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

hat, Mrs. Mason. GOOd-by, and thank
you"
1t was nearly dusk, and there was o
quarter of mile to walk before home
was reached, so Alice hurried through
the grove, where the trees had already
shut out the lingering day Wight. She had
tied veil of gray tissue over the gaudy
hat as she left the cottage, and she hoped
that if she met any acquaintance she
would escape recognition. When she
was half way through the grove, she
heard quick footsteps coming from the
village, and a moment later a voice said,
"You are punctual," and she was caught
for moment in Godfrey Hopes arms.
She knew his voice, and struggled to re-
lease herself before realizing that he
had taken her for the village beauty.
"Pooh" he said, releasing her. "Don't
put on airs, Liz. Were you going to the
house ?"
EYES," she said, family, indignant and
vet curious. her woman's wit seeing his
error.
81 must go, too, before long, though
I had rather stay here with you, sweet
heart
"Your sweetheart is at the house."
Alice said, trying to assume the jealous
tone of an nneducated girl.
"What. that chalky-faced girl in
black? Not bit of it. Didn't I love
you long before she came to take what
is mine?' And curse followed, coup
led with her name, that thrilled Alice
with horror.
''But they say you will marry her"
she persisted, calming her voice as we'll
as she could.
''They say right! I will marry her,
and have my own. Then, when she is
dead, You shall have your old beau
again, Lizzie, and come TO the great
house as my wife. 1t is only waiting a
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-mine, tell you!
But what ails you? You are shaking as
if you had all ague fit. I've talked it all
over often enough before you, and you
never went off into such' shakes! It is
nothing new am telling you"
"But you - would - not murder
her?' the poor girl cried, drawing the
veil closer
"Come, now, none of that" was the
rough answer; you're not going back
on me now, after all you've heard of my
plans. You've sworn to keep my secrets,
or I'd never have told them. But what
is the matter ?"
Here Alice found herself shaken with
no gentle hand, to her great indignation.
But her fear overmastered her anger.
Godfrey was heir-at-law to her newly
acquired fortune, and if he suspected
her identity in those dark woods, she did
not doubt, after what he had already
said, that he would take her life!
Il am not we'll, she said, freeing her.
self from the rough grasp on her arm,
land l must hurry on. Wait for me
here until do my errand at the house
and come back"
"Be quick, then," was the gruff re-
spouse.
And if he was in haste, the scoundrel
might we'll be satisfied with the rapidity
with which mis- 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 Civ
ing 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 let
ter to him by James. l have remem-
bered who and what he is
Mr.. Godfrey Hopes amazement was
when, returning to his room
in the village hotel to dress for his prom
ised call on Alice, he found her note
awaiting him. But he did not renounce
his hope of shaking her resolution until
the next day, when he met the true LIZ
zie Mason in the grove, and, in the
course OF their lover-like conversation,
that damsel told him who had worn her
hat and shawl on the previous evening.
can she sent me five dollar bill
with the dress, because it got wet, said
the girl. ''An' that call real handsome
Of her. Why, what ais you? You're
white as chalk"
"Nothing-nothing You were not in
the grove at all, then, yesterday"
mo, couldn't get OFF till long after
dark, SO stayed all night. l knew you'd
be mad waiting for me, but couldn't
help it. Whyw For her lover had
started for the village without even the
ceremony Of good-by.
He lost no time on his way. till he
stood in the Office Of Jermyn & Jermyn,
his grandtather's lawyers. White as
al 4. 4 ~. l..