Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-12-25

lovely face before him, and her voice. as
she made that earnest appeal, was SO
full of the sweetest music that he felt he
could be content to listen to its tones
forever. Z
81 have come-' began Ralph; but
his companion noting the graveness of
his voice, hastened to interrupt him.
Before you say anything more," she
urged, gently, 'give me the assurance
that you bear no enmity toward me.
Promise me that you will be friends. I"
Would IT be possible for any one to
say nay to such a request? ?" asked Ralph,
enchanted by the appearance and man
ner of the heiress. 90 Believe me, my
dearest wish is that we may be friends
always .see e.r-s'.
Tears ofjoy rose to her eyes; but her
face grew sadder as Ralph went on:
"There is one condition in our bond
of friendship" he said, drawing forth
the deed of gift while he spoke, am
deeply touched by the rare generosity of
spirit which prompted you to offer me
one-haf your fortune, and / shall thank
you for it and bless you all my life; but
| have come to give you this deed back,
and to assure you that under no circum-
stances can consent to the sacrifice you
wish to make" B2
"But it is made-the deed is donc,"
she said, with quivering lips and glisten-
ing eyes; 'sthe money is already paid
into your bankers"
@Then there it will remain, said
Ralph, firmly; for I am determined
not to touch it"
II hope to be able to induce you to.
alter your decision" she answered, re-.
fusing to take the folded parchment
which he held toward her. ssAt any
rate" she added, as he shook his head,
you will allow me to offer you some
refreshment, and invite you to accept
the shelter of the Hall for tonight.
There is no train back to town until to-
morrow morning.
Ralph hesitated. He was determined
not to avail himself of her generosity;
while she, on her side, was equally re-
solved that as mere act of justice the
fortune should be divided. But Ralph
feared, with good reason, that if he re
manned and listened to her arguments
and entreaties. his resolution might
waver or be overturned together.
Cousin Ralphw she said, fixing her
dark eyes full upon him, "you will stay
at the Hall tonight, will you not? It
is 80 lonely here in this great house with
only Mrs. Bates-an old friend of my
mother's-to talk to-. Let US occupy
ourselves this evening with speaking OF
the future, for you know you have prom
ised that we shall be friends.
Who could resist such tender words
and pleading looks? Certainly not
Ralph, for he was already conscious
that for good or evil Evelyn bennington
would influence all his future. Her
generous offer to divide the fortune had
naturally produced q deep effect upon
him, and before the evening was over
this feeling had developed into warmer
one. Charmed by her grace and beauty
-subjugated by her winning ways
Ralph for the first time knew what it
was to love. "a ~
The next morning, when he stood in
the hall. wishing his beautiful cousin
goodbye, it was clear that her influence
had not been sufficient to cause him to
change his determination It had
brought about some kind of compro-
mise; for holding both her hands in
his, and gazing ard emily into her face,
he said, in tender accents:
Do not doubt me, dear cousin-do
not imagine this is any passing fancy.
Love is plant of quick growth, Eve
lyn, and you have only to be seen to be
loved by every one-how much the
more, then, by me? Remember our
compact that for the present nothing
more is to be said about the division OF
the property-th you will let me sec
you and speak to you very--very often
that at the end of six months [ shall
come forward to accept the deed of gift,
but upon the condition that when take
it | shall take the giver, too-that you
will then fix the day when you will
make my happiness complete by becom-
ing my wife!" "
And Evelyn looked up with bright
smile on her lips and pleased look in
her eyes, that showed-short as had
been her acquaintance with Ralph
Grantley--he was already far from in
different to her.