The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1910-06-03

Irvine, and a warm liking grew UP
between the two men. Mr.. Irvine was
little doleful at the idea of losing
Janet from the parish. She was SO
useful and so much beloved there by
everyone.
Arthur thought Tola's visits would
lamply compensate for the loss of
Janet's till he remembered how i'm
possible it was that she should ever
find time to make them, and he be-
gan to say so in almost an apologetic
tone till he was struck by the hot
color which came up into the face
of his friend, and the hurried manner
in which he said: Il know, know;
but where home-life is, SO perfect in
its usefulness and self-sacridce AS
your sisters, one does not ask for
other things; only, perhaps, one re-
grets that the poor should lose it,
which is inevitable"
"She is too busy. | am afraid"
said Arthur, rather surprised.
"Yes, but busy as she is" he went
on with sudden burst of enthusi
asm, which was very unusual with
so calm an individual, "she never for
gets to look up to my mothers win
dow and smile; and since she has be-
come a total invalid. the greatest
pleasure of the Gay is to sit there
and watch Miss Denstone go by with
all the children, and to enjoy the few
little flowers and leaves and pretty
things she leaves at the door. She
may not have the beauty of her sister,
but her face is as the very sunshine
of Heaven. 1 beg your pardon" He
pulled himself up, quite scared by his
own energy.
! Arthur felt sorry and perplexed;
The saw how it was. This grave, gen
tie, good man had fallen in love with
Tola, and with a hopeless, resigned
kind of love.
Il am ashamed to have betrayed
my feelings like this" he said. What
must you think of me. Denstone?"
Arthur had no experience what
ever in such matters, and now, within
one week, he had found himself called
upon to console two afflicted lovers.
He felt inwardly amused at the po-
sition.
What do 1 think of you?" he ex-
claimed, rather boyishly. why, that
if it were possible I would sooner give
you Tola than any other man 1 know
in the whole world"
THANK you," said Mr.. Irvine, de-
jectedly. ITO know that is at least
some comfort"
But" Arthur went on, "of course
you know it is not possible 1 don't
see how anything or anybody could
get on without her. 1 fancy you, in
your quiet home life with your moth
er, cannot have an idea of the wear
and tear of huge family. We have
only two maids now, and Tola acts
las housekeeper, governess, house
maid, nurse and very often cook; not
80 speak of dressmaking and looking
after poor Lefty, who gets no better
1t would be like taking away the
string tied round a bundle of fag-
gots," he said, smiling. The result
would be much the same"
Il see it; I know" said the clergy
man, patiently. Far be it from me
to intrude my own regrets; but chill
dren grow up some time or other,
changes occur in families, far away
in the distance one may perhaps
catch glimpse of 4 day Of more
peace"
''Tola is very young" said Arthur,
Sravely. 1T is a sad thing to have
long engagement. She is very
happy now, knowing how invaluable
she is. How would it be if the bur-
den of hope deferred were added to
all the other burdens and anxieties
she bears so bravely?"
You are right" said his friend,
Il would not speak to her fer worlds
unless-but that would be pTesun p
tuous-I had the faintest reason to
hope that it might be for her happi-
ness. With such an example of cour-
age" he went on, smiling brave1y,
it would be odd if one were tempt
ed to act selfish part oneself"
Il think, as far as that goes, that
you two would be wonderfully vel,
suited to each other" said Arthur.
But there, l must go. l see my
precious Observation-Disclosures crossing
the fields, and l have word on busi-
ness l must say to him before he
goes home.'
"Good-by, Arthur. Thank you"
. Arthur vaulted over the iron pail
| ings of the paddock in which they
were standing and went full speed
after Colonel Curtis. The glory OF
J the setting sun was shining on every
| thing, lighting it all with a tender
| osy hue To the right of the pad
| dock was a grove of silver birch trees
! their delicate white bark was touched
with soft pink, the intricate tracery
| of their thousands of twigs and tiny
| boughs interlaced overhead. Out OF
this fairy framework he saw TolC
come; she had thrown of her na
and the light fell on her brown wind
! blown hair. In her arms she hel(
the little, fair, rosy baby, with botf
| his fat arms clasped tightly around
her neck, and punches Of violets il
both his chubby hands. Dragging
| back the soft folds of her gown, two
more little children toddled by her
! holding in their arms all the sprin!
| flowers they could get. Tola wa
! laughing and singing to them all
with her large, brown eyes shining
and her red lips apart.
| Mr.. Irvine drew back; he did no
! wish to intrude on the bright, merr
| group, with his heart feeling so heav,
| within him.
He watched them pass, rustEn.
through the grass with the sunse
hues slowly fading from crimson t.
q golden glow, and lingering fondl
about them. Then he went slOWl
homeward Over the fireplace il
his study was a large photograph o
one of the Dresden Murillos. ''
never saw the likeness so strongly,
he said to himself, and it was deare
| to him than ever.
At last, one morning, the looked