The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-26

you In tears and not to be able to comfort you
was too much"
"You cannot comfort me- am full of trouble, !"
she answered, passionately.
-.e had flung her books upon the table, and
had left the chalet hurried,y, and was walking
quickly along the path that led 10 the house. He
felt that she was angry with him-that he had
as it WERE violated the sanctity of her SORROW
and yet he believed himself her accepted lover
For one delicious moment she had rested in his
arms, her eyes had looked at him, not in anger.
but in answering love. Those lips Of hers had
yielded themselves to his kisses. He knew that
she loved him-that he had but to wait for a
more fitting time to press his suit. And he had
her father upon his SIDE the good old Colonel
too. He had fortune, youth, everything that
makes fitness in union, And he knew of no
likely rival. Could he doubt that he should
win her! His heart glowed with triumph as he
hurried after her swift footsteps, overlook her,
and stood at her side.
Forgive me- Grace. / will wait for happier
day" he said.
That day will never come for you and me, y
she answered coldly. pray forget that you
have been so foolish, as shall try to do.'
Forget those kissess Never! Grace, I will
not be put off like this. I will wait l will not
even speak of my love until your father is out of
danger-but you must not thrust from you
coldly; you must not deny my right to claim you
by and by
Never, never never" she said. 81 tell you it
can never be-"
'Then you do not love me-" he cried, Selling
her hands, holding her there on the path, face to
face with him, beside himself with love aad
anger You were deceiving me just now, or |
was mad and deceived myself. You do not care
a straw for me. Say that, Grace-only say that
you don't care for me, and you shall never see
my face again"
She could not say it: not for the life of her
could she so belle her beating heart, which had
gone ont to him as bird to its nest, which
belonged to him as slave to her master.
II cannot engage mVSef to VOu.o she said.
'ThePe are reasons"
What reasons! There can be no reason ex-
cept that you destest, me. Why not say at
once, and make an end of the matterl If there
were obstacles l would Nv er come them. Give
me one grain of love-no bigger than a mustard
scotland | would remove mountains. But
there no obstacles. We have everything on
our side. Your father likes me-he was my
fathers dearest friend-he would like to see US
married"
Il can never marry YOU" said Grace sadly.
why do you press me with painful questions9
Please let go my hands"
He released her instantly, with a gloomy look.
Il see There is some one else you love bet
ter he said
mo, there is no one,' she said impetuously,
and then repented that she had so spoken. :,
Grace, you are mystery II you would
only say that you hate me"
Il will not tell lie," she answered, walking
on towards the house, he still by her side. IF
you have any compassion for my present unhap-
piness you will say no more"
Then will say no more. 1 know l am a
brutean utterly british brute. / suppose,
having behaved so badly, l must not come to
Darnel any more"
'You can do as you like about that" she
answered YEARLY.
''Then l shall like to come. Life would be a
burden If L could not see you now and then"
In her heart of hearts she liked TO see him; for
her life would have been blank without that
pleasant companionship She had snubbed him
numerically ever since her return from Paris
and yet he never wavered in his devotion. And
he had his reward, though he knew it not; for
he had won her in spite of herself. But she was
true Darnel, and had loyal regard for a
promise once given. And in an evil hour she had
given promise which bound her to Victor de
Camillac or to lifelong celibacy.
'Goodbye," she said, CURLY, and Mr. Col
chester was fain to accept his dismissal.
They were close to the hall door by this time
He had no excuse for lingering any longer.
GOOD bye, Grace-my Grace he said with q
final flash of determination.
And then as he walked slowly down the
avenue he repeated to himself, My Grace, mine,
yes, my dear mine, for | mean to win you"
He was sorely troubled in mind as he walked
back to the Manor through those rural Wiltshire
lanes, with their tall, tangled hedgeroWs.
III at severer order of agriculture which cuts
down hedges to the quick, absOrbs waste places
and uproots the timber of centuries, had not yet
spoiled the Manor Mr.. Colchester's farmers
were content to be Slovenly and picturesque, as
their fathers and grandfathers had been before
them, under the sway of the easiest of landlords
He went home full of trouble and perpexity
There had been that in Graces eyes as she looked
upon him, which seemed to him an assurance of
her love. There had been that in the sweet
mouth, with lips half parted and family tremu-
lous, which told Of deepest feeling For some
blissful moments he had held her in his arms,
flushed with triumph, believing himself her ac-
copied lover And then she had thrust him from
her, and tOld him that she could never be his
wife. There was contradiction here that ar
gued mystery, mystery in the life Of girl
who had been to him the incarnation of purity
and truth. If she could deceive if she could
stoop to double dealing, there end of Ed
ward Colchester's faith in womanhood