The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-01-12

her-how sincerely he has loved her anc
obeyed her slightest behest for two Ions
months, without reward or any hope of it
Twice Vera had refused him, and twict
he had taken her refusal very well, but
with an evident determination to persevert
in his suit. Being an Englishman, he had
declined to recognize defeat And now
indeed, in this hour, does he find his con
stancy crowned with success.
To explain to you about Stainer. When
his eyes had fully met hers and he is salts.
fed that the radiant young beauty up above
is in very truth the simple child whose
love he had played with for awhile and
then flung carelessly aside, he turns to the
man next him:
"Who is that girl in white in the box up
there?'' he says, hoarsely. :
"My dear fellow Not know the reign
ing beauty of the hour says his friend
THAT is Miss Wriothesly, the most exquis-
ite creature in England, recognized as
SUCH"
II have been abroad, stammers Stainer,
with poor attempt at indifference. The
scent of dying roses, the roar of far-off
ocean is in his ears.
"Ah, just SO p says his friend, pityingly.
"Great mistake in the world to go one foot
out of town. They say travelling enlarges
the mind, 1t narrows it to my thinking.
The sweet shady side of Pail Mall and the
Row will teach you all that ever you may
want to know-apd good deal more. -
"Tell me of Miss Wriothesly, interrupts
Stainer, impatiently,
"Don't you see my theory exemplifed
straight through? If you had stayed at
home like sensible man you would not
have had to ask the question. A year ago
she was unknown. Then fortune found
her. Some forgotten relation in Canada
died and left her sole heiress to his enor-
nous wealth; whereupon other relatives
suddenly discovered they had for years
been pining for her society. Her cousin,
Lady Vynor (pretty woman in the box with
herr swooped down to the country grange
where the girl was buried alive; and, bring
ing herup to town, flung her upon the world
of fashion. A beautiful heiress is rarity.
Need l say how magnificent was her sue
cess"
"And the man with her" asks Stainer,
with dry lips that almost refuse to speak
for him. Vera has now Withdrawn from
the front of the box, and a wild desire to
rise and go to her, to see her again face to
face, to hear her voice, is maddening him.
''That is Lord Digby. Good catch, too,
and terribly epris in that quarter. Dare
say she'll marry him after all, though she
has refused him, off and on, it's whispered,
ever since their first meeting. They say
her maid brings her a bouquet and fresh
offer from him every morning"
"She has refused him, then p says
Stainer, fierce glow of hope springing up
within his breast. The one glimpse caught
of her moment since has walked in him a
second love, before which the first seems
cold and tame. Can this radiant beauty
with the pure, proud face be indeed the
little fond girl who had told him of her
longing to be great "ladye," and whose
aspiration he had so mockingly crushed?
eyes. But time works wonders, and
most women 60 down before title. Per-
haps, with her beauty, she aims at higher
game;. but | should think an earldom ought
to count Oh, yes, I've no doubt she'll
marry him in the long rum"
"Why?" demanded Stainer, so savagely,
that his companion pauses to stare at him
in simple wonderment through his eye
glasses.
"Why shouldn't she p he replies at last.
"He is all any ones fancy could possibly
want to paint, and he is her slave into the
bargain She must be the most migrate
full woman born if she doesn't show grace
to him in the end. His love for her has
been earnest and faithful y
At this last word, Stainer winces. How
can he, whose love has been so unfaithful,
hope for forgiveness? There had indeed
been moments during the past few months
when he had suffered his mind to wander
to her, and he had thought of her with re-
gret and longing. During these brief in
teryals he had pictured her to himself as
living always with her grandfather in that
Old World village, alone, companionless;
dreaming, perchance, sadly of him, 'poor
little thingr He grows hot and shame
stricken, as memory brings back to him
these vain imaginiDgs.
And now the curtain falls. 1t is all
over; and rising hastily, With a scanty word
of adieu to his friend, he makes for the
large hall, where he will see her as she
passes to her carriage.
Presently she comes, enveloped in soft
cashmeres, white as her own perfect skin,
and with her two companions. Lady Wy
nor stops to speak to some chance acquain-
tance, and Vera is left virtually alone with
Lord Digby Her hand is resting on his
arm; under the pretense of drawing the
cashmere even more closely round her, he
lays bis own upon it.
81 haye been silent for long time at
your command, but | feel I must speak to:
night" he whispers hurriedly. Am | to
take my final No now?' He has turned
very pale
NO" says the girl, quickly. Then the
absurdity of her answer striking her, faint
smile creeps into her eyes, ''That Il" she
stammers, sit is no, mo- | mean, only
"'No no?' Why, that is yes in any
decent English" he exclaims, eagerly,
swell, take it." she says in low tone,
and with glance that is half shy, half
tender. "But'- nervous haste
0there is first something l must tell you.
Tomorrow, if you will come to me at 4
o'clock, r
At this moment tall man, dark and
handsome, pushing his way, somewhat cav.
alierly, through the groups, makes for where
she is standing. His face is agitated, his
eyes are alight. He holds out to her a
hand that positively trembles, and after a
hesitation, so faint as to be almost imper-
ceptible, Vera lays hers within it.
Yet the hesitation to lovers eyes has
been visible; to Digby it is now quite clear
what it is she has got to tell him on the
morrow.
''Come, Vera" says Lady Vynor, rust
ling up to her. Vera makes a movement
as if to go to her, but Stainer holds to hel
hand fast