The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-11-13

ter laugh. People are saying that
4 Ralph Leicester promised to win the
1 Queens prize for your sake, and that
you have thrown him over for giving
it up. How far that may be tue,
feel / have no right TO ask; but as 1,
and alone, can tell you his real rea-
son for not shcoting-I suppose be
would rather lose even you than con-
fess it himself-you must listen to me
8 few minutes while 1 do 50. Lon g
ago L vas fortunate enough to save
his life in an encounter with q mad
dog had almost forgotten the cir
eumstance; but it seems that Leices-
ter retained vivid remembrance OF
it; and when, the day before the prize
was 70 be shot FOR, my uncle's strange
Intentions came to his knowledge
how, do not know, as ] had tried
my best to keep the world ignorant Of
tue stake for which had played--and
he found that thus something more
than life, reputation, and the, means
lDf once more facing the world were
l within my reach if only could be
suecessful-he generously ,deternined
no act Of his should diminish my
lehance;; and by quietly withdrawing
from the shooting, paid back his debt
\ 10 me multiplied th0usand times.
THE prize Is mine, Margaret, and with
fit the new. life that has opened upon
fme;; but I need hardly tell you how I
shall count it at ali too deeply bought
if Leicester's future happiness has
been sacrificed to its payment
Half an hour later, as Ralph Lei
csster was standing Inoodily in q
door way, his meditatiOns were broken
in upon by q dance programme fall
] ing at his feet as some walters flew
past him. He stopped to pick it up,
not at all knowing who was its owner,
and looked therein. His indffer-
Lence vanished, however, when, toward
the end, he came upon his own name,
written in a remarkably clear hand.
It was odd, he thought, decidedly odd;
as, with one exception, he bad asked
no one to dance with him that even
ing. He was just wondering who the
scribe could be, when q voice said at
his side: edf lslEI.tsls4 EfaH1-L
"Ithink you have picked up my
programme, Mr.. Leieester?" and
turning round he met the soft glance
of q pair of gray eyes, which this time
were not averted from his gaze. l.77 s..
Now perhaps it would have only
been showing proper pride to have re-
uelled such advances from a young
lady who had decidedly snubbed him
ct the commencement of the evening;
but, If so, Ralph Leicester proved
himself lam entably wanting in such
pride at that moment, though, as a
rule, meekness was not counted
among his virtues. His face softened
marvelously as he returned the pros
gramme, and there was an earnest
ness in his voice which Margareps
ear WIS quick to discover though he
only said: sl.sf's vutl orr silo3I ID
'sNo % is our dance, believer ~
trIf you still care to claim it,n she
answered, blushing, anc the next mo-
ment her impatient partner had once
more whiried her off into the dance.
If he still cared to-claim it. Ay,
did he not? That, and great deal
more besides, as Margaret found when
she once again paced the terrace, with
Ralph Leicester this time as her COM
panion; and that such claim had
been accepted Cecil was not slow
to discover when be watched their rev
turn to the ballroom after more than
an hours absence.
"There goes for my first attempt in
the good line.u said he, looking
after them somewhat ruefully, ''and
a precious hard one I've found it tOoi
but, as the French have it, See, nest
quele premierpos qui coute;' and the
next step may be easier. God knows
NV folly has taught me a bitter lesson;
I will try what the other thing can do
for me now"
And he did try, setting his face
right manfully to the battle. Who
can doubt of his suceess2 Verify
there had been more at stake that
summers day at Wimbledon than
the world in its philosophy could
guessl aH! .titt Hi ga