Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-11-23

I ~ yes! eaid Gertrude, putting her feet to
bye, Mrs. Foster"
/ Her heart was beating wildly with a joyfal
I expectation IS she hurried away down the lane.
her deliver was no stranger to her, for in the
/ face she Lad seen fer one moment, bending 50
AnxioDsly over her, she had recognized David
| Cover. Bot why was be there? Ii 20 see her,
| why had he not stayed to speak to her? Yes!
che had seen him! He was myth, for she
lad been saved by his stalwart arms; but be had
! only done what any other man would DO and
/ lett her without word. He hal vanished as
/ mysteIiously as he appeared; In vain her eager
1 eyes searched the wide eXpRnse OF park and tho
lorg, straight lane before her, there was NJ
living creature in sight but the browsing cattle;
/ TO sOund, but the fall OF dead leaves, "a they
/ Tustled GTearily to the ground. A day or two of
| feTerish expectation followed, but he appeared
/ no more. ard sadly this last hope faded and
died. Still ii was sweet to owe her life to him.
| Christmas came AID passed. Mr.. Laken
/ could not get Mr.. Mellyille's rent, and no pro-
| misses on his part of paying in a weeks time or
| of reporting the agent TO Lord westerleigh pre-
| vented him from putting in distress.
| at shall be paid at the end of the week." said
/ let her write to Mr.. L'Estrange. s'Can YOU not
| take my wOrd?" she added, Indignantly.
- cont care for words, Miss dellville," re-
| Piled the agent. "You have five DAYS and the
man will behave himself"
Very we'll, ~ said Gertrude, briefly: and with
| that she put on her hat and set Off across the
| park. She was going to the house; she knew
Lord WesteIleign had arrived the day before,
| and she believed a gentleman would take the
word OF a lady. 1t was already dark when she
rang the bell at the great door; but the sound
| ing echoes stirred no feeling Of awe or misgiv.
ne il her heart \ servant appeared and She
asked for Lord Westerleigh. The man was a
stranger, and replied, simply, that my lord
Then Will wait until he is disengagsd, - re-
pi.d Gertrude
''But don't think my lord can see Won at all
tonight. ICu had better call again in the
morning" And lie prepared to shut the door
as he spoke.
Gertrude was almost in passion but con-
trOlled herself.
81 think he viii see me. Be kind enough to
tell Lord WestaTleigh that Miss Melville would
be glad 10 speak To him for q few minutes" As
she made step forward the light fell TuIl upon
her, and the dignity Of her manner and appear
ance seemed suddenly TO convince the man that
be vas speaking 70 lady. He begged her par
don, Al wanted to show her into a room while
he vent with her message to his master, but
Gertrude preferred remaining by the fire in the
hall. In minute or two he returned, re-
Guested Der 10 follow him, aud she soon found
herself in small, comfortable room, lighted
only by the fire. The walls and curtains were
crimson, relieved by lace, aud few marble
statuettes; the furniture and carpet were or the
same color, and the warm freight Cl0Eed over
everything.
on The Hearth, with lis back to the fire,
stood Lord Westerleigh; man with a tiue, tall
figure, but whose face she could not see. TO
her surprise, he came forward with An out
stretched hand, when the servant lighting soma
candles on the table, revealed his face. Ger
was about to take, and found herself face TO
face with David Cover.
81 beg Your pardon" she began, turning
white 10 TIE lips. at was Lord WesteTleigh j
came to See"
Rather a smournfuI smile came to his lips as
lie Put bis hand behind him and replied, al
thou ght you knew was Lord WesterIe,gh."
LORD WestCTiCigLi' repeated Gertrude, the
blood IusEing 20 her brow. 81 did not know it,
indeed"
"Uon't apologize, Miss Melville. viii YOU
shake hands with me now?' he said, holding
out his hand again.
'And glsiiy," came from Gartrud3's big
heart.
Il smiled, and taking her hand, said with his
old kind voice, 50 that she could have kqelt
down and kissed his feet, "AnI what can 1 40
for yOu.'
Tears rushed to her eyes and she looked
down TO hIde them, but he must have seen
them, for LIE turned round, and stirred the fire
to give her time. Then she told her story, with
q red tllsh OF shame On her brow.
only father must leave / know, and we must
live differently; but 1t yOu will tell Mr. Laken
to take the man away, he shall have the money
by tie end OF the week"
Lord Westerly did not reply at once; he walked
backwards and forwards twice.
- AN so ashamed" he SAID az length, "that
such thing sLOuId have been done in my
name. viii walk back with you aud set it
night. am very, very sorry"
Gertrude made no reply. It was she who telt
asian ed, for he whom Sh3 had called a "cOm-
mon farmer" was Lord W5sterlcigh. aud far
above her-sO far that he had evidently quite
forgotten any affection be might once have had
for her, and a bitter psng was making itself
felt in her heart as she saw in his calm, unem-
baETassed maLneT, no sign OF the love that had
once been hers.
80 they wakes back together through tie
dark evening. Net Uany words passed between
them, ard Gertrude tried TO realize that David
Cover a. 4 Lord WesteTleigb were one and the
same person. She was wondering how It was
they lad heard nothing OF the matter from the
LIE. t-aT ges, bur then she remembered that
hey were It'll abroad, having gone at the end
cf TIE sLmmer. In spite OF his altered manner,
she ic!t strangely happy walk NJ once more by
rs sIc--sc conscious Vi the charm OF his pro-
cling re CIcC.
The ONE dcor stood open and Mrs. MelvIlIs
was pPCIirg into she daI kneSs.
'GeTlTu1e! Is that yCu?'' she called anx-
lousy. Gertrude ran forward, and De-flIDg up
10 hos mother, murmuTed, "Here is Lord Wes-
'er.eigh, mamma; and lie will take the man
away" And before Mrs. Melville could ask
for an explanation, She rushed out OF sight up
10 her own room, where peDt u? burst of tears
would lie restrained no longer. When they had
exhausted themselves, she sat and listened for
sounds below. For some time all was silent;
then the drawing room door Opsned, and she
EeaTu Lord WeSterleigh and her fathers voice
IS they walked down the passage. A cordial
goodnight" closed the interview, as the hall
door closed Mrs. Melville came upstairs into
Gertrude's dark room.
sis 1t all night, mammal"
eyes, ny dear-bUt how was it you never told
ia YOU had met Lord Wes;erieigh at your
TWAS well for Gertrude the darkness Ind her
te'l-tale cheeks.
Why, mamma, l never knew he was Lord
teTleJgh un5l / saw him this evening. Fl q
as only Mr. Cover, you know"
81 should have blamed you for going to him II
be had been a stranger, GeTtruie."
"But is be Tot kind and gOJd?" She was so
bold In the cark.
Good and kind?" indeed he is, God bless
him." replied Mrs. Melville, earnestly. "Your
father is to begin painting his portrait imme-
diately. He said he considered himself foTtu-
nate in finding an artist 90 near. lie is gOiny ID
have his house full OF visitors soon, and lie hopes
/ will 60 and entertain them. oh, GartruG8."
said poor Mrs Melville, with tears N her voice
''yOu cannot tell what it will be 10 me to 20 back
once more into The sOci-tv Of my youth" Ger
trude's arms were rOunG her mothers neck; she
felt very happy somehow.
"Dear mamma, am so glad! You are too
pretty neve- 20 bs seen"
Mrs. Melville laughed, and kissed her.
"HCw cuTiOusly things happen" said Ger
trude; but her mother did not answer, for A dim
dream Of a possible future was dawning on her
uliTd.
And row Gertrude's life was changed-the ST.
leLce wac broken, There was voice some
where always singing TO her Utmost heart, an
echo, perhaps OF Lord Westerleigh's few words
Of greeting, which were hers now two OF thCes
times week, for he came to Mr.. MslVilje's
house 10 SIT for his pOrtrait-he said he prefer
Ted it-aUd thus came across her now aud then
in her walks. Once or twice they nearly fell
back into the old way Of conversation, "a when
e.. l., a.