The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-07-02
well. His eyes had betrayed his secret.
He loved mel

1t did seem ridiculous. | could not
hely thinking so as | glanced at my
own young figure, reflected in a mirror,
by the side Ui Lord Standiland' sold,
bent, and grey.
But had said would be his wife,
and my promise must be kept at any
cost.
''Cuthbert is going to leave u.s." an
nounced Lady Grace one afternoon;
and ! glanced quickly at Lord Airline,
my heart beating painfully.
Il am tired of the country" he said,
carelessly, as he handed me cup of
tea, which | could scarcely hold, for |
was trembling from head to foot. He
was going away! Well, what did it
matter to me?
Alas! | felt that it did matter a
great deal; for Lady Grace's announce
ment had opened my eyes to the truth,
and | knew that | loved my future
step-son.
As soon as | could l stole out of the
room to hide in the conservatory.
"Reika?"
| looked up quickly, and saw Lord
airline standing before me. He had
followed me out of the drawing-room.
what is itP'' l said, and my voice
quivered in spite Of myself.
"Reika," he repeated, putting his
arm round my waist, you shall not
marry my father for you love me-"
Let me CO. l cried. struggling to
free myself from his embrace.
You know that what l say is true,
he said, still holding me tightly.
True or false, | have given my
word, and cannot break it, Ireturned.
''Oh, Cuthbert, let me 60
He withdrew his arm and looked at
me moodily, gnawing his long NOUS
tache.
''Reika," he said, "why are you 60
ing 60 marry that old man? You don't
love him and you do love me. Why
ruin your own lile-and mine?'
lie has trusted me-" | replied;
chow can | tell him | am unworthy Of
his esteem?'
You would make any sacrifice for
my sake if you loved me-" said Cuth-
bert My father is not a hot-headed
boy"-sneeringly; ''he would soon get
over his disappointment"
''Probably,' | returned; ''but | can
not break my word" "
You would rather break my heart, -"
resentfully.
- would rather DO what l think is
right, said, looking away from his
panied, handsome face.
just then we heard rustling in the
ferns, and Lord airline grew pale.
Someone has overheard our CONVEX
sation," he said.
''Oh, no, it is only Rover" | said,
STOPPING to stroke the great mastiff
Don't you know that YOU have no
business here, Old feilow?n
But my father must be somewhere
about" cried Cuthbert. Rover is
always at his heels
At this moment we saw Lord Standi-
land advancing towards US with a
smile on his face.
Would he have looked like that if he
had overheard our conversation Of
course not, told myself with a sigh of
relief as | slipped my hand through his
arm.
If Cuthbert had been poor man |
might have yielded to the dictations of
my heart; but he was rich, and would
some day inherit Lord Standiland' S
title and estate, and it seemed to me u
mean trick to give up the earl because
he was old and grey and marry his son,
even though | did love Cuthbcrt with
all my heart.
you look pale, little girl said
Lord Standiland, glancing at my face,
which instantly became sullused with
scarlet; and without glancing at his
son he led me out of the conservatory.
My dear" he said that evening,
Il should like if you had no objection,
to hasten our marriage, and as | am
not very well / should like it to take
place in my own drawing-room."
As L had no objection to offer, every
thing was arranged as he wished, and
mother came over to be present at the
ceremony.
Lord airline had left the house, and l
was glad of it.
did not want to meet him again be-
fore our marriage.
1t was to be quite private wedding,
with Grace rs my only bridesmaid; and
mother grumbled at the absence of dis
play; but | was all the better pleased
for | felt sick at my heart, and did not
want to be stared at by a gaping
crowd.
Grace was very kind and affectionate;
two or three times | caught her in the
act Of looking at me, and she hastily
averted her eyes.
Mother, too, seemed to have some
thing on her mind; :. but | was too mis-
cradle to be curious on this or any
other subject.
My heart was very heavy on the night
before my wedding. | meant to do
what was right, but it was cruelty hard
to fight against my love for Cuthbert.
As | sat alone III my dressing-room,
my thoughts went back to my first
meeting with Lord Standiland.
Mother and | had been for q walk,
and mother had sprained her ankle.
The pain was so intense that she faint
ed, and | was bending over her anx-
iously, when carriage came along the
road with gentleman IN it.
1t was Lord Standiland, who ordered
the coachman to bring the horses to a
standstiiI, and handed me flask of
wine. This speedily restored mother
TO consciousness, and then he offered
her a seat in the carriage with the
greatest kindness imaginable. and
drove us right up to the door of our
cottage, to the intense wouderment Of
the neighbors.
From that day he was always call
ing to inquire after mothers health,
and | soon began to see that was the
attraction.
This pleased my vanity of course,
and raised ambitious hopes. All, was
/ not suffering for my ambition now. |
should be Lady Standiland indeed, but
what pleasure could my title and high
position give to me?
| looked at myself in the mirror on
my dressing-tabie, and beheld a fair,
giilish face, framed in masses OF chest
nut hair. How pretty | was, even
when grave and sad This thought
gave me no pleasure, however. | was
too wretched to feel grateful at my
beauty as reflected in the mirror, with
its two wax candles, that also reflected
the luxurious room in which | sat.