Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-10-03

the chimney piece-lhat was all. So
quietly had she entered that he did not
hear her come ip-at least he did not
move. At last she dared look up, and
saw the reflection OF his face In The mir
ror. 1t was not Sir Marmaduke-she
almost screamed below her breath as he
turned round.
"Maym
Had her selt-cobquest made her mad ?
Was she face haunted
He seemed more beWldered than she,
but be recovered himself more quickly.
"May-Miss Arden-I never drean3d
Of seeing you here-but YOU shall not
break my heart without letting me know
why"
Oh. go. for heavens Sake-how dare
you come here-and follow mt"
"How dare /? When Mrs. Craven
asked me to Gomez But even if she had
not. and had known you were here, 1
should have dared"
"What-mamma asked you Pr
"No-Mrs Craven asked me. Aud as
| am here
"She never heard OF you-and il she
had-she asked Sir Marmaduke Ireton."
"And | am Sir Marmaduke Ireton."
Then" She could not believe her
senses, aud it was well she could not;
il she had, and if Joy ever killed, she
could almost have died OF joy. Where
were the squirting eyes and red hair.
Il can't believe it! You are Sir Mar
maduke Ireton! Yon are not Mr.. Brown
But his face fell He had read the joy
in her eyes--and he was not pleased to
be thus welcomed as Sir Marmaduke
who had been dismissed as Mr.. Brown.
That is my naue, Miss Arden, he
said coldly, but with sigh.
And | AIN not Miss Arden-I am May
Craven. How strange she went on,
her eyes gradually waking up in their
sunlight CLEAN. that. we should have
been together, and not have known OH
owa names! On, why did you call
yourself by a false name? I? What you
might have spared mel
What he asked almost sternly;
should you not have written that note
al Oman if you had known my real
name?'
mol!
Good heayen-and you own it p
] do not say what Mays impulse led
her to do was either right or wise, can
only say she could not bring herself to
let happiness slip from her again. In
stead OF answering, she drew forth her
mothers letter, which she carried about
her as talisman against temptation. and
placed it in his hand; thus betrsying the
family skeleton to one whom she trusted
only because she loved! him, confessing
that she was dowerless, and owning that
she was trying TO catch him be-
cause he was rich man. Ii was
frank and homes, but | doubt if any
girl ever trusted any man so much
before.
Nor do say that he did what was
wse-only that he looked from the let
ter into eyes that he seemed to reach
more plainly than words. and the cloud
faded from his brow. For moment be
paused to read; and then, instead OF
being caught. be caught her-in his
arms. My poor May understandr
All her life flowed back Can you
ever forgive me? And oh, why did you
trick me by calling yourself
Brown You must ask Mrs. Arden
why she called out May just at the
lucky moment when | was going TO tell
you all. When you are Lady Ireton you
will find it pleasant sometimes to travel
on foot and call yourself Mrs. Brown.
But am SO glad all this has happened
though you'll marry me because I'm rich.
you told me you loved me when was
poor
Told indeedl But oh. do you know
Maud Ashton, who's in India, told me
you were so stupid
Quite right-so l am
And that you squint so horribly-and
have red hair
And don't |? And haven't l?-By Jove,
Nav That was the late Sir Marmaduke
--and bad lot he was too, though he's
dead aud was my own tirst cousin. He
died in Calcutta mouth ago We're all
Maj maduke. you know, either by first or
second Christian name; that's the family
tradition for-let me see-about thirty
years. The baronet must always be
Marmaduke, and I'm Hugh Marmaduke
Ireton.'
Then. please-Ill call you Hugh.
Do you mind?'
I'll be everything to you darling, as
long as you'll be May 10 me. And wei