The Penn's Grove record., 1884-10-11

who had been anXiously watching her,
at last put this peremptOry question /:
NWell, Grace, what do you decide I
Our tate is bound up in your answer,
or YOU must know that If you resolve
to publish your shame, we shall be con-
victeL of falsehood before the world,
so that we shall have to sell off every
thing AMI to leave the country. Now
speak"
"Oh mamma, how can you think |
wish to bring any trouble on you p'
walled Grace, as she raised her fearful
eyes.
"Nell, but do you consent to let
yourself be guided by us, who know
better what sfor yor your interest than
you do ?"
st is my duty to obey YOU" SAID
Grace with a sigh.
"Of course it is your duty" rejoined
Mrs. Sweeney sharply. "And now go
upstairs and dry your eyes. Mr.. De
Roy is coming in an hour, and he must
not see that YOU have been crying"
Mr.. Roland De Roy was. IN fact,
coming that day to beg Grace to fix the
date for the wedding. 1t was the fam
lily discussion on this important ques-
ton which had produced the foregoing
scene. Principally to the time appointed
the master of ROydale Manor clattered
up to the door in a dashlng wagOnette,
which he drove himself. ard on whose
panels was painted the e%scutcheon of
one OF the oldest families IN the county.
The De Roys might have taken for
their motto, like the Rohans of France,
Prince de daigne, for they could long
ago have been ennobled had they cared
about titles but they preferred their
foremost rank i'll the squirearchy to a
low one in the peerage. Roland De
Roy had in him a good deal of the pride
of birth, but 1t was a proper pride,
which impelled him always to act up
to the highest standard of honor, to be
generous, urbane, lordly in his hospital
ity and surroundings, He was a man
of about fve-and-thirty, who had tray
elled a great deal and picked up much
worldly experience without losing the
freshness of his heart. His large wealth
had enabled him to satisfy every within;
but bis tastes were simple, and he had
recently come back to England from a
long tour in the East, determined to
enjoy The life of a country squire in all
it's pleasant LONELINESS. He had been
smitten with Grace Sweeney at first
sight, and his manner of accosting her
when she entered the drawing room
with a forced smile on her pale lips,
told how he really loved her.
"Well, my darling, when is 1t to be?"
he asked, after he had taken both her
hands and kissed her,
"Oh Roland, are you sure that | can
make you happy p she faltered, raising
a timid glance towards him.
"What a question y he rejoined,
laughing. LET me look into those
blue eyes of yours and read nv fate in
them"
LET me look into yoar eyes, she
exclaimed, suddenly laying her small
hands on his shoulders, and gazing visit
fully at him. She met the amused
glance of a pair of hazel eyes, clear as
truth, unqualling as courage. "Oh
Roland. will you promise to bear with
nv faults ?" she cried, in a tone of ln-
describable entreaty:
"What faults a you have-you
child, you ?" said he, stroking her
cheek and drawing her head on his
shoulder.
"But will you promise to be indul-
gent, and always to believe that | love
yOu-ever so deeply ?"
I Eyes, III believe that" he replied
gaily ; land now, when shall we fix the
wedding 2 Shall we say this day
month 2"
YES" munnured Grace !; and she
yielded her left hand to Roland, who
placed upon it the betrothal ring-a
beautiful turquoise set with diamonds.
1t was a fine thing for the Sweeneys
to marry their daughter to Mr.. De
Roy, for not only were they allying
themselvee to a man of great name and
affiuence, but they were virtually maxi
ing their fortunes. Grace's lover vas
not the man to retract the promise he
had given of providing for his future
brothers-in law he "a rather likely to
do much more than was expected of
him. Mrs. Sweeney lived in II very
fever during the preparations for the
wedding, fearing lest some untOward
thing should occur to darken her hopes.
She absolutely forbade Gaace from 60
ing to see her child, who was out at
hurst III luS fliIdRb anu tilo
grieved the young mother, who was
very fond of her baby and suffered
woefully at the idea of never being able
to own the poor little thing. The more
Grace reflected on the equivocal condi-
lions in which she was gong to begin
her new married life, the less could she
believe that any blessings were in store
for her. However, the wedding-day
was drawing nearer and nearer, and at
length it came. Grace could no longer
recede now. When she had been at
tired IN her bridal dress and wreath, and
stood alone in her room for a minute,
lust before the bridegroom was to ar
rive, she threw herself on her knees and
prayed in agony that the sin of deceit
which she was about to commit might
not be visited on her. Then she rose
her sisters were calling to her that Mr..
De Roy had come and o she was
driven off to church in a p%ost-chaise
and four, in company with her father
and mother, both radiant.
The wedding vas very brlliant-one
of the. gayest that had been witnessed
in the country for Years. All sorts of
great people attended the ceremony
aud, at the wedding. breakfast, Grace