Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-03-02
A GOt-Up Thing
By
ANNIE o. TIBBITS

MARY lifted her head. Her face was
wi very white, and she clenched her
hands to prevent them trembling as she
met the old doctors eyes.
eyes, 1 shall marry Capt. Tenby now,
she said, unsteadily. "He-he spoke last
night, and L"
She got up suddenly and turned from
DR.. Grey's searching look.
81 said yes" she added abruptly Il
remembered-it breaks my heart to re-
member how father has wished it and
how obstinate l have been, and now
MS last wish-oh, l must. 1t will make
him so happy, and II shan't have
many more chances of making him
happy"
Her voice broke, and the doctor got up
and. going over to her, put his hands on
her shoulder.
But this young man, Mary" he said.
"You think you will be happy with
him?"
Mary hesitated. Then for her fathers
sake she acted lie.
do you think I shall not?" she
cried. Surely he's all 1 could wish?
Oh. yes; II shall be happy"
DR.. Grey looked dissatisfied as he
turned away. It was prejudice, no doubt,
but he did not like Hon. Arthur Tenby,
and in his eyes he was not fair match
for the girl who would soon be the mis-
tress of Treherne Court. He frowned
out of the window at the stretch OF lawn
and the empty beds upon it. A few
weeks ago they had been gay with sum-
mer flowers, and now change in the
weather had brought all the desolation
of winter upon the garden; it reminded
him of the change that had come over
the house in as short time. He turned
AGAIN to Mary. She was staring out OF
the window, too, seeing ugly things on
the patch of grass-she saw Geoffrey
KAYE. thrown from his horse, dead or
diving on an empty road, and she saw
the face of the man she was going to
marry and behind it the face Of the man
she loved.
She shivered a little in spite of her
resolve. Her marriage with Arthur
Tenby had always been her fathers
fondest wish. He was Of good family,
the son of a lord, and marrying with him
seemed wonderfully good thing for
the adopted daughter of Godfrey Kaye,
even though she would be rich when
he died.
Godfrey Kaye had adopted her wholly
when she was three years old, and for
nearly 20 years she had been daugh-
ter indeed to him. Now he had been
suddenly thrown from his horse and
was dying slowly in the great house,
and Mary. remembering his wish to see
her married to a title, had accepted
Arthur Tenby because in week or so
perhaps in less-she would never have
another chance of giving happiness to
the old man who had been in every way
father to her. She had told him the
same night what she had done, and the
smile that had flashed into his face had
seemed to her reward enough, until
next day, and then with the daylight
came the memory of another man, and
that morning life seemed an ugly out
look to her.
Dr. Grey turned from the flower beds
and looked at her
"Geoffrey would only want it if he
thought you would be happy" he said.
"You know he loves you as much as If
you were his own daughter"
Mary faced around quickly.
ooh. know know" she cried,
brokenly. But am shall be happy.
DR.. Grey pulled his beard. Aweek ago
he had seen Mary and another man
Dick Archaeological, and their atti-
tudes told him something that Mary
would not have confessed for worlds.
He remembered 1t now, and that Dick
was poor; and he frowned again.
A few minutes later some one came
from the sickroom to tell him that Mr..
Kaye was rousing, and he and Mary
went in together.
His keen eyes told him at once that
the change he had expected had oc-
CURED. Mr. Kaye was sinking fast,
His hands travelled restlessly over the
Counterpart. Mary bent over him.
"The will" he cried, feebly, II want
to sign"
He pointed to table on which were
some papers. Dr. Grey brought them,
and a pen and ink, and putting them
before him held him up while he
scratched his name feebly on the parch-
sx.as.f