The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-03-16
A Romantic Marriage.

She was certainly lovely girl, sucl
as any man might we'll be proud oi
knowing; at least so seemed to think
her companion, Cecil Courtney, for he
gazed and loved-and loving, gazed
again.
"Cecil," she murmured, "Cecil, it
seems strange, nay, almost impossible,
that you should love me, poor Grace
Gardner, lonely orphan, without
friends or fortune, and more than all,
your sisters governess."
The manly face beside her flushed
with loving look as he replied:
"Strange, my darling, it may be, but
not one whit the less true, that love
you with an intensity that shall outlive
every evil or ill that a cold and unsym.
pathetic world can possibly pour upon
us For you, my dearest, I can glory
in relinquishing every wish and am.
bition of my life-home, friends and
fortune-and willing commence to Labor
for the daily bread that your love and
presence shall turn into veritable
manna."
"Oh, Cecii," she exclaimed, ''it seems
SO terribly selfish to allow you to give
up so much for mel And who knows,
you may some day regret SO great a
sacrifice? Nay, rather let me go away.
and try to find peace away from you;
happiness we're impossible"
Darling Gracie," he exclaimed, III
alarm, g for my sake never mention
such al idsa again What pleasure do
you suppose all the riches of earth
could afford me unless 1 had you t.
share them ?"
"Then. dear Cecil, / will say no more,
only to beseech you to press me nj
more TOTO"
To marry me?" he asked, laugh
inply.
eyes," she replied, blushing, "untii
you have avoved to Colonel and Mrs.
Courtney your preference for my hum
bic self. Who can tell what might
ollow? Mrs. Courtney has been kind
and considerate to me during the short
time / have been here; perhaps they
may not despise my dependent position,
and consenting to our union all may be
bright and joyous"
81 will do us you wish, love-" he re
piled, fondly, "thouPh l have little
hope of success, for you do not know
her as well as do. But if fail, dar-
ling, will you promise to face poverty
at once with me and become my bride ?
l have hundred year left me by an
aunb-w ic my parents cannot touch
from want until I can meet with en-
ploymept. Say, Oracle. darling, shall
it be 50? You do not fear poverty with
me?
"Fear' she exclaimed. 81 fear
nothing with you"
He would have been less than lover
had he not fervently pressed those rosy
lips to his own in true lover fashion.
1t was the afternoon of the next day,
while Grace Gardner was giving O mu.
sic lesson to her affectionate and pretty
little pupil Cecil Courtney's only sis.
ter), that the school.room door was
thrown open in an ominous manner,
and Mrs. Courtney-tall and stately,
with robes fashionable and flowing
walked into the room. One glance at
her naughty and angry countenance
told Grace her or and. She sent little
Mabel away to her nurse, and then,
turning to the governess, said
"ALd now, Miss Gardner, have to
request that you will find it convenient
to leave this house this afternoon"
Scarcely this afternoon" replied
Grace, quickly. A" 1t is now too late to
reach my friends to-day. Tomorrow
morning shall have no objection to
comply with your request"
Intolerable-your insolence is in
tolerable T. exclaimed the lady, walking
angrily up and down the room. ST tell
you you shall go at once! You do not
sleep another night under this roofl'
May 1 be allowed to inquire the
cause of so sudden and urgent dis
missal?' asked Grace, in the same
quiet tone.
"Ask !" said Mrs. Courtney scorn.
fully. "Your conscience must tell you
we'll enough Here, you have not been
in the house two months, and you have
laid your snares so cleverly that you
have succeeded in entrapping my only
son; and so skillfully and slyly have you
played your part that had not suspi-
cion of what was going on until that be-
witched youth, fascinated with your
dolls face, has dared to ask our con-
sent to his marriage with you-you, who
may be the daughter OF costermonger
for all we knowl This comes of taking
girls on lady's accommodation, in,
stead of applying to those WHO had pre-
viously engaged them 1 shall take
care to let Lady Powis know what kind
OF protege she has recommended
Grace's face flushed as she replied,
with dignity:
"Truly, madame, you might have
stated your cause of complaint in gen.
tier terms. Since you confess yourself
ignorant of my parentage, does it not
occur TO you that I am as likely to
prove the daughter of duke as of
costeymonger, in which case, presume,
you would consider your son honored
by on alliance with me-" -S-.- -.
"Ihe daughter of duke. indeed