Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-04-15

2
Alice, and take off your LACK. The
Ola gentleman has been dead year.
now. Them roses do suit you lcauti
full"
Alice glanced at the staring rel flow
rs reflected in the mirror, and smiled
az she said
81 will take good care Of Lizzic's
kat, Mrs. NJ son. Good by, anu thank
YOU
1t was nearly dusk, and there was a
quarter of Esile to walk before home
vas reached, So Alice hurried through
the grove. where the trees had already
sLus out the lingering daylight. She
had tied veil of gray tissue over the
CANDY hat as she left the cottage, and
she hoped that if she met any a, quaint
apce she would escape recognition.
When she was half way through the
grove, she heard quick footsteps coming
from the village, and moment later
voice said, You are punctual," and
she was caught for a moment in God
frey Hopes arms. She knew his voice,
and struggled to release herself before
realizing that he had mistaken her for
the village beauty.
Don't put on airs. Liz. We're you
going to the house?"
Yes" she said, family, indignant
and yet curious, her womans wit seeing
his error.
81 must go, too. before long. though
l had rather stay here with you, sweet
heart"
"Your sweetheart is a. the house."
Alice said, trying to assume the jealous
tone of an uneducated girl.
"What! that chalky-faced girl in
black? Not bit of it. Didn't love
you long before she came to take what
is mine 7" And curse followed, coup
led with her name, that thrilled Alice
with horror.
Bat they say you will marry her,"
she persisted, calming her voice as we'll
as che could.
They say right! 1 will marry her,
and have my own. Then, when sine is
dead, you shall have your old beau
again, Lizzie, and come to the great
house as my wife. 1t is only waiting
year or two.'
But she may not die! gasped the
terror stricken girl.
"She will die! I'll have no fine lady
taking what is mine-mlne, l tell you!
But what ais you? You are shaking
as ii you had an ague fit. I'v0 talked
it ali over often enough before, and you
never went off into such shakes! 1t is
nothing new am telling you"
"But you-woul0 - not - murder
her? y the poor gill cried, drawing tho
veil closer.
Come, now, none Of that" Was the
rough answer; you're not going back
on nae now, after all you've heard of my
plans. You've sworn to keep ny Sc
crets, or I'd never have told them. But
what is the matter ?"
Here Alice found herself shaken with
no gentle hand, to her great indigna-
ton. But her fear overmastsred her
anger. Godfrey was heir at-law to her
newly acquired fortune. AMI if he BUS
pected her identity in those dark woods,
she did not doubt, after what he had
already said, that he would take her
life!
II am not WE'LL" she said, freeing
herself from the rough grasp on her
arm, "and l must hurry on. Wait for
me here until do my errard at the
mousse ana come Oack.
"Bs quick, them" was the gruff re-
spouse.
And if he was in haste, the scoundrel
might we'll be satisfied with the rapid
ity with which his companion left him.
She scarcely knew how she reached
her home, tore off her borrowed tinery,
and wrote to Godfrey Hope declining
the honor he had proposed to her, but
giving no other reason for her refusal
than the statement that she did not love
him sufficiently to be his wife.
Mamma" she said, coming into the
drawing-room, Il have written to God
frey, declining his offer, and sent the
letter to him by James. have remem-
bered who and what he is"
Mr.. Godfrey Hopes amazement was
unbounded when, returning to his room
in the village hotel TO dress for his
promised call Oh Alice, he found her
note awaiting him. But he did not
renounce his hope Of shaking her reso-
luton until the next day, when he met
the true Lizzie Mason in the grove, and,
in the course Of their lover-like CONVEX.
sation, that damsel told him who had
'iorn her hat and shawl on the previous
evening.
"An' she sent me five dollar bill
with the dress, because it got wet" said
the gil. AN that call real hand
some Of her. Why, what ais you j.?
You're white as chalk"
"Nothing-nothipg. You were not
in the grove at all. then, yesterday 2"
"No, 1 couldn't get Off till long after
dark. so l stayed all night. | knew
you'd be mad waiting for me, but
couldn't help it. Why!" For her
lover had started for the village with
out even the ceremony OF good-by.
He lost nc time on his way. till he
stood in the ciiice of Jermyn & JarGyn,
his grandfAther's lawyers. White as
death, with voice bosrse and thick, he
said TO the old FARTHER
"You told m3 my grandfather left me
ten thousand dollars upon certain con-
ditions."
"Quite correct. The conditions are
that you leave Bellows Falls and never
return to it, and that you sign deed
relinquishing all claims as heir-at.law,
in case Miss Hope dies before sho is OF |
age. Mr.. Hope did not draw up this
,,pf;, Mill ~,