Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1884-09-04


prise ut the idea; but he was prompt in
his answer:
"Unless it should be the girl love.
| would lose my fortune rather than
| yield to such n wish"
Grace turned suddenly grave; all
her buoyant lightness of manner van
ished.
1.-The girl you love, RegieP 1 didn't
know that you loved anyone yet. l
don't want you to go and fall in love
with some stranger-it would break
my heart"
And tears overflowed the blue eyes
which had, but the moment before,
been so bright and merry.
Reginald flushed. Then he turned
and looked at Grace with an expression
in his eyes that would hare told her
the whole truth, had she been looking
towards him.
But she stood with her head turned
away, SO that he could only see the
delicate contour of her pretty profile
and the gricved culver of her lips.
Grace" he said softly, but with a
tremor in his voice which told of some
deep underlying agitation, "look at
me.
Grace shivered, but she obeyed. The
thought which had been presented to
her mind had made her opening spring
time of life seem all of sudden
changed and cold as though its winter
had come.
She raised her eyes to Reginald's
face and for an instant they looked
straight ut each other.
Then Reginald put his arms about
her and drew her TO him and kissed
her.
"You are 10 be my wife, Oracle
that is, if you will consent to marry
me. Did you think / could ever love
anyone elseg thought you knew me
better. Naughty little girl; you were
jealous. But it is such an encourag-
ing sign. that if you will confess 1t
freely. I'll forgive you"
WAS it jealousy?' asked Grace,
smiling through her tears. 81 only
know that | felt rs though my heart
had turned, all at once, into something
that hurt me. But what will Ronald
say? We must 90 ill.,.
1t was with new and strange feel
ing of coyness that Grace said this.
Previously Reggie had been to her like
a brother. Now, he was so much dear
Ell, and yet she had lost all feeling of
ease with him. Then, too. this rush
of emotion which filled her heart was
distressing rs well rs delightful.
In that one moment when Reginald's
kisses had burned upon her lips she
had changed from n careless happy
hearted girl into n deep-thinking, low
ing woman. But she must have time
to become accustomed to regarding
Reggie in the light of a lover. Thus it
was that she became restless in his So
ciety and would fain have flown away
from him into solitude. where she could
commune with her own heart.
Although Reginald comprehended
but dimiy the state of her mind, he
followed her obediently into the house,
where Ronald was waiting to monopo-
lie him. and resigned himself pa
tiently TO the task of coaching the
ardent student.
After seeing him safely beside her
brother, Grace disappeared, and did
not become visible again until tea
time, and then she was so unusually
quiet that Blanche looked ut her sew
eral times with constantly increasing
anxiety. which eliminated at last in
threatening to send for the doctor.
Reginald was about TO speak, but an
entreating look from Grace checked
him, and later on she whispered TO
him. rs she went with him TO the gate:
Keep what has passed secret,
Reggie, until you know the contents of
that dreadful letter. l would never
consent to stand in the way of your
future prospects.
"And, TO win or not to win you, my
darling, will either be the making or
the marring of my life"
I'VE are so young, Reggie. People
will talk harshly of me if they hear of
n projected marriage between us.
Promise TO keep it secret for
while"
IL will promise anything to please
you, Grace. But remember one thing
II will never give you up
Grace, look Mt this!"
There was an excited cadence in
Blanche's voice, which caused Grace to
open her eyes supposedly.
Blanche pointed to n notice in the
newspaper she had been reading. 1t
ran thus:
"WAN1ED.-The children OF one Janet
Grahame, who came TO this country some
twenty-five years ago, and married an
American gentleman whose name is unknown
10 The writer of this advertisement. II they
will COMMUNICATES with Messrs. Din and
ar1 M, 50 M WI hnn Of
something to TIER advantage"
That was our mothers maiden
name, Oracle. Do you suppose she is
the one meant in the notice."
Would anyone else be likely to
have just that name9"
IL think not. At any rate, shall
sit down at once and write TO that adj
dress. 1t can't do any harm"
Hadn't You better ask Ronald TO do
itP''
mo, Grace. think it will be best
not to take anyone into our confidence.
Then, IL we are doing u silly thing,
there will be no one to laugh at us.
Wait until the answer comes before we
say word about 1t 10 Ronald"
Grace acquiesced, as she usually did
to what sedate Blanche proposed.
Her own lack of confidence in her
sister about her love affair caused her
to be even moro plant to Blanche's
advice than was her custom.
The answer came in due time, say
ing that the heirs of another Janet
Grahame had also replied, but that
whichev ~er'- should have convince
ing proof as to being the children OF
the Janet Grahamo mentioned, would
have the sole right to large property
in both lands and money. The note
concluded by requesting the party ad.
dressed to inform him by return mail