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

1t is too bad, sending sou all th
way down there tonight, the gil
was saying. You could have dror
ped it in the post box inst as we'll.
Miss Rennie says it's to 9
straight to his lodgings and il yo
bad seen the look on her face yol
would have known she meant it,
answered James. .i'll be back be
fore long, for | hayenst got to wal
for an answer
He moved reluctantly of not
withstanding. and in another mo
ment Neal touched him on th
shoulder.
is that you, James p he called
cheerily. Did hear you say 20,
had q letter to take to Mr.. Farm
hams lodgings? / am going tha
way, and I'll carry il if you say sc
and spare you the walk-and leav,
you that much time for courting,
he adned significantly.
Much obliged to you sir, replied
James.
And, resigning his trust with
alacrity, he quickly traced his steps
to the house knowing well that hs
ran no risk OF betrayal from hi:
pretty inamorata.
For two days Rennie waited for
an answer to her letter.
On the afternoon of the third
day her father, coming home earlier
than usual, found her in a swoon
upon the floor.
my advice 10 to take her some.
where, said Neal, who had called
in opportunely. 'If-you have rela-
tives anywhere in the country, take
her among them aud remain with
her until she RECEIVERS in measure
from this sad blow
But my house here-how can !
manage about that in the mean
time:' Mr.. Lawrence asked in a
state of complete bewilderment.
you need not shut it up. With
your permission will occupy a
room here, so that / can receive and
forward whatever mail matter comes
during your ABSENCE Neal answer
ed 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
having been carefully steamed open
and perused with evident satisfact-
ion, were sealed up, inclosed in
other envelopes, and returned tc
the sender.
AT Neal's urgent suggestion, Mr..
Lawrence's absence was prolonged
from three months to five, by which
time he felt they could be safely re-
called, he having learned that Farm
ham was preparing for a business
trip to Europe, expecting to be alb
sent two years.
THAT will do he calculated.
Long before he returns Rennie
Lawrence will be my wife,
When the heart broken girl re-
turned, Neal was the first to meet
her and became her very shadow,
offering no word either of condo.
lence or love, but rendering the
thousand little attentions which
sooner or later win their way.
For awhile he used his influence
to keep her from society, for The
purpose Of avoiding any chance
meeting with Farnham, who wa,
still in the city, but at last he de-
cided upon attending concert Al
which some celebrities were to ap.
pear, having been informed thai
the ship on which Roscoe had taker
passage would sail early in the af.
ternoon.
1t required considerable impor
tuning on his part to induce Rem
ME to accept his escort or indulg,
In any recreation of the kind, but
she yielded at last, and Neal fell
that he had scored his second NOV,
in the game he was playing.
For awhile she sat beside him
listlessly Indifferent alike to tn,
concert and his occasional whisper
ed remarks, Neal was searchin,
Rennie's fair face with an express
ion of triumphant admiration, ov
ercast, nevertheless, with a shad
of anxiety, while the girl wore al
absent minded, fsrsway look, tin
ped with hopeless melencholv.