The National tribune., 1901-03-07
SUMMERDALE BRABBLE.
Continued from first pagc.)

| .7Lt NchlS Atu ~ ptttSth
~ hat may be-
Why didn't she marry him herself"
because she loved my father better
He was as poor as | am now.
She had enough for bOth-which
have not"
part OF the country, thougbtGully-'a -'anC
30 years old But love you
) Margaret" he said.
$50 does he,'' was the rather coquettisi
rctOIt
. How do you know-has he ever said
so!' exclaimed the young man, starting
back.
= "WelI-he says I'm the picture of my
mother at my age-and everybody
knoWs''-
And because she wouldn't marry. him,
he thinks You Willis that the altcrna-
tive2'
Mr.. BcttSon is n most honorable gen
tleman, extremely good-tempered; has the
best possible social position, aud is very
wealthy was the somewhat sententious
reply.
People have been happy with less than
i thousaBd dollars persisted Gilbert.
Have been: times change" briefly.
| "And-women?'
'People-people change because times
change. You said you had $1,000 n year
salary. A nothing. How do you earn it
will it ever be more!"
| ttlIi IL III Il Ot-
cupation."
so supposed. At least, not dishonor
able. But hardly creditablc, or you would
tell me what it is
Il may get something else''-
If you feel like that about it, it is to
will. But, VIII, my dear VIII, what on
earth can you do-what business are you
good for, mean!'
We need not marry at cnce, Maggie
only promise and we can wait. ."
His face was very wistful.
How long, and for what?" she asked,
facing him earnestly.
Il may have better luck than you give
me credit for"
It's not a question of luck If you
should 20 back to Coiege-make your peace
with the faculty, give up athletics and
bone along some special line, in time
after 1O years, perhapS-you might be
able to do something in a modest way.
By then you would be 81 and | 30-and
you would probably find it suited your
interest better to marry some one else
Good God, Margaret, do you want to
drive me madr' Sears sprang to his feet
and strode back and forth before the seat,
his fingers working convulsively on the
linen bandage that supported his injured
arm.
Not in the least But l think you are
human. Your trouble at college proved
that"
All" said. the young man, pausing be-
fore her. Aunt Lucy told you that, did
she?"
Yes"
Margaret he exclaimed. a radiance
breaking over his face. You're jealousr'
Possibly l was" with a shrug, But
as things stand now, a shop-girl would
make you an infinitely better wife than
Gilbert cut her short with an exclama-
ton of disgust. And perhaps it was be-
cause of that Aunt Lucy wrote me down
in her black book" he added.
Il don't know. / was with her the
night before she died. She seemed very
unhappy She asked me to promise never
TO speak to you again"
Aunt Lncy" in puzzled astonishmcnt.
And you?"
she said l would live 10 regret 1t il
Il wouldn't have thought it of her. said
Gilbert. ''She was always good to me.
Could she have done it te--to spite your
motherV
ut happens it's the one thin, She
agreed with my mother about said Mar
garet, with slight laugh.
The young man took off his hat and
pushed his hair back from his forehead
wearily.
Know what I'd do if / were you,
WHY asked the girl, suddenly.
Something very wise, no doubt" with
half-tender sarcasm.
81 would go to Mr.. Bettson and ask
to enter his Office as a student"
why should l do that?'
The girl pulled few bits Of twigs to
pieces before she spoke. IL don't be-
lieye / can give any reason"
Nor J." was the comment. Gilbert
Sears had not yet learned the fact that
when a woman can give no reason for her
SC ha
dication that her advice is worth follow
We'll" said Margaret, rising. az must
CO."
And when see you nezt-you will be
Don't talk so, VIII. I've not deserved
it,
The young man looked away a moment,
out on the peaceful valley. "Weil, Mag
gle, never mind" he said, holding ont his
hand. I'm go and sec Bettson, as yuu
wish, since there's nothing else ] can do
TO please you; but | am not giving you
up, you understand"
Il thought'-she looked up a. him
through her lashes-''I have not said i
wanted you TO, have ~
He put his arms around her and kissed
her, the frank, hearty, brotherly kiss il
seemed she had always known. But as
she turned to go their hands clung to-
getber. At the foot of the path, far down
below, the nickel spokes of her wheel
sparkled in the slaDting sunshine. As she
went down Margaret did not look back
But when she reached the bicycle she
glanced around. and seeing that the un-
dergrowth hid her from the Point of the
Mountain, she took out her handkerchief
and, dropping to the grass, put her fore
head against the unsynpathetic frame of
her steed and cried until her handkerchief
was sopped with tears.
One Of its Scotch-descended citizens had
denominated as ''the brabble" the social
condition which prevailed in the town of
Summerdale for 20 years, and which was
its sole claim for differentiation from any
other New England village.
The water-power which had trans
formed the agricultural valley Of the pio-
neers into modern manufacturing cen
ter consisted of two falls, n mile apart.
The outcrop of a giant ledge, over which
they roared, afforded secure foundations
for dams. There was abundant bacliliuw
for storage TO turn the thousand wheels
which made the towns name famous ia
the lists of trade. For three generatim.s
Grcenlee's Mill and HuIbert's FACTORY had
been operated here. Other establishments
Of various sorts had grown up between
and around them, but nUne compared 10
these in the number OF lIauils employed or
value of output. There were also the
picasantest social relations between The
two controlling families, for Greenles's
paper. could never come into rivalry or
Il. r