Evening star., 1896-01-18

and as hard as tron.
Mrs. Salisbury looked up from her wall
nuts. Sam is ready to carry the olive club
to Mr.. Ramsey: the poor heggar,' as he
has called him all aiLng, will be q gentle
man from this time forward
said: There's one thing the major was
careful not to mention, my deah. Why
should this young fellow be going about
defending the good name Of his niece7 Do
idiot is in love with herr
''Well, suppose he iss'
But. my deah, in England, We kneow, it
wouldn't mattah-it would be a case of
hopeless devot;on-but, as 1 understand
tnlngs heah, 1t may become awkward.
Don't ye think so. lover"
1T depends upon the young man. Edith
could worse than marry "a good, clean,
wholesome fellow like that"
Good gracious! You don't allow your
mind to go that far?'
why certainly! I'd much rather she'd
marry a strong young workingman than
some burnt-out third generation wreck Of
her own set in the CITY,"
But the fellow has no means"
He has muscle and brains, and, besides,
she has something of her own"
Salisbury filled his pipe slowly. LUCKILY
It's all theory on our part; the contingence
isn't hyah, isn't likely to arrive, in fact"
Don't be too sure. If can read a girls
heart in the lines of her face she's got
where principalities and powers are of
small account"
"Really?"
Sure as shooting" she smilingly said
Salisbury unused and pliffed. I'm that
case, we will have to turn in and give the
fellow what you Americans call boost"
That's right" his wife replied, slangily.
Edith went to her room that night with
a mind whirling in diZZying circles, whose
motion she could not check. 1t was terrible
to have 1t all come in this way.
She knew Arthur cared for her-she had
known 1t from the first, but with the happy
ind 81 Il
forward to the end of the summer. The
sure outcome of passion had kept itself
somewhere in a golden glipmer on the
lower sweep of the river
She wished for some one to go to for ad-
vice. Mrs. Thayer, she knew, would ex-
claim 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
| rot do that.
Suddenly thought came to her which
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 it 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 happiness, that
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
mad gone down into the field to see him,
perhaps the very man who was with him
then was one of those whom he had pun
ished.
Her little hands had clutched 'Tll never
go out there again. I'll never see him
again, never" she said, with her teeth
Mrs. Thayer did not take any very great
interest in the matter until Mrs Salisbury
held a session with her. Then she sputter-
ed In deep indignation.
why how dare he make love to my
niece! Why the presumptuous thing!
why, the tdea-he's workingman''
Mrs Saulisb bury remained quiet. She was
IN the only person who could manage Mrs
"Yes'm. that's true. But he's college
bred man, and"
''College-bred! These nasty, little west
ern colleges-what do they amount to-?
why, he curries our horses"
Mrs Salisbury was amused. st know
that is All enormity, but heard the major
tel! or currying horses once"
That was in the army-anyhow, it
doesn't matter. Edith can simply ignore
the whole thing"
Il hope she can; but I doubt it very
much.''
What do you mean?"
mean that Edith is interested in him."
II don't believe it! Why, 1t is impossible!
You're crazy, Jeanette"
He's very handsome, in a way"
Hes red and big-jointed, and he's
mudsill.' Mrs. Thayer gasped, returning to
her original charge.
Mrs. salisbury laughed. being malevclent
enough to enjoy the whole situation "Well,
l wouldn't try to do anything about it,
Charlotte" she said "You remember the
fate of the Brookses, who tried to force
OF true love, you might as well surrender
gracefully"
But can't do that. I'm responsible for
her. I'll go right straight and ask her.
with stern note, don't you presume to
do such a thing. You will precipitate ev-
erything. The girl don't know her own
mind, and If you go up there and attack
over Sit down, now, and be reasonable
Leave her alone for a while. Let her think
1t over alone.''
This good counsel prevailed and the
other woman settled into calmer state.
We'll. it's a dl eadful thing, anyhow"
Perfectly dreadful! but you mustn't take
conventional view of it. You must re-
member. good, clean and healthy man
should come first a husband, and this
young man t. clean and healthy, and I
must admit he seems a gentleman, as far
as l can see. Besides, you can't do any
thing by storming up to that poor girl. Let
her alone for few. days."
Following this suggestion, no one alluded
to the fight, or appeared to notice Editl1's
changed moods. But the younger woman
could not forbear giving her an occasional
squeeze of wordless sympathy as she passed
her.
1t was pitiful to see the tumult and fear
and responsibility of the world coming
upon this dainty, simple-hearted girl. Life
had been so straightforward 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 Sat-
urday, 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 depression
and sympathized with it.
Walk home with her-I would" said
Mrs: Richards. as he went through the
kitchen.
$50 would I. Dang me if I'd stand Off"
Richards started to say, but Arthur did not
stop to listen.
AS he rode down to the city, he recov-
cred. naturally, little of his buoyancy.
Sleep had rested his body and cleared his
mind for action:
He sat in his usual place at the back Of