The National tribune., 1901-03-28

to forget and remember the facts. Then
the circumstances will subside to their
proper relations. What? You say there
are circumstances which will make all the
difference between honor and dishOnor? |
don't see what they could be? Oh, Gil
bert, nothing you have done?" cried the
little lady with sudden terror. oh it
couldn't be! Forgive mel Nor she, either
Is it-no, no, don't tell mel / don't want
to know. That's one of the compensations
about being deaf. One doesn't hear all
the unpleasant THINGS the things that go
through the world i'll a whisper People
feel ashamed to yell out nasty things. All
| get of real life is through the newspapers
and the Doctor, and he's perfect moral
filter, all the more so as he's quite I'M
conscious of it. All, well, my dear, dear
boy, I'm sorry-Tm sorry"
Il am sure, absolutely certain, Auntie
Ashbel," said Sears, putting his mouth to
the end of her little trumpet and speaking
low but very distinctly, that | could not
do as you urge me to without running
the risk of making Margaret hate me for
eyer-and you, rs WE'LL
Il don't understand" walled the little
woman. We'll, WELL" she added, after a
moment, in her usual cheerful tone, II
have nearly forgotten what | came out
to tell you. Margaret's mother is not
coming by Lakewood, as we expected, but
by Brocton, and so will not get here until
evening. And-youli not stay, will you,
Gilbert? 1t would not do any good Mrs.
Keep does not know you've been hero,
and needn't, if necessary. This affair is
making regular Jesuit of me. Mrs.
Keep is not the woman to discuss her
daughter with casual acquaintance, and
If she were, such two weeks devotion
as yours has been is too common Mt all
American Summer resorts, and too utterly
without significance for anyone 10 think
of speaking 10 her about it. Make the
best OF your last day, Gilbert, for | am
perfectly sincere in saying that / think
before you see Margaret again she will
be Mr.. Bettson's wife"
Sears replied by a pressure Of her hand
which she returned teBdcrly. They walked
on for some time in silence, when Mrs
Ashbel broke out with an amusing change
of tone: 'And speaking Of Mrs. Keep,
you've keep very quiet, my boyI Her last
letter was full of you! Think of it-she
says the town is in a perfect ferment,
and why, do you suppose? Because w.
Gilbert Sears has sued the Hon. James
Bettson for slander, and $4,000 damages.
And worse than that, he's gained the suit.
Though everybody advised Bettson to ap-
peal, the impression is he's going to pay
up and be done with it. He can offord To,
the old sneak! What do you say? You're
afraid were misjudging Mr.. Bettson?
Gilbert Sears, you say thati He's work
ing at some deep game, and if you don't
marry Margaret before her mother gets
here-that $4,000 makes a vast differ
ence, you know-youll lose her as you de-
serve! And if Mrs. Keep learns that
Margaret has been with you every day
for two blessed weeks, | really believe
she'll be so mad that she'll disOwn her.
You know what temper she has! Then
you'll have to take Margaret I've half
mind to tell her myself; it would serve
you right" said Mrs. Ashbel, little
spitefully, "and beside, would end all this
uncertainty
Gilbert bit his lip and groaned inward
ly. Always complications and complica-
tions, each one driving him more surely
toward the one thing in his life, the one
dear thing he had resolved not TO do
with all the stubbornness OF a very in
complex and honest nature. Mr. Bcttson's
estimate of Sears as expressed to Mar
garet was correct. Gilbert might not split
the hairs Of right and wrong so finely as
some others, but he had the advantage
of them i'll never having any doubt, once
his mind was made up, as to which was
right and which WIS wrong.
II had made arrangements to 20 away
tomorrow night or early the next morn
ing" Gilbert said into Mrs. AshbeI's arti-
ficial ear. My employers are anxious to
have me back, and, after all, | owe it to
them to CO."
mas your absence caused them much
loss?"
80 they say" replied Gilbert laugh
ing. The hoarse whistle OF steamer
came over the water and struck through
Mrs. Ashbels dim hearing.
Dear me-" she exclaimed with a start,
that means the entertainment is over
and Julius will be wild if he gets back
and finds we've not returned yet And,
Gilbert, you're just crazy il you don't
marry Margaret out of hand With the
damages you've got from Mr. Bettson.
goodness me. Gilbert, you needn't be afraid
TO get married. You've both always had
everything you wanted, but neither You
nor Margaret are prodigals. Why, Gil
bert, the Doctor and | haven't had as
much money as that in all the years we've
been married! Ah here is the poor old
blind P0lyphemus! Well, goodnight. |
Don't forget what I've said. Do as | |
have told you, and everything will come
out right; see if it don'ti'
Go be continued).