The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-20
LOVE CONQUERS.
AZ THE AUTHOR or "DoRA THoRNE,"
"a ROSE IN THoRNs,' ETC.
CuArIER vi.

had given IL TO one Of his favorites; Ant
gradually the monastic part fell into ruins
The priorv itself was ono Of the loyclies
ruins in England. over the pointed
arches, the UNCOVERED cloistcrs, and thu
marvellous carvings there still hung IN
air OF sacred grandeur and venerable
worth.
The new manson which seemed u
spring from the old, comprised many OF
the ancient rooms-the red room, where
Marie of Scotland had repOsed; the long
magnificent library, where learned men
had sought to explore the great secrets oil
life; the bowcr.rooni, where the stately
Elizabeth had coquetted with the men she
first inspired with love; and vaultcd
chambers, once occupied by knights and
sCujYes, but now given over to servants
Perhaps the most beautiful part OF ancient
Uiyerscroft was the grounds. There were
deep secluded hollows, where the water
lay in silent pools and herons built their
nests, Lands, where the deer rested
IN their coverts and the trees were centu.
ries old.
The modern mansion faced the west
the ruins lay to the south and Ulyers-
croft Hall as il stood now was one OF the
most luxurious homes in England. The
western sunlight fell upon il, lighting up
the gray ruins rs with gold it fingered on
the grand oriel windows framed with
roses and passion.fowcrs, on the broad
terraces, and on the well-kept gardens
And standing where he could see both the
Hall and the ruins. his heart and soul in
glow Of rapturous delight, was Vane VII
bart. The carriage had been sent to the
station for him; but he had preferred
walking through the park Now he stood
entranced, lost in the superb picture before
him.
$780," he said to himself, this is one Of
the ancestral homes OF England Now |
know what ancestral means. A man
could love, fight for, die for such home.
A noble name must so with it, and noble
deeds should enrich il"
There came to him as he stood memo
ry OF his own youthful abode; the old-fash-
toned homestead, the cloyer.hclds, the pools
where the cattle drank, and the mill
stream. And, noble though he was in
many things, pans of regret shot through
his heart that such a fair inheritance as
Ulyerscroft was not his. How he would
have glored in it! How he would have
loved It'll 1t seemed to him that above all
other men he should have appreciated
noble name. He halt smiled, half sighed,
S. he thought how proud he would have
been once upon time to enter such state
ly portals as these.
The massive doors were opened, and he
entered place before which the glories OF
Lulworth faded completely He was
shown into the library, where Lord Aud
ley awaited him. He received welcome
10 warm andso gracious that he could not
help feeling quite at his ease and even
happy. They spoke a few minutes Of Sir
Raye and his failing health
al believe" said Lord Audlcy, "that
you are his adopted SOM"
"Yes," replied Vanc.
The impression left on Lord Audley's
mind was that some kind Of relationship
existed between Vane and Sir Raye.-
Then LORD Audlcy spoke of the bridge.
"To-morrow," he said, owe will drive
slowly along the banks of the river, and
you shall Judge for yourself AS to the best
site for it. My daughter, Lady Lilias Aud
ley, will so with us. And now the dress
IDg-bell has rung, you will go To your
rooms. We dine at eight. You are nvt
too tired to join Us, hope?"
While his portmanteau was being un-
quick-handcd valet, Vane stood at the
window, strangely haunted by dreams Of
his old home. lie could hear the home
voices, and he could see the house by the
nill-stream.
Ee thought.
Then he remembered an old supersti-
lion which said that when "A man was
haunted bya dream Of youth, it was "a sign
that some great event was about to take
place IN his lite.
"What can be going to happen to me?'
he wondered; and then he laughed at his
folly. "Nothins more than this that l
ain TO erect bridge which will be the
prettiest in England"
The first dinner-bell rang, and he has.
tened to the drawiug-room. The magnif-
cent room was empty.
He never forgot the impression it made
upon him. Through the long windows he
had glimpse Of fountains, flowers and
trees, with the CLEAN Of the river in the
distance. In the room itself were tall
flowing plants, beautiful ferns and exot-
les, exquisite pictures, priceless works Of
art. lie wondered what il could be like
10 live always in such an atmosphere of
luxury and wealth. Then he found him.
self wondering what his mother and bright |
eyed Kate would say to such an apartment
IS this.
The next moment he had left such
thoughts far behind. Everything around
him had sunk intoinsgnifcance. Life had
completely changed for him. One moment
had changed the whole course of his exist
ence.
There was sound at the farther end Of
the room, and, looking, he saw n picture
that 80 dazzled his eyes he could see moth
Ing else. Curtains of rich crimson velvet,
with golden fringe, separated that part of
the drawing-room from u large and mag
niicent conservatory. AT first he saw on
Iva white hand and arm, an arm so round,
70 white, so beautiful, that it was like the
work Of Il sculptor. A diamond bracelet
elasped it. The hand slightly parted the
curtains. Then the whole tgure appeared
that Of tall slender girl draped In
shining silk aud priceless lace, perfect in
every movement, peerless in grace and
symmetry.