Evening star., 1900-04-07

money BESIDES" Miss Lucindy-Tom said
with a sneering laugh.
Marcia shouldn't have him If he was
made of gold and strung all over with
diamonds Miss Marticia almost shrieked
Marcia. just back Of her, broke into tear
full laugh.
No; .s,,, I wouldn't take him that way,
annty! she said: Il should not care to
have husband who had to be melted down
before he was any good"
She was Juggling gently at her aunt s
sleeve John was rushing down the War
field lawn-she wanted to end this unseem
~ aitercation before he came up. The COM
batants had drawn nearer nearer until
now they stood glaring into each others
eyes. Slowly Miss Lucindy-Tom raised on
nigh her clenched right hand
oh but 1t is hard," she said '"If only
didn't feel myself a Christian and a lady,
/ q tell you what I think of you and yollr
traps Marticia Ewing. What hurts is to
thlnk Warfeld-any Warfeld-can be
EN-" "
Come home. Aunt Lucinda" John said.
masterfully. laying his hand on her
snouider sa to turn her about. Still holding
her, ne stepped In front Of Miss Marticia,
and said around her to Marcia: II am
sorry, SO sorry. that these two, who have
been more than mothers to US, have quar-
with u.s."
mo! 1t must not" Marcia answered.
Miss Marticia snatched her in a straneling
grip and hurried her through the gate. AS
u smut behind them she turned and shook
her INST. Miss Lucindy-Tom, turning like
wise at almost the same instant, shook hers
with equal vigor.
Half the county took sides in itSmuch tho
larger number espousing the side of the
lovers. There was lively speculation as tn
how 1T would all end. Warfield tenacitv
nrh nvaI
Warfield of Warf1elds Against that Eur
ing blood was hot ard heady. Though Miss
Marticia had always been so mild the
slight to her pride made her ready to live
up TO the fullest measure to her name
Her ohstinacy was really rooted In 1--we
love for Marcia. 1t set her wild to think
anybody dared object to her girl, the very
darling OF her heart. She tried to make up
ner Of indulgences. Marcia was NOT tbe
sort to peak and pine, not even to sulk
She missed John ever. ever so mucf-she
really had not known how fond she was of
hlfn-Dut that was no reason q all for maxi
ing Aunty Marry unhappier than she was
already. Go
So Marcia went to all the merry-makings
She was so gay, indeed. Miss Lucindy-Tom
hung 1T In Johns teeth. Much that girl
cares about your she said. Look at her,
She Is here, there, everywhere laughing
and dancing all the whie''
Ihat shows she Is a wise little girl :"
John said loyalty. but deep down his heart
was sore. He was not very happy. sarah
Ashbel was still In the house, and Tantv
Iom nagged him perpetually about Marcia
me worst part was he could not leave her
she had engaged him formally as manager
the day he was free. and the contract had
sun a year to run. Under it he was to re-
ceive certain proportional share Of farm
profits for the full term-meantime chare-
Ing himself with all purely personal eS-
penses If he held out he would have some
thinR-1ust how much he did not know Tf
ne broke the agreement he forfeited eyerv-
thing.
Hence he worked and waited with what
patience he could muster. He went about
| manner Of a gentleman-and he was set m
saving. He did not in the least grudee
Marcia her pleasure, but 1t would have
comforted him II. upon their rare meetings.
he had seen even a shade of sadness in her
eyes: They spoke to each other-not priv
| fly. but In open. friendly fashion The two
aunts made point Of never seeing each
other at such times as chance threw them
| in each others way.
They had quarreled in November In
February afterward the Grabels gave their
big party. Marcia had a gorgeous new
frock for 1t. Gossip reported the frock to
| Miss Lucindy-Tom so glowingly she deter
mined to see 1t eclipsed, and that Sarah
! Ashbel should eclipse 1t. Miss WarfieId
| could spend upon sufficient occasion This
was, she felt sufficient occasion. AS a re-
| suit. when the day of the party came Miss
Ashbel was prepared to discount Solomon
| in all his glory.
Tanty Tom had not been to a party in
years. but she was bent on going to this
one, even though 1t was ten miles off. and
| the roads simply fearful. She said nothing
| of her plan to John. He was going, she
knew-she wanted the contrast betwixt
Sarah and Marcia to come to him with the
ming, with her dark head and beautiful
white shoulders, rising up above clouds Of