Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-11-30
But Marsden Hume had arrived the
night before.

But Marsden Hume had arrived the
night before.
A week later Mrs. Manstie sounded
the note of alarm.
'It is common talk" she said. "Sure.
ly, Jethro, you could not have thought
it all out carefully enough. Mr.. Hume
and she are always together l tried
to warn her. Think l said. Charm
ing and intelligent he may be, but
only an engineer, and poor one at
that And then she said; Riches are
not everything Upon which | gave
her my opinions on the subject-Dy
which mean, of course, your opinions,
Jethro"
81 find those Haddens are even more
uplifted than | thought" said M
Manstie. meditatively. 81 had proof
of that in a little matter of business
tb.s other day"
Gut still there is hope" Mrs Mans
tie returned. 81 will say this, that
she spoke nicely Of Lewis. To tell yoc
the truth. believe she is just bal
ancing herself between two alterna-
tiYes."
Then leave It to me-" said Jethro.
There's one thing you have forgotten.
She may be inclined to put pride or
sentiment first, l grant you. But I'm
used to dealing with men. If | want
to buy off this man. Hume, who's %
prevent me? Leave it to me-"
How little known to these mere coll
spirators against her happiness was
the real anxiety besetting the heart
of Vera Hadden!
Hume had said so much, yet had al
ways paused at the vital poiut,
thing more eloquent than the most
passionate outpouring could possibly
be at this juncture.
And now, as they threaded the steep
woods which chung to the sides OF Tie
hill overlooking Braidkennoch, he sud-
denly broke it to her that his visit
might be curtailed.
I'm fact he said, 81 may actually
have to go tonight"
But you have only just come" she
protested.
Zone sometimes gets more pleasure
in a week than fortune intentionally
provides for a lifetime"
You know that is my feeling, too"
eff l only dared to know it! But
hasn't 1t been clear to you all the
time that mustn't? Even old Mails
tie sees it. He's been talking to me
like a father"
go on" said Vera.
"It appears that among his many
pies he has a finger in some engineer
ing works, a monster big concern, and
he has offered me a post in connection
with it that will eventually bring me-
a big income"
81 always said he was remarkably
kind"
But there is a condition attached"
"Oh!" said Vera.
"I am to leave at once and give
them five years service in Burmah and
Siam. There is a big prize in money
at the end, but here am thinking
of a bigger. And l come to you to de-
eide"
She was silent.
Speak" he said; 'T can bear any
thing, if you will only speak"
at is harder for me-" she answered.
eff thought you would not feel dis
appointed with me, 1 would tell you all
feel"
"Am I not man enough to bear the
TRUTH"
81 feel that could wait" she said,
"and yet I think such pressure would
be brought to bear on me that it
would be hopeless. All, you under
stand how l must answer already"
There is some one else?"
at depends how you mean 1t. No
one that | care for. Some one, per-
haps. who might make life tolerable
for ME. Things are so changed since
I came here. l am not confident
of myself any longer. I feel thar
you will go out of my life, and | shall
ever regret it, but go you must"
81 see how it is. 1t is adverse cir
cumstance. We are ill-starred lovers,
as one reads of them in the books. But
Just now you said you could walt.
Then am content. l will build on
that"
Two hours later a trap stood walt
ing for Hume, ready in good time to
go to Loohaspie station for the night
mail going south.
He had had but small opportunity
to whisper farewell to Vera.
Not ten minutes later in came Lewis.
When he heard of Humes sudden
departure he seemed annoyed. The
two had been very good friends.
"And. | wanted him to come duck
shooting tomorrow" he said, as ne
strobe toward his fathers sanctun.
To him he expressed his grievance
with some freedom.
but, my dear boy" said his father,
rubbing his hands, joyously, I've
ridded you of an egg-stremely danger
Gus rival. Didn't you see how he was
making the running with Miss Had
den? I've bought him out, my SOC.
A pretty high figure, too, but no one
shall say I'm mean lot! What on
earth's the matter boy Lewis? You
don't approved"
Approve? Good Lord, Of all the
shabby tricksl Yes, father / mean
what I'm saying. H. here, Sandy:
Fish out my bicycle in two shakes"
Lewis, you're wild! You're cut
ting him out of fine job that'll maks
him for life!"
But Lewis waved all expostulation
aside. He was of.
He reached Lochaspie station in rec
ord time, but was none too soon.
He rushed up to Hume, who wal