The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-16
nEYoND MS REACH,
BY cEoRGE c. MAXWELL.

When | was in England, a yea
ago, | went down to Wafwickshire
with Jack Ainslie. His sister had
married one of the Fcounty mag
mates there and we had been inyit-
ed for a weeks hunting.
l had known Jack in the United
States, which he had visited 10 try
and forget hopeless love affair
"You see, she's beyond myreach, " he
said, after we had become intimate.
Il might as well aspire TO the moon.
And then he went on to say how the
lady in question was the only child
and heiress of the Earl Of Eskdale,
who had a rent-roll that mounted
into the hundreds of thousands,
while he himself had nothing but
his commission in the Guards. Il
don't mean to say that my family
isn't as good as his, at least, as we
count those things in England" he
added; "but for all that, as | am
absolutely a beggar, she's beyond
my reach"
So now was in England, and the
train was rushing towards Cromlie
Hall. | could hardly believe it, till
| saw Jack, sitting so woe-begone,
in the opposite corner.
"She's to be there, you know
Lady Alice, l mean," he said, dolor-
ously. "Only it's no good. Gwen
doline," that, as | knew was his
sister, "has made me promise to be-
have myself You're a detriment-
al, Jack, she says; and heaven
knows that's all l am. Iwish | was
a cattle-driver in Texas"
Then, in little while, the poor
fellow began again.
"When | first knew Alice" he
said, Il thought she cared for me,
at least, little. We were down at
Cromlie Hall, alene, together. But
Just as | began to hope, she grew
distant; they'd been talking to her
and bullying her; and that drove
me to the States"
Cromlie Hall was fine old place,
built about two hundred years ago.
The great hall, sixty feet square,
and as many high, was in the CEN
ire; two spacious drawing rooms
being on one side, while the dining
room and reception room were on
the other. l found the ladies and
some of the gentlemen, drinking five
o'clock tea in this hall when we
arrived. Lady Alice was not there,
however; she was not yet in from
the hunting field, it was said. But
at dinner she appeared, lovely
enough to justify even Jacks eulo-
gies. a very miracle of beauty. In
the evening she sang, and sang di-
vinely. Later, ! was presented to
her. and found her charming, full
of archness. We had quite chat
in the corner, and ] fancied she
blushed a little, when | mentioned
Jack. which / did purposely, to see
what she would do, or say.
| told this 10 Jack, when we were
alone in the smoking-room, after
everybody else had retired. Per
haps, she likes you, even yet, Jack,
| said. go in, and try. Never
mind what they say. In my coun-
trv. YOU know we don'tconsider any
one ont Of reach"
"Ah. but it's different here" sigh
ed Jack: ',and then I've partly
eiyen nv word. Did you see that
Young fellow, bit of a dandy, who
took her into dinner? Well, he's the
new Duke of Grosslands: just come
into tide. with a million a year.
They are going to marry her to his
Grace. He's dead in love, as gyou
see, and l." savagely, I'm going to
the devil.
@Gwendoline has been at me
again. he said after a pause. she
made me promise not to go near
Alice. on hunting days; his Grace,
it seems. is always to be her escort;
| wish | had the fellow, ciapiaac-
ally. 1ont on one of your western
plains: I'd pound his Sleeps face
for him, confound." him
A day passed. Jack, loyalty.
avoided Lady Alice, though his
ewes were constantly following her.
More than once | thought ] detect
tected her, on her part, watching
him. On the third morning, | rose
up early, for l hadn't slept well,
and going out on the terrace, was
surprised to see Lady Alice, dressed
in her hunting-habit, feeding the
peacocks, in front OF me, when |
saw Jack coming around the furth.
or end of the house. Poor fellow, !"