tribune., 1896-12-04
INTERNATIONAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

er's wife upon the mountain. He never
told her that, attracted By her singing,
he had stea!thiiy neared the spot
where she sat, and, unseen by her,
been witness of the fearful struggle
between her real self and Fate He
had pitied her heartily then, while
! comparatively ignorant of the reason
for her seditious emotion. His COM
passion was more profound as he bet
ter understood the relations between
! the Unmatched pair Had his personal
liking foc his new sister been less de-
cided he would have pronounced her
unhappiness to be the righteous punish
ment OF her crime and folly in having
linked her destiny with that of man
whom she did not love. He had known
! dozens OF other women who did the
/ same at the bidding Of similar motives,
and his sympathies had lain dormant
But this one had heart and intellect,
and both we're famishing.
/ have said that Mr. Withers' sensi-
bilities were not lively, nor his love in
! tense. But Of all people living this, his
only brother, had most hold upon his
heart, most influence upon his judg-
ment He made much of him afte" his
formal style; listened with obvious re-
| spect ana secret pride TO his opinions.
and conceived the notion that his wife
was highly honored when Edward sim
eled her cut as the object Of his
marked attentions, and did not Gis-
10 -z1n l. =,
! brilliant circles, took in her society.
This fullness Of confidence in them
both, and hts unseiiish regard for his
| nearest living relative might have be-
gotten softer and kindlier sentiments
toward him in Constances breast but
| for the palpable fact that he encour-
aged the association. not because it
brought her enjoyment, but as means
! CT pTolonging Edwards stay with them.
You seem TO amuse my brother he
said to his wife one morning, as she
was arrayirg herself for her ride His
admiration for you is highly compli-
| mentary. l trust you will leave no
means untried to induce him to remain
W us some weeks longer 1t gratihes
me . see how amicably you get on to-
+ gether, and the friendship is especially
creditable to Edward, inasmuch as he
was universally regarded as my heir
prior to my marriage"
''In that case he deserves ali the cour-
tesy l can show him." mused Con-
stance, going thoughtfully down 10 her
steed and cavalier. u do not know
many men who would be so complaisant
to a stumbling block in the path to
worldly advancement
The conversation would have thrown
her off her guard had she ever consid-
cred it prudent to lbe wary in an asso-
citation at once 50 natural and inno-
cent. She had always liked Edward,
and was growing to like him better
every hour. They were near the same
age, and, being of harmonious tempera-
ments, they usually enjoyed the same
things. He was good, kind and sprigllt-
ly; amused and interested as much as
Mr.. Withers and Harriet wearied her.
This was the reason why the sun slone
more brightly, the breeze was more
odorous, her favorite exercise more
inspiriting OH that early midsummer
morn than these had ever been before
I can hardly believe that l enter to-
day upon the third week of my sojourn
in this region" said Edward, when the
steeplyrising ground compelled them
to slacken their speed.
rs it possible?" The exclamation
was not polite and meaningless for
mula, as Constance brought her startled
eyes around to his. ''It seems a very
little While ago that you came 10 US
You do not think of leaving us soon,
l hope?"
Il cannot say positively how long l
shall stay. This visit is a welcome ex-
change for my long wanderings. This
my brothers home-is the only one
have in America. Yet | was dissatis-
fed with it last year. Elnathan was
often absent-you know best upon
what business smiling meaningly,
''and, to be candid with you, our cousin
Harriet is not the person whom I
should voluntarily select as my only
companion in desert. But for my gun
and fishing rod I should have commit
ted suicide CT run away and left her to
the tender mercies of the Hibernian
domestics and the bears | would not
be so communicative touching ner to
any but a member of the family. But
she is cne of my betes noires l never
liked her"
Nor I.' answered Constance, ener-
geticai,y.
Then, my little sister, you and I
should unite our forces to counteract
her influence with my brother. His
disposition is, in some respects, siHgu-
larry guileless. He believes that Har-
riet's oficious regard for his comfort
and Difference to his wishes and opin-
ions have their root in sincere attach
nent for himself. We know better
know her to be as mercenary as she
thinks herself cunning, and that she
clings to him rs the leech does to him
whose blood is fattening it [ lose all
patience with her faWning and fat
teries when l recollect that these are
the TICKS by which she hopes 20 ealn
her living, and, at his decease. a COM
Portable isgacy''