The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-10-07


if, being betrayed, it mattered to her
how the thing was done! A rescue from
danger on the one side, a nursing
through an illness on the other. What
did it matter to the woman they had
cheated? Mrs. Barrington's offers of
assistance were haughtily declined, AMI
the first steamer that left Melbourne
carried Anna Edgar with it.
"Did you foresee this, George, when
you gave me the exact passage money
in that purse towards the house plen-
ishing?'"
Don't ask home questions, darling"
answered George with kisses. "Lie
still and get well as quickly as you
can"
For Anna had been exceedingly i'll
upon the return voyage, and was still
| terribly weak and shaken. The SYM
| pathy of all the place was with her, for
seeing the impossibility of keeping the
disaster secret, the Edgars had decided
to speak of it openly at once, and friend
ly gifts of all kinds came in to show the
kindly feeling of the neighbors. The
little house overfowed like cornu-
copia with fruit. and flowers.
Geofrrey hung about, ready to nurse,
run errands, write letters, or do any
thing that could be required of him, as
long as his business could spare him,
and then unwillingly announced that
he must 60.
"You will say it is heartless of me if I
suggest that it is an i'll wind that blows
nobody any good" he said, squeezing
Georges hand as they sat over the
twilight fire; 'but you see Anna could
not have done me a better turn than by
coming to grief in this way. All your
misfortune seems to be good luck to
me. If she had not come back should
have been afraid to ask you to come to
me, George, darling, for you would
have said you could not leave Josie. I
cannot offer you anything like what
you are used to or what you ought to
have, but you say you do not mind
being poor"
Il like it, Goeff, DEAR" answered
George; land, besides, your poverty
is wealth compared with ours"
Internationally was Anna Edgar
when she went out to Australia in the
| 'sPetrel." At three-and-thirty she was
Anna Edgar still, and the "Petrel" was
steaming towards England with James;
Darlington on board.
The little house in Oxford road had
proved a CHEEKY home during these ten
years to two busy and therefore happy
women. Josie had tended the invalid to
the close of her pilgrima and now
aided her young daughtersiA the SUI
perintendence of the houseHpld; Anna
had stepped into the place that George
left vacant, and had BECOME famous
through the neighborhood as teacher
of elocution. Her romantic story, in
stead of covering her with contempt
as she expected, had brought her'hosts
of sympathizers andE admirers. Life
had prospered with the sisters, and they
could now afford to work leisurely if
they chose.
On day in August, Anna Edgar was
taking decided holiday. George and
her babes had just left after one of
their frequent gleeful visits, and she
was resting in preparation for the next
event. Her music was open on the
piano, and her blotting book on the
writing table,; but her attention was
wholly takehSup with.certain patterns
of laces and=silks and velvets that were
spread before her. She was evidently
choosing dress or dresses for some
important occasion, and she fingered
one pattern after another with linger-
ing care. Anna had always been hand
|sUme, but she was handsomer now than
ten years back, and to-day, with an ex-
preston of gentle contentment upon
her face, she looked particularly WE'LL
She was so entirely engrossed in the
train of thought with which the silks
and laces were associated that she did
not notice the sound of footsteps COM
ing through the garden, and started
when Mary ushered into the room ga
gentleman to speak to you, Miss Anna"
With flush of surprise on her beauti-
f'l face, she turned to encounter her old
lover James Darlington.
'There is some mistake, think she
said, drawing herself back haughtily
after the first shock of establishment
had passed. 'You can scarcely have
wished to see me-" 49, ..~r - i [..3
There is no mistake" answered
James. Il have come across the world
for that purpose. They tell me you are
still Miss Edgar" % ~*&s<h
.'That is perfectly correct, but I fail
to see what concern it is of yours
new she cried, with emphasis.
| II have come across the world, as
said, to seek you out, and ask if you
have forgiven me for what happened
ten years ago, Anna. This is my only
child,'' he said, pointing to little girl
in mourning frock, who hung shyly
behind him. -
i Anna looked curiously at the child of
the woman who had supplanted her.
She bore q softened resemblance to her
mother, but In her face was strange
expression indicative Of Anna knew not
what. %
Indeed . said Anna, and paused in
, qui1ingly.
II have brought her with me- = ) re re-
summed james; 'she Il m have. * 4
almost to ysas knos shs lost Id
]. notAss.. III