The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-21

light fell on the face from which tne
hood had slipped he recognized Edl'h;
his own promised wife. Sbe openeu
her ewes for a moment n knew hlrn:
..forgive me" she moaned and dled
IN his arms. He laid her down With
cut a word and turned from the
cottage. the stern, shepflcai man
YOU met tonight. He left the hali
before they brought her body nome
the next morning. and for two years L
never saw nv boy, he had loved her
very much and the spots once graced
bv her presence could only suggest
painful thoughts. Ii seems II had
met and become attached TO the other
gentleman while at school, but left
him in ignorance as TO the relation ex-
listing between herself and Ralph. We
buried her quietly and no n ever
knew how she met her death but
supposed she was returning from the
ball with my SON.
Poor man thought We're as she set
her candle down in her own room,
Il do not blame him for lot living at
home now. | do not think | could be
happy in the old place upon the Hud-
son after all that has happened there.
CHAPTER Y.
Understanding him better, We're
was prepared to meet the master OF
the Hall more cordially in the morning.
but he. mindful Of how she had re-
ceived his advances the night before
was not inclined to attempt any fur
thcr friendliness with his mothers
companion. seeing which she quickly
returned to her original reserved
manner.
The new year found the Hall thrown
open to a crowd of young people
who made the old place ring with
their merry making. Quiet and re-
reserved. but kind and attentive,
Ralph Raymond moved among his
guests entirely unconscious OF the
snare laid for him by Laura LoSSle,
the blonde Baltimore belle who had
set her heart on being mistress of the
Hall. Caring but little for society
he was rather a spectator than a par
~ticipator, and watched the little
scenes enacting around him at first
with an amused listlessnesS which was
q~uickened into a curious interest
when We're, who had at first shut
herself up in her own ROOM, at Mrs.
Raymond's request began to take part
in the gaiety. He saw her no longer
the naughty, reserved companion,
but the beautiful, brilliant woman
with a kind word and smile for all.
No, not for all, to him she was I'M
changed and try as he would he could
not win of the smiles SO lavishly
bestowed on others. If he met her in
his mothers apartments she had only
a polite bow for him, and if he joined
a group in the drawing room of which
-la x-,c f1,n oa,otra II bn-. ro,ntv --~
goae in a moment, and she was again
the calmly dignitied woman he had
met the first evening of his arrival.
And Vere's conduct was not a mere
caprice, she felt her position keenly,
and imagined there was in Ralph's
hammer toward Ter a degree of condes-
cension against which her pride re-
VOTED. And beside this, o~hOughtless
Kittie Weldon who had conceived for
We're one of those sudden, romantic
friendships common with lmpulSive
natures had said n day, Look here
We're, why don't set your cap for the
master of this jolly old place: ma chere
cOusine Laura thinks you have already
done so, and | can tell you she is as
jealous as Juno of the opportunities
you will have living under the same
roof and all that. AS we girls used to
say at school, she is dreadfully spooney
OF Mr.. Raymond; actually cannot pear
to have him speak to any other wo-
man s We her own adorable self"
why is it that she is not jealous of
you them" asked We're biting her lips
hard to keep back the angry retort
that had risen to them when the girl
began speaking. 81 am sure you re-
ceive quite as much of Mr.. Raymond's
attention as she or any one else does"
ooh! she cannot afford to quarrel
with me: for would not ask
her to visit us and her Baltimore home
is too far from the Hall for her pur-
pose. Besides, l cannot marry two
men and she knows l am already
mortgaged to one laughed Kittie
blushing. .Oh We're! | could talk to
you for hours about Charlie, but its
time to dress dinner, so are rerOir ma
chere."
Poor We're! it had been hard enough
TO bear calmly Laura LOSSES scornful
glances and still more revolving pat
ronage, but added to this to have it
said she was trying to entrap Ralph's
affections was past endurance.
ooh | wish he had not come home"
she cried p~assionately, cit was all so
quiet and pleasant before he and all
these people came. What will Mrs.
Raymond think if Miss Lossie goes
to her with such a report: Oh, |
wish he had staid away"
She could only determine that her
conduct. IN future, should be such as
to convince e Laura Lossie that her
suspicious We're utterly without foun-
datlon; and on this principle she
acted.
Il declare. Raymond. YOU have a
beautiful place here, | do not see how
you can tear yourself away from it so
often:" exclaimed Captain Lossie one
morning as he, We're, and Kittie ran
in from a game of SNOWFALL on the
terrace TO warm themselves at the
library fire.
And the idea of your rushing off to
Europe in search Of scenery with
these grand old mountains around