The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-07


what moro could we boz"
"Wcll, said Mary Wostonhangcr, crum-
bling tho cake unnecessarily and making
: of it n carefully built pyramid, "you said
once-you would DO my husband"
And you said once that should not. -
Only once" sho remarked nervously.
The number is small, but sufficient. !"
Robert Mopstod felt quite glow of nd
miration at his unbcnding stcrnnoss. Ho
was behaving with much moro courage
than he had ovor credited himself with
Tho fact of it is, Mary, lifo in the Al
Dany, with pleasant rooms and plenty of
work, Is rather enjoyable. One has no
cares, no trammels, and'-
'.And no companion"
That fact," said Robert Mepstod, with
an effort, sis tho comble do joio"
She roso from tho table and walked
again to tho portrait.
"She was tho kindest friend over had, 1"
said Mary Westenhangor. How good this
is of hcrl'
"My mother" said Robert Mepsted,
rising and standing beside her, twas al
ways good. Sho WINS tho only person that
know of our engagement"
II am glad TINT nobody elso know. We
have been sayca the congratulations of oar
friends. And want 10 ask you sonle-
thing, Robert. There Is no necessity for
anybody ever to know, is thorep"
mo necessity ut all, dear. I would
rathcr keep it as q pleasant secret, to re-
member all my lifo. Thoy wero the
brightest of days. those, and shall peyor.
never forget them.'
cit Is worth coming hero," she said i'm
pulsivcly, ito hear you say so. 1 should
not have called If had not beloved thnt.
And thought that perhaps there might
DO moro such days in tho future''
1.-The stock is exhausted" said Mr..
Mcpstcd decidedly.
Sho took very slowly "a ring from her
finger. 1t was ,GInttIo reluctant to move,
being n ring that studied appearance and
liked an effective background
II did not send this back" said Mary
Westonhnngcr, because did not like to
give 1t up, but believe that it is usual in
these situations to do so"
81 have had little experience, he snid,
but II that is the rulo let us mako an ex-
ccption. would rather you Kept It, 1t
will be something to remind you of mo
whcn-whcn wo aro Older"
Mrs. Long, looking in to SEQ if ANYTHING
was wanted, noted with some disturbance
that tho two young people were standing
rather closely together. Mrs. Long cough
ed the cough of warming and withdrew,
with an apology.
will Lady Westcnhnnger be much lon
gcr!" said Mepsted anxiously. He felt
that his reserve of stcrnncss was Civ
ing out, and to listen to her quiet voice
and to watch her eyes for many moments
longer would bo fatal
Mamma usually has good doal to shy
to shopkeepers, but she will be back d.
rectly."
And then wo shall say goodby again, I
SUPPOSED"
Somehow, in spite Of all this, I'm not
sorry that I've called, sho said thought.
fully.
" 1t has been great delight to me-
Il blamed myself for quarrcling with
you before, Robert, but now that-now
that this afternoon has happened, why,
nobody can blame me-"
That's true. However long L live I
must always feel TINT my bnchelorhood Is
duo to myself, and to no ono else.'
She looked round swiftly.
Arc you going to be u bachelor all
your life, Robcrtf"
why, yes, of course. don't want to
marry anybody clse-I mean to saw. I'm
comfortable enough ms am And l dnre
say when we're 90 years older we shall
meet somewhere, and We shall decide that
It's all been for the best. 1, us q bachelor.
you as an old maid, will"-
II beg your PARDON
say that You, rs an old maid will'-
Il am afraid that you arc pcering into
tho future, Robert, without your glasses.
shall marry"
The newspaper fell from his hand.
"But-but you said that you did not
care for any ono clsc!'
II don't sec how that affects tho mat
ter have proposal in my pocket now"
Show it to me-
III you say please, " said Mary West.
enhangcr. And when Robert oboyed, she
took from her bodice n letter.
But this man is one of tho most fear
full Founders in town. cried Robert Mep-
stcd distractcdly. "You, of course, said
no ut once, dcar?'
i thought it better to wait, Robert 1t
is not wise to be inpetuous in these mat
tors"
but surely, Mary, you would never
dream
Ho stopped, because his indignation half
chokcd him.
II do, sometimes. dreamed once that
you ana were going to be very happy to-
gcther, but rs that Is not likely to occur.
why, au alternative course has to be
adopted"
He took her hand suddenly.
Mary, you mustn't do this. I said I |
was happy, but that was all brag. I'm
without you, and I'm Furnishing
myself moro than can bear. Let us sec
what wo can do
Hadn't wo better put our heads togeth-
err" suggested Miss Wcstenhnnger shyly.
Mrs Long explained the whole affair
tho following morning to lady friend
who managed the rooms of Colonel Dun
korloy at No. NJ.
~ could see it all, Mrs. What-is-it, with
'alf an eye" said Mrs. Long disconnected
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