The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-03-03

Sir Frederick Jermyn's seat lay on
the slope Of lovely Berkshire hill,
shut round by woods, but overlooking
q wide and charming landscape. As
Charles Pemberton passed the lodge
gates, and saw on either side the evil
dences OF wealth and social station. he
began to regret his acceptance, feeling
that he would scarcely be at his ease
amid surroundings so much above his
own homelier state. The cordially of
his welcome, however, soon chased
away these misgivings, and he had not
been many hours at Wilmore Court be-
fore new set of feelings took possess
sion of his mind.
He had exchanged greetings with Sir
Frederick, Turenne and his brother,
and was reading, with their assistance,
the noble view from the window, when
he was suddenly conscious of another
presence in the room, and turning, be-
held Miss Jermyn, concerning whom,
curiously, Teddy in his letters had said
nothing. but whose presence, as he
thought, made of the hall a temple.
Not that she was beauty. A fair
haired girl. with large gray eyes and
rather blunt features, there was moth
ing of classic grace about her; but in
every line of her fair face there shone
the light of q beautiful soul. There
was faint flush on her face, and two
good little dimples marked her pleas
ant smile, as looking straight into his
face with frank. clear eyes, she held out
her hand to greet him, and made cap
tive of him forever.
Your brother" she said, "'is al
ready one Of the family. and he has
made you so we'll known to us that
feel as though were welcoming an old
friend"
'Thank you very much" said he.
81 hope may yet be privileged to give
you better reason for regarding me as
SUCH"
That night. as he sat in his room long
after the household was asleep, he
could but ask himself. with beating
heart, whether it were possible that
there was in store for him q compensa-
ton for much of WEAKNESS in his life
hitherto so immeasurably rich as the
love of this girl. He never thought OF
himself as living life of self-sacrifce.
He had found some things rather hard
to bear. and life had perhaps been blank
for him-a negative thing. But with
Lillian by his side-how naturally the
name slid into his thoughts-his whole
life would be flooded with joy. Was he
too old to hope for such bliss? He was
barely thirty-seven in years, and he was
younger in that he had never been hack
ne.yed in the ways of love, and his heart
had never bowed to a meaner passion.
When he descended next morning
there was the light of hope and love in
his face.
"Why, Charlie" exclaimed Teddy,
chow young you look! If you grow
backward at this rate while you are at
Wilmore Court, mother will hardly
know which is which,"
The young man looked at him from
day to day with wonder. for his whole
being was transformed. He had never
realized till now the buoyancy and en-
ergy of the spirit which had been cab
ined and confined at home. Every day
the wonder grew. for every day the
light of hope burned clearer and strong
er within him.
He watched Teddy and Lillian in
frank and happy intercourse and
thought with deli ght that they were
already as brother and sister. Her
manner to him was confidential, almost
atfectionate. He was sure OF his ground;
more and more sure each day till the
very last, on the eve of which he sat in
his bedroom, musing much, for he had
determined that he would know his fate
on the morrow.
There was tap at the door.
''COme in," he cried, and, turning,
saw his brother. with brilliant flush
on his face and a strange fire in his
eyes.
Charlie said he, in a voice that
quivered with some deep feeling, Il
want to tell You something"
"Yes," said he, kindly, and scarce
ly noticing these signs of unusual
emotion. '.And have. think, some.
thing to tell you. What is your
news?s
Teddy walked to the window. and
stood there looking out for few Sec
onds before he asked, speaking abrupt
ly, and without turning:
Charlie, what do you think of Lillian
Jermyn?''
HID the boy then discovered his Sc
cret, and was he coming to urge him to
the step ON which he had already de-
termined? His agitation was so great
that he could scarcely find words to
speak; but he began to answer slowly in
low tones:
Il should, perhaps, have spoken to
you earlier, Teddy -"
The young man turned to him, i'm
pulsively.
"Ahp' he exclaimed. s.you have seen
it all. might have known that, dear
old brother. Charlie. bless me, con-
graduate me, make much of me; she has
promised to be my wife,"
He had thrown his arms round his
elder brothers neck in the old childish
way, and was for moment or so inco-
herent in his joy; he did not observe,
or if he did observe, attributed to a
wrong cause his brothers emotion,
though he felt in every fiber of his
frame thrill of grateful recognition as
his brother kissed his forehead and
said: "God bless you. Teddy, and
make you worthy of such a treasure. :"
An hour later as Teddy was leaving
him he said: "Oh, Charlie, there was
something you were going to tell me,
what was it?''
'Oh, that was a small matter, we
will not mix it with your Joy tonight. :"
Mrs. Pemberton did not approve of
the match. Years were growing on
her, and her one hope seemed further
from ful6llment than ever. Her yearn-
ing love for her younger son made her
more tender than was her wont in all
that she said to him. but toward Charles
she was cold and bitter in her heart,
though she cloaked her GOODNESS and
bitterness to herself under the thought
of resignation only to the Divine Will.
''It is you," she said, ''who have made
this match, in your poor short-sighted
ambition. You have been permitted to
have your own way in all things; and
you are right. probably, as this world
goes. But the fashion of this world
passeth away. You have been selfish