Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-10-14

1 am Mrs. Barrington-you won't take
1t kindly, I am afraid-but Jem would
not come himself, he would send me.
Now what can we do to put things as
right as they can beP"
So the delay was explained. The de-
lighted bridegroom had not rushed to
meet his bride because he was already
husband to another woman. 1t went
hard with Anna, but she was proud
woman and compelled herself to give a
cold attention to the explanations that
Mrs. Darlington forced upon her. As
if, being betrayed, it mattered to her
how the thing was done! A rescue from
danger on the one side, u 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, and
the first steamer that left Melbourne
carried Anna Edgar with it.
"Did you foresee this, Georgia, when
YOU gave me the exact passage money
in that purse towards the house plen-
ishingY"
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 Ill
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 a cornu-
copia with fruit and flowers.
Godfrey 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 go.
'Nou will say 1t is heartlcss of me if |
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 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 l should
have been afraid to ask you to come to
me, Georgia, daring, 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 EpuNdo not mind
being poor"
II like it, Goeff, DEAR" answered
George; ''and, besides, your poverty
is wealth compared with ours"
Three-and-twenty was Anna Edgar
when she went out to Australia in the
Petrol" At three-andthirty she was
Anna Edgar still, and the "Petrcl" was
steaming towards England with Jane"
Darlington on board.
The little house in Oxford road had
proved q CHEEKY home during these ten
years to two busy and therefore happy
women. Josie had tended the invalid to
the close OF her pilgrimage, and now
aided her young daughter in the SUI
perintendence of the household; Anna
had stepped into the place that Georgia
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 and admirers Life
had prospered with the sisters, and they
could now afford to work leisurely il
they chose.
On day in August, Anna Edgar was
taking decided holiday. Georgia and
her babes had just left after one CT
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 taken up with certain patterns
of laces and silks and ve!vets that were
spread before her. She was evidently
choosing q dress or dresses for some
important occasion, and she fingered
one pattern after another with linger-
ing care. Anna had always been hand
some, but she was handsomer now THAI
ten years back, and to-day, with an eH
preston of gentle contentncnt upo!
her face, she looked particularly wei.
Size was so entirely engrossed III Tx
train of thought with which the silk:
and laces were associated that she die
not notice the sound of footsteps COM
ing through the garden, and started
when Mary ushe'ed into the room ..
gentleman to speak to you, Miss Anna.
With a flush of surprise on her beauti
FIJI face, she turned to encounter her Cd
lover James Darlington.
There is some mistake, think" she
said. drawing herself back haughtily
after the first shock of astonishment
had passed. "You can scarcely have
wished to see me-"
There is no mistake" answered
James. II have come across the world
for that purpose. They tell me you are
still Miss Edgar"
"That is perfectly correct, but l fail
to see what concern it is of yours
now" she cried, with emphasis.
81 have come across the world, as l
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 a mourning frock, who hung shyly
behind him.
Anna looked curiously at the child of
the woman who had supplanted her.
She bore a softened resemblance to her
mother, but in her face was strange
expression indicative Of Anna knew not
what.
Indeed" said Anna, and paused in
quiringly.
81 have brought her with me-" re-
sumed James; "she is all 1 have. 1t is
almost two years since she lost her