Tombstone epitaph., 1917-03-25

"Whatr She heard now. But she could not believe what she had heard. "you do not know what you are say- ing" she laughed.
 But he paid no heed to her. ''Toi- nette, there is no one in the world, there will never be anyone"
 "Oh. please don't go oni I shall never marry. I do not believe I was meant for marriage. Aren't some girls born to be spinsters?"
 'No, no! Not you!"
 "Yes, I shall be an old maid. There Is no one in the world that I shall ever marry. I shall be happy with my fa- ther all my Efe-and have only good friends, faithful friends" she added in a whisper so low that 1t seemed a thought not speech.
 Your father Is young no longer. He must wish you to marry-he will be happier if you do. You must not sac rifice yourself to him-it Is unjust"
 "While he lives I shall not leave him; and oh. do not make me think that there will ever come a time when
 Forgive me; I am sorry. But can't you marry and still be with him Wouldn't he rather gain a son? Oh. Toinette, if I could only tell you what I feel! You must marry mel love you sol"
 T can never marry you"
 "Why not? Is 1t because you love someone elseT
 She was silent.
 "Is 1t someone iu your old home? Surely not-you would never have left him to come here! Besides, you were too young. Tell me-is 1t any man in Corydon? Answer, Toinettel Is It. Toinette. is 1t this newcomer, this fel. low LarrenceT
 She did not answer.
 "Larrence or no onei We'll, he's out of my way. Youn see little of him now-oh. I know, I've heard of you both! He's happy enough elsewhere"
 "Stop! Don't speak of Mir. Lar rencer'
 You think I don't know? I've never met him, but news travels far. I tell you! There's a pretty English girl that he spends his time with now"
 T am not concerned in Mir. Lar rence's actions" she answered coldly.
 Believe me or not, as you choose. The whole village knows 1t. But I know more-you think your heroic Mir. Larrence is an honest American now Bah! What is he, what is he doing here? Who knows anything about Larrence? I tell you, he and Cran- mer's daughter are pretty pair!"
 Doctor Elliott! Take care of your words! You dare not islander Lydia I''
 "Oh, she's honest enough, no doubt but-there's bound to be war with England-and soon. Suppose you were English, wouldn't you do what you could for your country? There's our forts and this frontier that the English would Ike to have, remem. ber."
 T will not listen to thisl You can-
 ot mean what you are saying"
 'If you are a loyal American you will listen."
 T will hear nothing more from you about Lydia and Mir. Larrence. And now let me go. I should not have let you say what you have. Forgive me let us both forget 1t"
 She turned away and Elliott has tened to repair his nasty speech.
 T have said nothing of this to any one and have only told you Toinette. because love you so. I don't want you to be misled by appearances. l shall say nothing more about this but time will show you I am right. You are not angry with me, Toinette? I would die gather than displease your
 The girl was evidently aroused, and only Elliott's good sense in dropping the subject saved the walk homeward from embarrassing silence. With ready tact he began to speak of other things, and before they had reached the village had succeeded in drawing a smile from his companion. He told her good night as if nothing untoward had happened.
 Returning to the tavern, he sat a while in his room in moody silence and then began gloomily to pound some drugs with mortar and pestle. ''The fat nearly fell in the fire that time" he muttered, and cursed him. self under his breath. You're too devilish hasty," he told himself. "Slow and careful Is the word. She loves him! But I'll spoil his fine game yet. The girls rich-rich, why. that wiz. ened old father of hers must be worth a fortune! And he can't live forever" He fell to grinding his drugs as though the simple remedies were poisons that should encompass O'Bannon's death. 
 He had been right in one respect, David had spent more than one pleas. ant evening at the Cranmers'. Under this friendliness the girl giowed into . rosy reincarnation of the audac.ous- ly sympathetic Lydia of their first meeting. It was sweet to hear the broad vowels of Nottinghamshire on her lips and to hear the names of places that struck . pang of memory that David thought would never stir again. Toinette, running over to sec Lydia on the evening after Eiliotts call on hefself. foand him and Lydia there alone in vi 1t seemed . most animated ssuvsr stiop actuewledees