The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-08-09

agination!" Why did he torture her
with his condolences?
II should think you might" he pur-
sued, still smillng, but not 80 conf
IDENTIFY. "During your absence at
Mn. Raymond's bedside / have be-
come confirmed In . sentiment whose
existence had only suspected before.
IL there any hope for me, wonder?n
"Any hope ?? she answered, confus-
edly-"any hope? I-how can I tell?n
Don't you know, - he asked mourn.
fully, his great dark eyes shining APP
pealinkly In the dim light. "Couldn't
you find out, dear Miss Bellf Couldn't
you give me = rnorsel OF encourage
al could-I will find outfit yo.s
wish. would give II now-this min
ute-you know / would, don t you p
Il l cogld-if I dared-if I we're GER
Did he doubt that Flora loved him ?
BLESS you ~ he said, fervently.
ST am willing to walt; IT is 30. much
better than deapair dealt ct one IblOw.V
Then he lighted her candle from his
own, and LETT ! ,Sr, with blank dismay
pictured upon her face There was no
question but her. matchmaking had
succeeded, and she herself was In love
with Clarence Gascoigne! Another
woman might have played false at
this unexpected crisis, and deemed that
all was fair Ia love, but Belle Ray
mond was Of finer clay, n ,a,.,s,
"You dear old 60 between" cried
Flora, when Bell had made her revela-
tiOns, "the Bishop Valentine himself
couldn't hold candle to you. It's too
good to be true. Do I love him? Donf
~ Confirmed in q sentiment whose
existence he had only suspected before
Mrs. Raymond's illness, Is hep Well,
l must confess hardly expected such
good fortune. He's so reserved, sup
pose, and-snd- Why, he has never
80 much as kissed my hand, or pressed
II, though he has had plenty Of oppor-
tunity. Well, you can go tell him
that the adage, Faint heart never won
fair :dy,' Is disproved. I'll walt
Somebody knocked family at Mr.:
Gascoigne's study door. "Come in, I"
he said, installing it for the maid.
. Flora Is waiting for you In the par
lor,n began Bell. ,a.
"Waifing for me?-Flora? ?" repeated
Mr.. Gascoigne. 90"
= Eyes. I have told her; she is walt
ing to confirm your hope, Mr.. Gas
coigne. She bids me say that the adage,
Faint heart never won fair lady Is
disproved. When you intiInated To
me the other night that you loved her,
l suspected that 1t was not In vain, but
! could not be certain, you know.
Now I kno,0 she loves you with all her
heart. i am sure of 1t. Don't let me
l. -. 49, 4 lr
an eternity to Flora. She Is waiting
for youth the parlor. Go! Why do
you hesitate? Don't you believe
me?"
Mr.. Gascoigne had arisen, deathly
pale, with q solemn, wounded look in
his shining eyes, and great circles
growing beneath them; his lips moved
without forming words. His whole
attitude was that Of one overcome
with unexpected happiness, 1t seemed
to Bell, as he .steadied himself by
grasping with trembling hands the
chair beside him.
"YOu told Flora that loved her p"
he gasped. "You told her that loved
"Why, Yes; told her you had been
confirmed in O sentiment whose exist
ence you had only suspected before you
were thrown together so much by
Aunt Milly's Illness" repeated Bell.
"And you say that Flora loves me
You are sure OF 1t 2"
''I am sure. Go and ask her." and
Bell went slowly out; but 1t was some
time before Mr.. Gascoigne obeyed her.
HE is the oldest lover in the world, I"
confessed Flora, later. Nothing spoon.
ey or gushing about him. 1 suppose
it wouldn't be dignified for clergy
man. Why, he only kissed me twice,
If you'll believe 1t, Bell, and looked as
solemn as an owl, and said he hoped
he should make mehappy. Goodness!
I'm happy already, and told him 30.
Do you know, Bell, I never had an
out-and-out offer before, though I'm
twenty -seven.n
Miss Raymond offered thanks when
Mr.. Gascoigne took his vacation to the
White Hills, and Flora went home to
acquaint her friends with her new
prospects, and to join her lover, with
mother, at the Mountain House later.
Bells summers work was ended;
there was nothing more tor her to do
but to sit down and count the cost of
matchmaking. In the mean time
Flora wrote her friend long confiden-
tial letters ffom the mountains.y
"Such larks! We do nothing but
enjoy ourselves Who do you think
we found here but his high. and-might-
mess the heir of Pine Hill, Mr.. Chester
Calender, OF Haphazard. And such
ywelll He danced with me five
times at the hop last highland didn't
the other women look daggersl One
dared tn say IL was because I'm engaged,
and It's so safe flirting with engaged
girls-a!l the fun and mono Of the
danger! Let them ravei If weren't
engaged-who knows?-I might fancy
living at Pine Hill, with q retinue of
servants, driving In my carriage, and
cracking in my silks. i didn't tell
you, did I, that the stocks in which my
money was invested have declined
most shamefully? SO Mr.. Discount,
my business man, writes me. But
there'sd dear old Clarence-do you know,
he isn't q particle tealousW While q
later date ran, "Mr. Calender and i
are just in from q climb up the noun
tain with q small party. Clarence
went with some gentlemen last week
camping. out, and didn't care to repeat
history. We got separated from the
others, Mr.. Calender and j, and lost
our way; and we should have been
there now, for all 1 know, IL Clarence
and q man hadn't come to our rescue
with lantern and torches. Mr.. CAL
lender Is taking my picture, In crayon
II sometimes really believe he is
sweet on me, In spite of Clarence. Mr..
Callender's eyes are blue and small
and his mustache is-well, lemon-col-
ored, maybe; but his figure and man.
ners are perfectly stunning. He al
ways makes you feel as IL you were
the one person of all the world whom
he delighted to honor" '..'Dy 9ol
And, after that, Bell heard no more,
and fortnight later Mr.. Gasoline was
at home again, and settling to his par.
ish duties. He found Bell at twilight
the day after his return, with hei
Hollow chair wheeled before
the window, watching the stars come
out in the evening sky, and listening
to the crickets' sing-sonR. - ~
"Star-gazing 2" ne asked, resting an
elbow on the cushioned back Of hel
seat. A penny for your thoughts.p