New-York tribune., 1903-07-24
CHAPTER XIV
MARRIAGE

general accIamations and not many seriously
objected to the announcement of their marriage
for the coming August There was no reason
why they should wait Amy made no pretence
of cOquetry She was only twenty, but her
mother had married young. and had Brad
ford's. which seemed sufficient And Bradford
had certainly no wish to wait; he was in love.
The Barton case turned out fortunately, being
won on the lines of attack he had laid down.
and the Trinity promptly advanced his salary.
With thing and another Bradford had
81. 500 a year Could Amy live on S4.5OO a
year? She could. she said. but she saw no
necessity for doing so. nor did her uncle He
wished to continue his present policy Of giving
her all she wanted and little more.
You know. Francis she urged, that
would live anywhere with you. even in a hut
and Amy meant her words, though her ideas OF
a hut were primitive-"but why should not
live with uncle?'' That made decision easy. and
a speedy marriage wholly desirable 1t would
certainly be shame to leave Murdoch in lone
Illness So 1t appeared that Amy's life was out
wardIy to undergo little change. and Bradford
was 10 take up the burden of living with the
pickle maker. burden he had shuddered at in
his imagination eight months before The enor-
nous Autographs and the quotations of the
Shakespeare brand still ornamented not only the
Carfax billboards, but the whole country. and
accessible parts Of Europe, the business
spread; but Bradford looked at them with more
amusement and less asperity. He did not mind
living with Murdoch now. Indeed. ne had COM
pletely forgotten that inward vision of the thin
chested wife and the intolerable offspring.
Miss Craven. her eyes full Of laughter. shook
Amy gently. You promised to tell me. you
know. after you told him." she reminded. Now,
what did you say to him, Amy?'
'I told him that I loved him very much"
md 7 10
| wouldn't have me marry him otherwise?"
Heaven send you told it TO him more en-
| Enthusiastically than that. or he'd never believe
you; he'd go off and commit suicider' cried Miss
Craven
at think he believes it, though"
Miss Craven looked her over critically. What
has come to you my dear? You are a different
woman from the one made the acquaintance of
last fall Has he done it? And what has he
done?"
Loved me-" said Amy, TRANQUILITY again. She
returned Marion's look. and the older woman
| threw her arms around her neck and kissed her.
Dear" she whispered. softly. he will be very
happy. And so will you" Miss Craven's eyes
were wet.
Kate gave Bradford the solid grip Of friend
ship I think you're lucky. old fellow
needs a woman to keep him up to the mark"
He did not joke at all. But then he had been
serious all winter-almost serious Slim.
He was to take his degree in June and Shedsy
said it would be 10 below unless Kate
cheered up a bit Shedsy's jocosity was how
ever. trifie forced. The shadow of Woman
fell across the Residuum and made him shiver.
The horse-haired boarding houses. with their
loneliness, seemed perilously He ad-
mitted, when Bradford took him TO call on Amy.
that she charming. and he kept Bradford
from perceiving any undertone of sorrow in his
congratulations but he lamented afresh TO Slim.
Il suppose he ended, that it multiplies their
happiness and it only subtracts a little from
mime. 1 suppose I'm d-dog in the manager.
B-but I've always s-sympathized a little with
that d-dog Maybe he was only c-cross be-
cause there was n-nothng at all for him to eat
BY and by he went away. and the r-rest got
what they wanted. but what b-became of him.
oh. he only starved to d-death in some c-corner.
I suppose"
How did you like herr?
-'Oh. you know m-me before any woman
m-my flow Of spirits dries up; I s-sit quiet.
else I m.fnurnur. Yes. am and NO. ma'am.'
with all the exhilaration of an automatic d-dolI
B-but she seemed 10 be as b-bad of as I was. so
I felt better. and really h-heard each others
voices once or t-twice before l left. ! l-Iked
her. ! don't believe you've g-got many of her
sort d-down at your emporium of l-learning, old
man"
Any's comment on that visit had been singu-
larIy like Shedsy's own. II didn't think he was
unsocia bic. dear she said. He was shy but
then I with everybody but She
stopped.
With everybody but who2" asked Bradford
in happy jealousy
You know who" Yes, he knew: in those
golden days his betrothed her heart upon
her sleeve for him.
Amid the general approval there was one man
who in his heart mourned over the engagement,
and cursed himself for doing Only cow
ard. he told himself, cried split milk; and
only worse than a coward refused to take
honest beating like man. Yet he knew him
self a shade more brusque, shade more sar-
donic than before. The women Of his parish
were more in love with Charges than ever. All
thoughts and feelings 20 the four walls Of his
room. These latter might have heard him cry
out sometimes. and seen him torture himself as
vainly and unsparingly monk OF La Char
treuse: then robe himself and go down 10 lead
his flock to God. But they could hear and see
quite safely; had they told. who would have
believed? What the rector OF St Hilda's, who
night watches? What. Charges OF So who had
played unmoved through the btterest crises OF
four hard fought seasons and heard over ana I
over the long yell that ended in his name; I
Charges OF SO, who had been twice suspended. |
and still held the university record In the broad