Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-09-30

SIC seemed to arouse her attention
and interest aud she listened breath
iessly 70 the song into which tn
singer, tenor OF rare power ans
sweetness, was throwing all tn
strength of artistic skill and appre
citation. bringing out of its subtl,
sentiment with power and pathoI
that stirred she tenderest emotionl
Of her heart
| And not less deeply concerned
bat in o widely different sense, wai
William Neal. lie saw that tbs
whole tendency Of the programme
thus far was TO lead her thought.
further away from him and back t.
that past from which he wished to
draw her entirely, and he watched
her intent face with q furtive un.
easiness and perturbation, conscious
that he had made a grave mistake.
Finally, as the curtain fell at the
close of the first interval, Neal rose
~ith evident relief.
Il see friend in another part of
the house to whom / wish to speak
ii you will excuse me for mo-
ment, he said. Then, with a for
ced laugh: Il hope they will give
us something little more cheerful
in the remaining numbers of the
programme. This high strung SEN
timent is rather too rarefied for ac-
tual every day experience.
He turned away without waiting
for an answer, and Rennie was Sit
ting with her head bowed, and her
eyes full of tears, when a step
sounded near her, and a voice-vi-
brating with earnest pathos, SINGER
ity and grief--.said
May | sit here and talk with you
for few moments May /, Miss
Rennie Lawrence e?' and lifting her
head with a sudden start she looked
into the frank but troubled face of
Roscoe Farnham.
Where were doubt, mistrust, sus-
plcion now?
Gone, before the whispering of
that truer voice, whose accents no
heart could mistake or disbelieve
that voice that bade him welcome
to her side
Il thought you had gone to Eu-
rope she faltered, scarcely know
ing what she said. 'Mr. Neal
then she stopped abruptly.
Mr.. Neal told you so,' supple
mented Roscoe, with involuntary
bitterness. Perhaps it may prove
to be not the first misrepresentation
for which | am indebted to Mr..
Neal Then, with a quick move
ment. drawing a letter from his
pocket: Tell me, Rennie, what
does this mean? Did this indeed
come from you? 1t seems impos.
sible, and yet the writing is yours
Mechanically Rennie took the
letter he offered.
A glance at the address brought
an expression of astonishment to
her face. Then, taking out the en-
closed sheet, she read it to the end.
'The writing is not mine,' she
said, trembling violently. 1t is a
clever forgery admit, but | never
saw this letter before. | did write
you on that date, but did not di-
rect it to that address, for | did not
know you were out of the city,
Thank heavens 2 calculated
Roscoe fervently, ther more earn
estly: 'Rennie, it is currently re-
ported that you are engaged to Will
liam Neal, but as looked at you
both tonight from where l sat |
read. admiration and triumph in
Meals face, but neither love nor
interest in yours, and, in spite of
all that had passed. my heart gave
a sudden bound of renewed hope
and courage. So, when Neal left
you Just now, | resolved to avail
myself of the frst opportunity |
had found to approach you since
the receipt Of that cruel letter. i
am convinced that there has been
some terrible wrong, some shame
ful treachery. Tell me, did you
zee Neal the day this letter was
written
For answer Rennie related brief
ly as possible what she knew of the
whole matter.
Neal knew that / was called from
the city by q telegram that very
evening" said Roscoe. HE accom-
panied me to the cars aud received
L nn.ara far non NTH fha rr...n;n1