Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-06
AFTER MANY DAYS.
SEVENTEEN.
"Rslph, you have been most impru1ent."
ssTdrnyr This from VOtl?r

-
"FdnnyI This froLl your"
Eyes my poor boy; even from me. / admit
the Justice Of the reproach lurking In your
question. I have not only been indiscreet, but
TIE slender handsome youth of seventeen
who confronted her in an attitude which dc.
| noted wounded pride, yet with face ouiverIug
| with emotion which owned deeper source.
strove to fashion a rejoinder, but failed. He
darted Mistf1l iool at the face OF the beau.
sionately, and then lowered his gaze, betraying
at the same time the agitation of his feelings
6y the way he handled her dainty whip, which
Ia an absent moment he had taken possession
OF. she was att1red In riding habit. Her
ilgnt brown hair was braided beneath one CT
tne natiest hats ever seen in the Row. one
hand. the right, was ungloved This she held
out 10 the youth appeal1ngly. He shrank from
l. as though from the approach OF contagioD.
suddenly, strengthening herself and changing
ner manner, she S2id:
Ralph WAGE, you forget yourself"
couldr' -
The piteousness OF mis- tone disarmed her
she TOOK his now not unwilling hand into both
fer5, and drawing him gently toward her kissei
MIN ~ on the forehead. There were tears In
her regretful eyes as she did 1t. After some mo-
ments OF pregnant silence the youth said:
why was my last letter returned IN
opened?' "'i
IT was her turn to appear confused. Leaving
ahe nanleiIiece upon which she had leant she
advanced toward the one bay window of the
Inorn1hg-rcom (always regarded as hers at
Maoelthrope ManoD and replied, in a low
voice: "
Because 1t was right"
hight! We are cousins, are we not. Miss
FRANCES Grantham? It had surely been no more
thah couslniy on your part to have read my
foolish epiStle?r
ut was because / was sure there WAS folly
beneath the cover, l thought 1t wiser. kinder.
tetter not to break the seal. Nay, hear me-
catory gesture the hot reply which was raaIv
10 leave the boys lips, mot IN my defence. for
| nave none, hut in sorry explanation. II is
true we ale cousins, Ralph, and l deeply regret
'.Regretw
Yes, from my heart Of hearts Had we not
been ann: Ralph, it Is scarcely likely we should
.'Well?u
No" ..Ho,N o, Old Ian! are YOU Ralph?'
81 81 do Sixteen years and eight months And
BE had biushed at tie mention o. his age.
Ter voice was tremuOus as she declared hers
for
OF my reasons"
land the OtherS?'
Here Is another. CAPTAIN Wythburn this IA
my cousin, Relph Wacen
Although there was dramatic fitness In the
easy entrance OF 1.-The other reason" whom Miss
Grananam introduced, his appearance at that
moment was accidental. 1t flashed across her
mind that pride would come to the rescue OF the
bog, and pride DID. His Acknowledgement Of
capt. Wythourn's 5alutation was frigid. For the
instant ne was man, with man for an adyer-
safy. LOOKING the youth over from ''leyel front.
ing eyelids, " but w1thal good naturally, Myth
burn said:
Pardon my intrusion, I Thought Won wera
alone. l met BabS on her way 10 the nursery.
end promised to bring you to her. | rauJt %
and comfort her with the assurance that you
W De there Rsa BY and by You Will see her pre-
Yes, yes; thank you, Dick. OF course. Tell
nurse TO bring her TO my dressing-room Oh her
way to bed"
Captain Wythburn Withdrew. There was no
strongly perceptible change OF expression In
MS naughty face as he left the room; still there
was change. and the youth felt it, change
In INA !. eAasperated him. Drawing deep breath,
sigh OF relief, the boy flung away the whip, and
CALCULATED hoarsely:
i am going"
Not like that, Ralph. Not yet Not until you
have forgiven me-"
"What have l to forgiven
20. so much! Such disparity as there ia be-
tween us Is not measurable by mere years.
Those holiday fiirtations were pleasant to me
until saw how seriously you regarded them
and then dared not tell you the truth. l was
as good as engaged TO Captain Wythburn then.
Yet II could never have been, my poor dear
Ralph. am such an old person compared with
YOU" and here she smiled through the rising
tears; $50 forgive me-"
A peremptory knock was followed by the In
handed Miss GraDtham an envelope, saying al
the same time, in sharply defined tones:
"a telegram for you, Miss Grantham. The
messenger waits. The reply is paid. This
young gentleman-your cousin-can be Of any
service to him? He would, perhaps, Ike to
have his horse saddlCd."
captain Wy thbu. i ~
Miss Grantham."
'.DtCk,!r'
"Fan....o
There was no doubt about 1t. During his
hfr,fr l,so} hi,
edge which rufffed possibly angered, him. Had
sir Gym and Lady Glinford his own go0d
friends and Miss Granthams uncle and aunt,
ra lied him on the subject of Ralph WAGES
romantic attachment to Fanny? The cause of
the sUrpl ietng explosion Qt was their first mi.
understanding stood erect and defiant M'ss
GraDtham read the telegram, and said to Cap
tain Wythburn
May 1 beg OF you to request the messenger
to wait? desire to confer with my cousin
alone on the subject OF this message. 1t con
Germs him."
Wythburn bowed and retired.
Ralph, how did you come?n
81 walked nom Greykirk."
WHAT all the way? Twenty miles?r
Yes. And If 1t had been fifty it would have
been all the same. / heard from the Hurst that
you were here, and as FOulstone cleared out
leave OF absence: Pray do not trouble yourself
on my account"
Ralph, cannot help troubling she replied.
win deep earnestness. ''You guess the con-
Yes. 1t is from Foulstone's drudge; one of
the best fellows In the world for all that. /
presume Foulstone Is back again?"
''He Is on his way. You must get home be.
lore him. Your friend telegraphs must"
The boys comment was inartlculate, but it
sign1fied rebellion.
''Recollect, Ralph, how much depends on
your succeeding IN your profession. When you
broke out OF bounds befOre-tO meet ue-Mr,
touistone declared that the next time should be
I'M tne e., last r.. RALPH, dear Ralph, be man! Get
back to Trimdon tonight for my sake"
Inc muscles OF his mouth stirred with con.
netting emotions. AT length he murmured:
S,nce you desire 1t, Will try"
There's dear good boy" She kissed him.
Now let me help you"
"YOu?"
Yes" She rang the bell To the servant
VINO promptly responded she said: "Give this
10 the messenger who Is waiting" She there
upon wrote reply TO the telegram and handed
~ 10 the servant, say Ing at the same time: Tell
H1ndley to saddle the mare and MOttle. When
you nave done that get cook to give you some
sandW1cheS-a good maryland bring them
mere with some brown sherry. And-Stay, give
my compliments to Captain Wythburn, and
say shall be glad to see him for ten minutes In
the library" The servant departed. "Now,
Ralph, make the best OF your time. Eat as
much as ever you can, and take at least half-a-
pint or the sherry-it VIII do you good"
But, Fan"
Not word; you have promised. Will soon
RETURN" and she left him.
His unspOken protest against being treated
like baby expired with the appearance or Ia-
rrpShmpnt9 He Was almost farpiSho5 ora ho