Daily Kennebec journal., 1903-02-17

Coming out of church one Sunday
morning We're Bethune had told the
group who gathered around her that
her brother Dick was coming home at
last and she hoped he would soon mar
ry and settle down.
perhaps he is bringing his wife with
him." some one said mischievOusly.
You can never tell what a man is do
ing when he is SO long away from
home'' A0s.
eProbably not" We're said laughingly.
..Thati is. an ordi;iry man; you know
Dick lis different; $ he will look for wife
nearer home,,'I am sure"
Then itpWill'be' Laura" Annie Dali
ton said spitefully; her nature was not
as attractive as her face. and she had
alwaks been jealous of Laura. Il be-
lieve she has been waiting for him ever
since he left home. No one else seems
good enough for her.
Laura's color deepened painfully, and
her eyes flashed with scorn as she
turned away; she dared not trust her
self to speak.
You are mistaken for once, Miss
Dalton" she heard some one say
quietly. Laura is engaged to me-"
L
She knew quite well who it was had
spoken, and she slipped her little
gloved hand under her cousin Hugh's
arm with a grateful glance up into his
smiling face that even We're misinter-
preted.
They were besieged with congratu-.
lations and exclamatiOns Of surprise,
for though it had long been supposed
that Hugh Carruthers was in love with
his pretty cousin, no one had imagined
that Laura ever intended to marry him.
Several times a year he had visited at
her fathers. ever since his boyhood,
and of late these visits had lasted long
er and come at closer intervals. AS he
was a clever and we'll to do young law
yer, good many busy bodies had Won
dered why Laura had not accepted
him, and now all at once when they
found themselves mistaken it was
matter for widespread comment.
We're was rather startled when she
| told her brother the news; she had not
dreamed it would affect him SO, and af-
| ter one glance into his white. panied
face, she quietly left him alone. He
| did not join her again for quite an hour,
and then she realized that, great as his
| love was. his courage was equal to it.
| Secure in her supposed engagement
| to Hugh Carruthers, Laura met Dick
with charming friendliness; and poor
Dick realized, as never before, that life
would henceforth be unutterably
| dreary. Yet, as the days passed on, a
wild hope sprang up in his heart once
| more. He began to notice that Laura S
| beautiful eyes would droop suddenly
| when she felt his earnest gaze upon
| her, and sweet bewildering shyness
| would come into her charming face
| and then if he came very close to her
she would tremble like a frightened
bird. Once, when he forced himself to
congratulate her., her laughing half
| frightened glance completely mystified
him.
Hugh is a splendid fellow" he said,
with a trembe in his deep voice which
he could not suppress. You wust care
for him a great deal, Laura
"A little Bit" Laura said mischiev-
ously. IF l did not l certainly would
not" she broke off smiling and dimp-
ling--her dimples were very bewitch-
ing, and as she glanced up she read
something in Dicks sad eyes and pale
face that set her heart throbbing.
You would not marry him, you
mean. if you do not care for him. Dick
said gravely.
You are quite right--no true woman
could"
We're had come up to them as Laura
answered him.
"She cares for him quite enough" "
she said laughingly. THE good old
fashioned love is out of date
You know better" her brother said
with his grave, sweet smile, and Laura,
watching him through her lowered
lashes, realized, as she had often done
before, that his face owed much of it's
beauty to his strong soul and high
ideals. just as his splendid physique
was the outcome of a clean past and
upright, vigorous manhood.
After this, Laura's manner changed
delightfully."-. She no longer avoided
Dick, as he could not help feeling she
had done before. and when they were
together he realized more keenly than
ever before what life might have been
if they two could have spent it side by
side. 1t was impossible to be togeth-
er ana not experience the old sweet
sense of perfect cOmpanionship and
rare sympathy. But Laura would new
er talk very seriously to him unless
We're was present. Her manner to
him was a charming mixture Of shy
coquetry and friendliness. but she
laughingly parried every remark which
might lead either of them into danger
Gus condolences, and Dick was too in
nately honorable to betray himself
when she was Hugh Carruther's prom
iSed wife.
AS he walked home from his sisters
with her the night before st. Valen-
tines day. he said abruptly, Laura,
when are you going to be married."
Really. have scarcely thought of
it." she replied lightly.
You don't mean that" Dick said
with quickened breath.
Il reallycdo.' she returned laughing
ly. Il am not very old yet, you know
only nineteen. Besides / think d
long engag is always wisest"
Il suppose it must be a very happy
time" Dick said unsteadily.
Don't you know?" Laura asked
rather nervously. You have been en-
| goo l,ar