The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-06-26
81 thought perhaps you would not


"Mav. let me have one-it will be the
last"
She did not turn away, and their lips
met.
Now" he said, with groan, sis it
to be Yes or Mop"
'You are in such hurry" hesitat-
ing and blushing.
Il must know tonight Which is it
to beP"
''Yes, she said, softly.
There was a deep silence for min
ute. then he took her hands in his,
raised them to his lips, and disappeared
in the darkness.
When the two girls came down to
breakfast the next morning the butler
informed them that Captain Fortescue
had left by the first train.
Upon my word" exclaimed Marian,
with an amused laugh, ''he's the most
extraordinary creature have heard of!
| really thought it was q case of love at
first sight. You didn't say No by
mistaken"
Il wish had" said May, growing
crimson, eft was absurd to say Yes
after knowing him for only few
hours"
''You forgot that you are said to
have played together when you were
LAS if that made any difference!'
scornfully.
Lord and Lady Mornington returned
in the afternoon, and were much sur
prised to find that one of their guests
had departed.
depend upon it, my DEAR" said tho
vis-countess, with smile, ''he is one
of that extinct race-the male prudes.
He will come back fast enough when 1
write and tell him that the house is full
of people. George is better, thank
Heaven, SO our little dance can come
off next Thursday"
Lady Mornington wrote her letter,
and one pair of eyes at least watched
anxiously for the answer. When it
came it brought nothing but disap-
pointment. Captain Fortescue was ex-
ceedingly sorry, but important busi-
ness called him to Scotland, and he
would not be back for a fortnight.
May tossed her head, saying, ''l'm so
glad" and walked out into the garden.
closely followed by certain Lord
Frippington, who was dying to hook
the heiress.
Lady Mornington looked after them
with sigh.
She'll throw herself away on Frip-
pington, if the boy doesn't take care.
What can he be thinking OFF"
Thinking of? Nothing but May
from morning till night, rs he walked
over the moors with his gun over his
shoulder in the dewy morning, as he
danced with a host of pretty girls in
the evening, as he tossed ON his sleep
less bed.
''Halloa, old fellow, what's upP"
said his cheerful host, slapping him on
the back. ".Ive got the prettiest set
of girls together. and, by Jove! there's
not one of them you'll take the trouble
to tlirt with
Hugh smiled.
Il forgot to tell you that I am en-
gagged TO be married"
1.-The deusc you arei Who is it?"
MY cousin, Miss Chesterfield, with
a suppressed groan.
wish you luck! By George, the
most charming girl in creation!'
'Humph! don't know about that. l
l.
were a bachelor!"
''Oh. that | had married in my
cradle!'' muttered Hugh, sloping off.
The next day Captain Fortescue re-
ceived letter from Lady Mornington
to say that all her guests had left ex-
cept Miss Chesterfield, and if he
wished his engagement to be consider
ed as more than farce he must come
at once to The Chase to give his fance
an opportunity of seeing whether she
had given her consent too hastily.
Rather too serious for a farce"
said Hugh to himself, as he packed up
his thing and started for the South.
Lady Mornington received him in
her own boudoir, and gave him a good
scolding.
..I'm not at all sure that you are not
too late. Lord Frippington is desper-
ately in love with her, and rode over
this morning to tell her SO. They are
now talking it over in the garden"
'Then l had better not interrupt
them," subsiding into chair with an
air of the utmost resignation.
Good heavens! Are you mad? Get
up and run off as fast as your legs can
take you. Five minutes may make all
the ditferencer' she exclaimed, impa-
tiently.
"Then may as well stay where 1
am. If she doesn't care for me, let her
aave him, by all means"
Hugh, I'll never speak to you again!
You have treated that poor girl abom-
inably."
"Oh, if you wish it, I'm of" and
with an exasperating want of speed he
took himself slowly out of the room.
There was glimmer of white dress
in the shrubbery, so he followed it re-
luctantly, thinking of that other night
when the moon was shining, and he
stole a kiss from the lips of his love.
Yes, she was his love, and when he
married Marian, for the sake of his
honor, his heart would be always
Mays.
A man passed him, walking fast,
with his hat drawn down over his eyes.
"Reiected! Lucky fellow" unused
Hugh. II wish l were in his shoes"
He moved aside the boughs of will
low with an unwilling hand, then
sprang forward, for May was standing
before him, with bushes on her cheeks
and happy light in her eyes.
You've come at last" she said,
shyly, when her hands were in his, and
he looked down into her face with in
describable longing and pain.
Yes, and wish to Heaven hadn't
ran away from temptation only to
find it again. May. you must under
stand!" his agitation growing.
II don't understand" the tears
rushing into her eyes as she tried to
snatch her hands away. ''Why did
you come back if you didn't want top"
They told me Marian was here, and
no one else."
''If you mean Miss Wyndham, very
coldly, ''she left u fortnight ago"
''l am talking of Miss Chesterfield. !"
The blue eyes opened wide.
II know of NO Miss Chesterfield ex-
cept myself"
yourself! What do you meanp
For Heavens sake tell me!'
Captain Fortescue, il this is joke.
don't see the fun of it" turning
away.
He placed himself in front of her, his
face white as death.
May, you are not my cousinp"
"If | am not, / don't know VINO