The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-14

thing almost akin to tenderness looked out
Of their solemn depths.
Too latep she grasped. "My hour
has come. But you have been good
child, Ninetta, and you shall have your
reward | won't carry the secret to the
grave with me, child You are no kith
or kin of mine. | am not your grand
mother. I've no time to tell the story
now; but you'll find it in the little box
there, whore keep my crucifx and rosary.
confessed it all to the good pastor, aud
he had il written down an hour ago"
The hoarse voice sunk to feeble whis.
per- convulsiye throb heaved the painting
breast.
"Ah, was wicked Ninetta Forgive
me" ..
Ninetta caught the dropping head to
her bosom, and covered the withered face
with tears and kisses
Oh, grandmere, there is nothing to
forgive !" she cried, 81 love you. Don't
don't leave mo au-
But death is stronger even than love.
Before the sun sank behind the vine hills,
/ cyra nlnarn ,v,s la,1 onJ N;na,,o ,yos
1esolate N ''" "'1
'"Ar hN IL
1t was two months later, and break fast
was just over at Pevensey Grange, one of
those noble old mansions which abound in
the west of England. The autumn morn
ing was frosty, and n cheerful fire burned
in the crate. Lady Pevensey sat before
it, aud handsome young man lounged
against the mantel-piece. Fl. 3.
Another letter from Gwendoline, she
said, running her eyes over dainty sheet;
"and she asks for you, Arthur My dear
boy, you are treating her shamefully. I'm
sure she expects you to PROPOSE; after all
the hints I've thrown out. And why
don t you, sir? You caut DO better. |
thought you was sure to do it, till you
made that trip to France two months ago.
Gwendollnes beauty, and an heiress, and
she's fond of you. What more can you
ask Z
Lord Aylesiord tossed aside his news
paper.
Nothing more. Lady Gwendoline is
perfection. The only trouble is, don I
love her."
Lady Pevensey laughed. The young
peer was a distant kinsman Of hers, and
more, dear, adopted son, and, woman
like, she was all anxiety in regard to his
matrimonial prospects.
"Dont love her? Well you're an odd
boy, Arthur. IshOuld like to know whom
you do love 2"
"I'll tell you, then. A myth, a dream;
a creature | saw two months ago, and can
not for my life forget"
Lady Peyensey laughed outright.
Nonsense Who was she Ididn't
dream you were so silly, Arthur. Is it
her face you paint SO incessantly?"
The young man flushed, and strobe out
of the room in silence lie made his way
up to his studio, in the north turret of the
old baronial mansion, for he was an anna
teur artist, and one of no inconsiderable
merit. His studio was large apartment,
aud ii was literally strewn with paintings
but in almost every recent piece the same
face was Swallowed forth. A lovely face;
sweet, fresh, innocent; with eyes as soft
and brown as the eyes of u gazelle,
" l can forget her, he said, removing
the cover from lite-size portrait. 81
never shall forget her while | live. It is
incOmprehensible" ....
The portrait was Ninetta's, just as she
appeared that late summer morn, standing
under the awning Of the market-place, with
her fower-basket on her arm. Lord
Aylesford looked at the lovely vision, his
eyes growing misty and tender
1t is unprecedented, know, in this
selfish, calculating nineteenth century, to
fall in love with woman's face at first
sight, he muttered; "but / cant forget
her, and never shall, | fear"
He sat down with the canvas before
nun, MS eyes still hxed upon it.
A. one uiu noI wish 10 take what she
sHUI; !, uas i;l 'oO nucn @ 1Sr nsr mowers wnlch
Doro "O' i'Iv ~. nGte I r.'nSn peasant Inc
.ion5j Io,e '',uN @ aoou. II, 'ne more am con-
un. tIncst sone mystery attaches 70 ner
ieraisapPearahcew was so singular. When
Sn5 sng u,u NOT no' return tne next day, as she
,h r 'ys'd' han. anu soushI ,I 70 iearn some
.hs .nlas aOoee r ner' "'l couiu ascertain was
.n"' suo ,lVeu AZ remote village, with
net srananoehGr' ;i, anu wheh l went down
W .ne 'luass' l iOu1u tnat the grand
i;ous mo'nor was ueau, ana that the glrI in, had
u.Sappeareu, ,H no one knew where. The
snlaso pastor, VINO, ~ was s1id' knew the
nos' aoou' rnen'' nau ieit, a'so, on long
vaca'lvn' =, roor chiiu wonder where
sue IS
ne rose, put away the canvas lit a
''sar, anu WaiHeu W 70 tue uoor
rsnaw ne saia, u am q sentimental
TOOL VIII snake on TINS glamour by
wax T, iu 'he rarki and tomorrow 60 up to
n nouuon' ana propose Tor Lady dWendo-
iine'
CHAPTER III.
The next evening as Lady Peyensey
sat DOING after her solitary dinner for Lord
Aylesford had gone up To London. she