The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-03-31

slope OF lovely berkshire hill, smut
round by woods, but overlooking a wide
and charming landscape. As Charles
Pemberton passed the lodge gates, and
saw on either side the evidences of
wealth and social station, be began to re-
greet his acceptance, feeling that he would
scarcely be at his ease amid surround
ings so much above his own homlier
state. The cordially of his welcome,
however, soon chased away his misgiv-
ings, and he had not been many hours at
Wilmore Court, before new set of feel
ings took possession 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 pres
ence in the room, and turning beheld
Miss Jermyn, concerning whom, Gu
riously, Teddy in his letters had said
nothing, but whose presence, as he
thought, made the hall temple.
Not that she was a beauty. A fair
haired girl, with large gray eyes and
rather blunt features. there was nothing
of classic grace about her but in every
line in of her fair face there shone the
light of u beautiful soul. There was
faint flush on her face, and two good lit
tie dimples marked her pleasant smile,
as, looking straight into his face with
frank, clear eyes, she held out her hand
to greet him, and made captive of him
forever.
"Your brother" she said, sis already
one of the family, and he has made you
so we'll known to us that feel as if 1
were welcoming an old friend"
"Thank you very much" said he, II
hope may 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 q beating heart,
whether it were possible that there was
in store for him compensate for much
of WEAKNESS in his life hitherto, so i'm
measurably rich as the love of this girl.
He never thought of himself as living
life of self-sacrigce. 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 Joy. Was he too old to hope
such bliss? He was barely thirty-seyen
in years, and he was younger in that he
had never been hackneyed in the ways
of love, and his heart had never bowed
to a meaner mission.
When he descended next morning
there was the light of love in his face.
"Why, Charlie" exclaimed Teddy,
chow 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 daily
with wonder, for his whole being was
transformed. He had never realized till
now the buoyancy and energy of the
spirit which had been cabined and con-
fined at home. Every day the wonder
grew, for every day the light OF hope
grew clearer and stronger within him.
He watched Teddy and Lillian in frank
and happy intercourse, and thought with
delight that they were already as brother
and sister. Her manner to him was
confidential, almost affectionate. He
was sure of his ground more and
more each day, till the very last I'M
til the eve he sat in his bedroom musing
much, for he had determined to know
his fate on the morrow.
OOmc AC CI1Cu, ouu Dc" p"
his brother, with a brilliant flush on his
face, and strange fire in his eyes.
"Charlie," said he, in voice quiver-
ing with some deep feeling" II want to
tell you something"
EYES," said he kindly, and scarcely
noticing these signs of unusual emo
ton. "And have, think, something
to tell you. What is your news?"
Teddy walked to the window and stood
there looking out for few seconds be-
fore he asked, abruptly, and without
turning:
"Charlie, what do you think of Lillian
Jermyn?"
Had the ooy then discovered his secret
and WAS he coming to urge him to the
step on which he had already determined?
His agitation was so great that he could
scarcely find words to speak, but he be-
gan to answer slowly in low tones:
81 should, perhaps, have spoken to
you earlier, Teddy"
The young man turned to him impul-
sively.
"Ah"he exclaimed, "you have seen it
all. l might have known that, dear old
brother Charlie, bless me, congratulate
me, make much of me; she has promised
to be my wife,"
he had thrown his arm round his
elder brothers neck in the old, childish
way, and was for q moment or SO, inco-
herent in his iOv. he did not observe or