The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-04-22

LII carry 1t II you say so, INC spare
you the walk-and leave you that
much longer for cousting!" he added,
significantly.
"Much obliged to You, sir" re.
piled James.
And, resigning his trust with alac-
rity, he quickly retraced his steps to
the house, knowing we'll that he ran
no risk Of betrayal from his pretty
inamorata.
For two days Rennie waited for an
answer to the letter.
On the afternoon Of the third day
her father, coming home earlier than
usual, found her in q swoon uron the
floor.
"My advice is to take her some
where" said Neal, who had called in
OPPORTUNITY. "It you have relatives
anywhere in the country, take her
among them and remain with her I'M
til she RECEIVERS in u measure from this
sad blow"
But my house here-how can ]
manage about that in the meantime|'
Mr.. Lawrence asked, in a state OF
complete bewilderment.
"You need not shut it up. With
your permission l will occupy q room
here, so that / car receive and forward
whatever mail matter comes during
your ABSENCE Neal answered readily.
The arrangement was concluded,
and the following day Mr.. Lawrence
and his daughter departed from the
city, leaving Neal in possession OF the
house.
OF the letters that came, he for
warded all but two, which after hav,
ing been carefully steamed open and
perused with evident satisfaction, were
sealed up, enclosed in other envelopes,
and returned to the sender.
At Meals urgent suggestion, Mr..
Lawrence's absence was prolonged
from three months to five, by which
time he felt they could be safely re-
caIled-he having learned that Farm
ham was preparing for a business trip
to Europe, expecting to be absent
two years.
"That will do" he calculated.
"Long efore he returns Rennie Law
renee will be my wife, .
When the heart .bEoken girl re-
turned, Neal was the first to meet her,
and became her very shadow, offering
no word either of confidence or love,
but rendering the thousand little at
tentions which sooner or later win
their way.
For n while he used his influence to
keep her from society, for the purpose
of avoiding any chance meeting with
Farnham, who was still in the city ;
but at last he decided upon attending
n concert Mt which some celebrities
were to appear, having been informed
that the ship on which Roscoe had
taken passage would sail early IN the
afternoon.
1t required considerable Emporium.
ing on his part to induce Rennie to
accept his escort or indulge in any
recreation Of the kind but she yielded
at last, and Neal felt that ho had
scored his second move in the game he
was playing.
For q while she sat beside him, list
lessly indifferent alike to the concert
and his occasional whispered remarks.
Neal was searching Rennie's face with
an expression of triumphant adinira-
ton, overcast, nevertheless, with n
shade of anxiety. while the girl wore
an nbsent.minded, far.away look,
tinged with hopeless melancholy.
But after IL while some of the music
seemed to arouse her attention and in
t%ercst. and she listened breathlessly to
the song in which tho singer, q tenor
of rare power and sweetness. was
throwing oil the strength of artistic
skill and appreciation, bringing out its
subtle sentiment with n power and
pathos that stirred the tcnderest emo
tons of her heart.
And not less deeply concerned. but
in n widely different sense, was William
Neal. He saw that the whole tendency
of the programme thus far was to lead
her thoughts further away from him
and back to the past from which he
wished to draw her entirely; and he
watched ner intent face with u furtive
uneasiness and perturbation, conscious
that he had made n grave mistake.
Finally, as the curtain fell at the close
of the first part, to be followed by a
short interval, Neal rose with evident
relief.
'I see a friend in another part OF
the house to whom l wish to speak, il
you will excuse me for n moment" he
said. Then with a forced laugh: 81
hope they will give us something q
little more cheerful in the remaining
numbers of the programme. This
high-strung sentiment is rather toe
rarified for actual everyday expert
ence."
He turned away without waiting for
an answer and Rennie was sitting
with her head bowed, and her eyes
full Of tears, when q step sounded
near her, and u voice vibrating with
earnest pathos, sincerity and grief
said:
"May ] sit here and talk with you
for q few moments? May !, Miss Law.