The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-01-24

| CHAPTER XVI.
| al am no better this morning" laughed
| the Duke Of Hsystort, when he met Vsne.
al anu glad that decided 10 SO this after.
no0n."
"At what time Will you sol" asked
| Vane.
! about four, think )" was the answer.
! In his heart Vanc thanked Heaven that
! hy that hour his sister would be safe With
| him. IL had seemed such an easy thing 70
say that he would nicei her; but how MAS
! Il 10 be doucf That morning, rs soon as
! he came down stairs, II lovely face smiled
into his and musical voice whispered TO
! him. acne more day tOgetMrW He be-
gan 70 wonder how be should get away.
Lady Liliss and Yane spent tho morn
! Ing on the green shaded banks Of the river
where the wild flowers made = carpet and
the hedges were filed With bloom. He re-
melnbercd il always as the happiest Of his
! life. for that morning she hsd told him how
she loved him, what she had thought about
him, how she had lameuted ever having
allowed pride and caste TO interfere with
her happiness: aud he told her what
those two year. had been TO him. She
looked at him with 4 smile on her charm
ing face.
IL have broken the compact" she said.
1--WE were NOS to mention the past or the
future, but live in the present"
She took up a large oak-leaf, and sbap-
Ing il TO little boat, let i, float down
the stream.
"That is Just how we shall commit our
destinies TO the stream Of time, Fane," she
said.
Looking AZ her, 50 beautiful and SO good,
he wondered how he had been SO forum.
ate as 10 win her, and why Heaven had SO
supersbundsntly blessed him.
The hour for luncheon at Kings Clyfe
was two; and it often happened that dur
ing the warm days the ladies' remained in-
doors either resting OF reading. On that
day, when they left the dining room, Vsne
whispered to Lady Lilias---
"Tske an hours rest; the sun is very
warm. ! have to go out and see some
one"
She nodded gaily, and went up the
broad staircase, where white marble
Flora stood. with basket OF crimson fow-
ers ut her feet. Standing by the large VIM
dow there, to look at tho great sprays Of
jessamuc that framed il, she sow Fane
cross the lawn and take the path which
led to Clyffc Woods. No suspicion occur.
red to her, She though. it probao that
be was going to see one Of the keepers-tn
fact she did not trouble herself as 70 whom
he was going TO see.
al will meet him as he comes back"
shs said to herself; "Ae will be pleased -
| must make haste; lie viii uo' l." loag'
She made herself look uaWJut djy at
tractive. She did not ring for her mad
for she did not care that any one should
know whittier she had gone. II was To he
surprise for him, and 10 please him alone
She put on most becoming Salking-co>
tune with a charming hat; and the dead
rold hair and beautiful face looked Ike
the heart Of fewer.
As she went along she gathered some
magificent passion-eo@ers; Kings Cl!n'
was famous for them. She smiled az she
thought how pleased he would he, how IN
face would brighten and his eyes light VI
when he saw her, and what rush Of Ioy
, ing words would come from his lips. Alb
how we'll he loved her. And sbef He
| heart warmed to him. They had hee'
made 'or each other, she believed. Al las
she came to the end OF the woods, bu
there was no sign OF him. II was q beau
tiful spot, with lovely yistas OF greenwood
glades and clumps Of trees, grand in thei
magnifcence. She looked round, but Van
, was not to be seen. She knew that h
I must be there. He had not passed her +
: return, aud she could see the paths tia
l led to the highway, but he was on none
them. Then she saw the great oak ealtet
u King Charles's Oak, among the boughs 0
which the king was supposed to have bee
Q concealed while the search ragged holly be
meath him. 1t was an enormous tree, an
o from one side Of il surely there came tb
. sound Of voices!
i She crossed the path, and then for on
u moment stood as though turned 10 ston,
o The lovely roSe-bioom left her face, til
v glad light died out in her eyes, and Qui,
i er Of Gain compressed her white lips
e "The proudest girl in England" the quee
of beauty aud fashion, stood there wound
u ed to the heart by what she saw. iov
:. moan Of pain came from her lips, lo'
moan that died away on tue sweet summe
. air. r.
II Under the spreading boughs OF the ire
stood her lover, Vsne Fraser Wharf, th
5 man sue had chosen frcu the whole worl
= TO love aud marry, his handsome refine
n face WAS bent over girl who Was tslkin
most earnestly to him, bent too with a
l. expression vi fondest afectlon upon IT,
o Sue SAW him kiss the girls face, hold lie
hands In his, talk TO her most lovingly
= and her heart almost stood still. Then ia
u kiri moved, and Lady Liiss saw tue ssln
J darA sweet lace that hHd charmed her .
d tie Meadow Farm.
o alt I, the girl from the farmhouse Oh
. murmurcdi
|. Tuen IL seemed to Lady Lilias Audle
rs that ,po mad discovered lus whole p.ot.-