The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-06-06


hostess, and determined to leave that even
ing, he asked to see Leone alone.
With pale face but que. manner,
the young girl entered the room, and
stepping forward, Clarence Ainslie said,
fselingly:
Miss lightfoot, no longer can impose
upon your kindness, and tonight leave
you. Shall it be forevcr?"
No answer came, and the Englishman
continued
To you | owe my life, and to you |
would dedicate the years that yet remain.
l am unknown to you--a stranger in
strange land-and you have but my word
for it that | offer you love that never
was offered to woman before, hand and
heart that has never sinned Intentionally
against fellow being. Will you accept
what | have to offer?"
al will"
You will trust me take me as | am,
and become my wife"
~ will"
No other word was spoken, but two
hearts were perfectly happy,
OF course, Arthur Lightfoot and his
wife objected and decidedly refused, but
Leone was determined 1t was no ro
nance with her, and when she fatty told
them she would marry Clarence without
their consent they made a virtue out of
necessity, and gave in, consoling them
selves with the thought that after all his
being stranger and poor man was really
the only faults that they could find in
him
At the request of the parties most
interested it was quiet wedding, Just six
months after the meeting of the lovers,
and DIR. Wells and farmer Jessops family
were only invited, and to this day the
good old lady has not ceased to gossip
about the magnificent trousseau the bride
had, and the quiet happiness that shonc in
the eyes of the young couple.
1t had been decided that the bridal tour
should be to Europe, as Clarence Ainslie
said that business would call him there
soon, and Mr.. and Mrs. Lightfoot had
been persuaded to accompany them SO the
day after the wedding the New York
steamer bore happy quartette from the
land of free America.
Arriving safely in England, few days
were passed quietly at the hotel, and then,
by an invitation from Clarence Ainslie, the
party started out to visit the spot where
he had passed his boyhoods days.
Through meadow lands and lovely
country the carriage drove, until suddenly
Clarence, who was driving, wheeled into
a grand gateway leading to the superb
country-seat of some man of wealth.
A few moments more, and the carriage
drew up before the marble steps of an
elegant mansion-one of those old ramb-
ling structures often found in England !;
and springing lightly to the ground, the
Englishman said, while merry light
twinkled in his eye:
Leone, welcome you to your home.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lightfoot, Lord Clarence
Ainslie bcgs that you will accept the
hospitality of Ainslie Castle.
Tears filed the beautiful eyes of
Leone. Arthur Lightfoots cheek colored,
but he was silent, while, after seconds
hesitation, his wife exclaimed.
"Clarcnce Ainslie, you are a cheat.
Why, thought you were Western
farmer"
"That was all the land | owned in
America. purchased it, and built
shooting box thereon, because was fond
Of your Western sports, and in America |
was simply Mr. Ainslie--here | am Lord
Clarence, of Ainslie Castle. Am | for
given"
Reader, We all have too much human
nature, nowadays, to for a moment sup
pose the deception practised was not
pardoned by one and all in fact, Mrs.
Lightfoot says she likes to be deceived,
and in this case Arthur echoes the opinion
Of his wife.