The age-herald., 1899-01-15
Literally Construed

"A person must go through many trials before he can succeed conspicuously in this l life" remarked the philosopher. "It seems SOL answered Senator Sor- ghum gravely; "especially if he lives in | Pennsylvania"
 l. = = s = us,'' said, 'I must speak to her about it., But when l mentioned the subject to Fan l ny she seemed so grieved that I said no | more; and when she did come down to SUD- per that evening I blamed myself for bring | ing on one of her headaches, and. myself | carried her supper up to her, which she re- l fused to touch But when Richard whose | business detained him down town late many evenings in the week, returned at Il o'clock | that night he found Fanny waiting as usual | for him down stairs
 | "You mustn't let her take your place. 1 puss,' he said quietly. And noticed that 1 he threw the coat aside, saying it was too t, warm.
 One day, coming in quietly, I heard Rich | ard talking in loud, firm tones to Fanny | and Fanny sobbing out a reply. Running in caught the poor girl in my arms. and | turned to Richard with a surprised look. Nothing at all, my dear" said he. "only an unpleasant topic Fanny and I were obliged to talk over"
 Something about Fanny's estate" I | thought poor girl, how she grieves"
 One day, as I was about to go out to meet Richard, Fanny said. "I wouldn't go, if I ] were you. Richard said he was going to be 1 very busy.
 Strange he did not tell me" said T.
 'Well. he told me-" said Fanny pursing | up her lips and tossing her head. | did not go, and all that afternoon Fan | nys manner troubled me so that was really quite cold to Richard when he came | home. After supper I retired to my room | leaving Richard and Fanny alone in the 1 parlor
 l That night Richard had little to say and | the next morning he left home an hour | earlier than usual and Fanny, who usually 1 did the marketing an hour later, accom- 1 panied him.
 | As saw them disappear the first pang of | jealousy I had ever felt in my life came over me; and as they turned the corner I | burst into tears.
 Fanny came home In high spirits, and l later dressed herself and went out. and I | had the feeling she had gone to meet Rich | ard, a feeling that was later confirmed when
 they came home together I did not go | down to supper that night. pleading head | ache but from my couch up stairs could | hear them laughing until far into the night. | though noticed that Fanny's laughter was ! louder than Richards and had more merri- | ment in 1t.
 | MatterS were a Ilttle strained between | Fanny and me the next day. and kept my
 couch all day, but toward night I shook off
 my headache and dressed myself to go out
 to meet Richard. in spite of Fanny's many
 attempts to prevent me by pleading the
 weather and my indisposition.
 Well. I shall never forget the smile of
 welcome with which Richard greeted me
 'T declare, puss.' said he. "ths is pleasant | thought you had delegated all your well | comes to Fanny. She says she tried in vain | to persuade you to accomnany her last | night and the night before'
 turned and gave Richard one lools-one | speeches. look-and then we both knew | and understood-our escape.
 The walk home was quiet but full of re-
 solve for both of us. As soon as we were
 in the house Richard turned and lifted my
 face in his hands: "This is for what you
 have suffered" he said, land as for me. I
 shall make up in love the time I've been
 losing the last three days"
 "They have been a thousand years long,
 I whispered.
 "And longer still to me" Richard said l Suddenly Richard turned for there was a
 rustling of the curtains behind him. 'It is
 Fanny" I whispered Don't deari Let
 her go quietly. We can afford to be mag
 unanimous you and I, when we have each
 other to live for.
 Fanny remained in our family only a
 week after that. sullen. baffled and full of
 rage. Then she went back to her western
 home to finish out life as she began it, on
 farm, where Richard and I both hoped
 she would learn the folly of coming be- ! fuua a ma nd wifi