The suburban citizen., 1902-08-16

HE would never do IL without-his
career must come before everything
for his fathers sake--hls own sakP'
He will understand"
1t was seven o'clock that evening as
a tall young man leaped from the
London train at Sonningford station
The porter touched his cap as he rec
ognized him, for the little town was
proud of Laurence Mantell, NJ. p.
He ordered his bag to be sent to his
fathers house, then set out to walk
the distance. The night was lovely,
the country road rock hard under foot.
He strode on, deep in thought. He
had not intended to visit SonningfOrd;
nothing had been further from his
thoughts that mornin~. Always busy,
he was particularly hard pressed just
now, but the worda his father had
| flung at him as the train was moving
had haunted him all day. He could
think OF nothing else. At last, acting
on impulse, he had Cancelled his en-
gagement for the evening and come
down to Sonningford.
He reached the cross roads, where
one led to his fathers house and the
other to the vicarage. He paused for
a moment, and his eye rested on the
pillar-boX-a red splash of color nest.
ling in an ivy-clad wall. He was about
to pass on when some thing white, ly.
ing on the ground few yards away,
caught his attention. He stepped to.
ward II and picked it up.
He stood for few moments gazing
rehectively at it, then with a decisive
movement he slipped it in the pocket
Of his coat. and set out at quick pace
along the road to the vicarage.
In a few minutes he arrived there.
Miss Margaret was the only one in.
Would he see her?
He entered and was shown into the
drawing room. He sat down and wait.
ed impatiently.
A few moments nfterward the door
opened and she came in.
This is a surprise, Laurencew she
said, with a nervous little laugh. II
thought you were so busy"
"a man is never so busy but what
he can spare time to do the thing l
have in view," he answered.
II have come here tonight, Mar.
garet," he continued, quietly, "to ask
you to be my wifew
She started back with a little cry.
mo, nor she said. "As boy and
girl we played at being in love, Lau-
renee"
'T was a man, and meant it,! he
broke in.
"No; you must not mean il, Lau-
rencer' she went on, gently. 'It was
before you went to London-were
made O member of Parliament; before
you became the famous man you arew
She paused.
what difference does fame make to
love"
"Simply this, dearw she spoke in
low, trembling tone. "The country
clergyman's daughter is not the wife
for q man destined to hold the position
you are!' He was about to interrupt,
but she silenced him with a gesture.
Il should never be able to assist you;
in time you would repent of having
married a nOnentity." She paused.
"Your father has been here, Laurence,
and told me of Lady Helen. You must
marry her, Laurence-think of that
wonderful career-of what such mar
riage means to it. When your father
told me of it," she said, gently, II
knew you would think that you were
bound to me-though, of course, you
weren't. But l knew how honorable
you are in every thought-that unless
l did something you would let this
chance slip by, so did the thing" she
finished abruptly.
"You wrote to the Doctor and ac-
cepted his offer of marriageY
"He asked me week ago, and l said
l would write to him." She smiled
through her tears at him. II knew
you would not say word while l was
still free; so, when your father was
here 1 wrote and accepted him, and
he posted it.
But you are free still, thank
heaven?" he cried suddenly. "Your
letter was never posted. 1t was
dropped on the way to the box, and
l picked it up l recognized your
writing at once" He held it out and
she gazed at it in wonderment. "And
whether you have me or not, Mar
garetw he continued, II tell you this
that, under no circumstances shall l
ever marry Lady Helen-for the simple
reason that l do not love her! | feel
certain you love me stillP' he cried.
"As for me, I've never ceased to love
you from the day first told it to you
on the Down! If you will not marry
me, l shall drop the whole life and 60
abroad; then your anxiety over my
career will have been entirely wastedw
Leave politics"
"on my honor, yesp' he answered,
gravely. 'But ON the other hand, il
you'll marry me wen do our best to
patch up the ruined career-make the
best Of it!' he added, smiling. my
father loves you and will accept the
I NW.a IL II