The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-03-13
THE DAILY EMPIRE.
MILDRED GRANT.


asked for Lady Lifford Miladi was at
home, Monsieur would find her apartments
du preD,ter, if he would give himself the
trouble GO walk up stairs. The apartment
door was opened by an English lady rs maid.
who showed him into the sitting room, and
departed without announcing him, closing
the door softly behind her. ..tesi
On allow chair before the fire sat Mil
dred, reading. She had not heard him en-
ter and for a second he watched her in ST.
lence. The flre-light was cleaning on her
as bright and luxuriant as ever. but he
could see that the hand held up to shade
her face too, was paler than 1t used tn be,
and he faneied that the lines of the mouth
had look ofsadness that they were stran-
gers TO on that day four years ago-remem-
bered, ah. how vividly--when she had sat
at bis feet in the school-room al Chaley
Hall.
Awkwardly enough he advanced toward
the fire place but at the first step Mildred
looked up; and the old beautiful eyes met
his, She colored violently as she rose from
her seat, held out her hand. and tried TO
speak, but the effort was too great she hid
her face In her hands and burst into tears.
A great lump stuck in Edward Reeves
throat as he stood looking at her, quite un-
manned, and with all his sternness melted.
Tell me any thing you ike" he said, gem
tly: ."do not gricve so, did not come here
10 blame youn
But Mildred did not hear; she was strug-
Cling with her sobs. II beg your pardon"
she managed at last IL gasp out. sit IL so
foolish, but | have been i'll and-and un-
happy All at once she turned so pale that
he thought she was going to faint. In
stinctively he put out his arm TO support
her; perhaps she mistook the gesture; she
turned toward him, gave one look up to
the familiar face. with its expression of
unchanged tenderness, and burst out crying
again, with her head on his breast.
For once In Edward Reeves life. he lost
all power Of self control. Away went
every thought of what was due to her and
to himself away went prudence-swal-
lowed up In his great love and grief for
her mildred, Mlldred,r ne cried with an
exceeding bitter cry, and clasping her to
his heart, he showered down Kisses on her
hair. For one instant he held her In that
position, the next the door opened, and
Sir Edward Lifford walked lnnocently into
the room.
Mr., Reeve released Mildred. The moment
of that passion had passed aud shame over
came him at the sight of the man he had
wronged. But he must shield Mildred If he
could, go he advanced toward Sir Edward,
n certain dignity of manner concealing his
real fealngs.
Il dare not ask your forgiveness" he
said, ''you can hardly think my conduct
more reprehensible than l see II to have
been. Ihaye been culpably forgetful of
my duty. and am deeply sensible of 1t. All
can venture to ask you. Sir Edward Is TO
let your just anger fall upon me and not
upon your wife," @
Upon my wife ?" repeated Sir Edward.
opening his honest eyes very wide at this
grandlloquent speechand looking curlously
peaceable. What In the world has Lady
Lifiord to do with it? Do you suppose,
ms 4 mn Ia hpr otI Ia c,s
the freaks and follies of any young lady she
has the charge orr" ,' .fl
Unbounded astonishment took possession
of Mr.. Reeves face; he looked at Mildred,
almost doubling his own sense of hear
Ing; -
Lady Liffordy' he stammered at last, in dire
confusion.
NO! here is Lady Lif'ord, IL you please"
said CHEEKY voice, and blooming wo-
man, fat fair, and forty, with the rosiest
cheeks and the merriest smile, walked into
the room. ,... s.s-, .. ,...sf . assa "a
"Mr. Reeve, what have you been saying
to distress Miss Grant SOY
my dear, perhaps you may be able TO
understand what Mr.. Reeve means, be
hanged IL ! can.p said Sir Edward, and sat
himself stolidly upon an ottoman.
But Edward Reeve had turned to Mildred,
and drawn her again into his arms before
them all. my darling, tell me only one
thing, he whispered 'do you belong to
me still 2" -....
And Lady LifIord laid her hands on Sir
Edward, aud conveyed him and herself out
of the room, and left the lovers together.
"And so you forgive me my little plot. do
you, Mr.. Reeve?" laughed Lady i.iffOrd.
about an hour later when they were ali
seated at luncheon. Mr.. Reeve was beam
Ing. His eyes were glittering through his
spectacles with their old twinkle, and the
excitement had wrought up his spirits TO a
most unwonted pitch.
II am ready to forgive your ladyship
anything" he replied, "but confess great
deal that has happened Is beyond my COM
prehensiOn."
N"Your wits are wool gathering. / am
afraid but here comes your puplt TO look
after his tutor. Perhaps he may he able 10
enlighten you y @
Gilbert's handsome face showed itself at
the door. With laughing eyes and out
stretched hands he walked up to his tutor
May ! congratulate you. Mr.. ReeyeY |
was not far wrong, was /, In telling Lady
Lifforl that | thought you were still wear.
ing the willow for Young lady you had
been engaged 10 chats why he tyrannized
over me so)," he added, in comic voice
aside to Lady lillord.
"Wrong, no but how In the world did
you know anything about Il
"Sir. you have sister have mother.
they know each other" said Gilbert dra-
matically.
Come come,n said Lady Lifiord, you
talk as II had nothing 70 bo with 1t. lam
not going TO let yOu carry on all the credit
of this happy denouemcnt"
MOI said Gilbert, folding his hands re-
signedly. II knew no names, and little
thought, Ia the innocence of my heart,
when came up last night, with Sir Ed