The suburban citizen., 1901-11-30

was constant by the merest
chance, and as my marriage has
turned out happily am CRATE
full for the interposition, though TAX
ing no credit to myself. 1 ought to
say that 1 have never told this story
TO my wife and she would scarcely be
likely to appreciate it If 1 did, but
mean to set the truth down here,
though shall not give the real names.
1 will call myself George Grey, and
my wife will call Amy-nee Farrers.
Well, l was engaged to Miss Ferrers,
and loved her passionately, the
more passionately perhaps because
my position held out no prospect of
making her Mrs. George Grey for
years.
She was the second daughter of
rector in the shires, and had met her
when l was in the neighborhood fish
ing. An acquaintance took me to the
house, and it was a very pleasant one.
The rector was 4 charming man, his
daughters were worthy of him; as to
Amy, she was the loveliest and sweet
est girl had ever seen in my life.
I stayed down in Threegates, fish
ing, for nearly a month, though had
originally intended TO limit my visit
to a week, and think Amy was sorry
when at last 1 told her had decided
to go.
II shall never forget this holiday Of
mine" 1 said; "but now l must bring
it to an end and get back to the dust
and CRIME Of the Temple. Stewing in
chambers, shall often think of Three
gates and the trout stream and-my
friends"
Unconsciously I adopted the tone of
Q. G. at least. l spoke as if 1 were
returning to a legal treadmill, though
If 1 received a couple Of briefs a year
held myself extremely fortunate.
We were in the rectory garden, and
she was wearing a broad-brimmed hat
of straw, and held bunch Of daffodils
in her hands Was it my fancy, or
when she bent over them did she do
1t to hide the regret in her face7
II am glad you have found it so
enjoyable" she murmured. ITS a
pretty place, l think"
She had never looked so beautiful.
1 was saying "good-by" to her, and l
was twenty-five. The result might
have been foreseen. / took her hands
in mine, daffodils and ALL and told her
that l loved her; that l had never
loved before, and could never love
again. I cried to her that 1 had not
the right to ask any girl to be my
wife, but my passion was stronger
than my self-restraint. She was my
world, my all. 1 adored her. Life
without her was an agony too awful
to contemplate. Would she, could she,
reconcile herself to wait for beggar
who to-day could offer nothing but the
widest devotion that had ever been
laid at q womans feet?
Words altogether unpremeditated
broke from me in a torrent Of fervor.
| My heart bounded furiously; my eX-
element seemed even to communicate
overhead, who cawed so violently that
they appeared to be drowning my
speech. When I ceased her head
dropped, and my darling was all
smiles and tears at once The daffodils
lay scattered on the lawn, and 1 was
engaged!
Well, postponed my departure fol-
three days, and those days We're de
lightful. Her father-least mercenary
of men-consented cordially. We were
both young enough to wait, he said
and l was adopted as one Of the fam
lily without demur. The girls were
warm in congratulations fellow
ever had nicer sister-in-laws-a
Amy was the diyinest little fianceC
that it was possible for 4 human i'm
agination to conceive. Yes, those
three days were ecstatlc, and so werc
the weeks that followed, when 1 wrote
and received a love letter per diem
and 1t was only as the weeks merged
into months and the months into ;
year that l begun to ask myself how
and when l expected to be able t.
marry.
was depressed by degrees. NJ.
prospects, as / have said, were Of tn
vaguest. 1 was still doing nothing
to speak Of at the bar, and even whel
/ ran down to see Amy, and she diC
her best to cheer me up, the futilit!
Of her encouragement was not to b,
blinded by a man possessed Of toler
ably clear sight.
eve must be patient, George" sht
would say. Everything will com,
right at the end. / am sure Of it, ant
when the briefs are rolling in we shal
lcok back at this time and laugh"
1 though it very possible that
should laugh under those conditions
but there was a gull between the
present and the Opulent future which
! yer words did nothing to bridge.