Daily Republican., 1886-04-02

H.
His quest had been unsuccessful anf
despair reigned once more.
In the days that followed Grace Bar.
tram realized all the miserable emo
tons that can rack the heart of q
proud, sensitive, ambitious woman.
The visit OF Lance Harland had moi
been without effect. He seemed to
bring to her all the memories of the
past days when she had been so happy.
TO awaken the old desires, to cut deeper
her girlish pride, to surround her pres
ent life with added darkness.
Rollo had grown more desponde mt
and hopeless; he was irritable at times.
and she wondered if he, too, would not
wish to recall the past, if he did not
find love sad burden.
Lance cam G to see her again a few
days later. She proffered him the gold
piece, but he refused to take it.
why should you not keep il.
Graceg" he asked. 1--WE are such old
friends, do not let false pride come be-
tween us now"
There came time when necessity
forced her to obey his words. Her
husband fell i'll and there were no
other recources than these that came
in this way.
She was too proud to make her
wants known to her old friends, so the
gifts of Lance Harland were accepted
and, when he was able to realize it.
Rollo Bartram wondered who the
anonymous giver could be.
perhaps my uncle is relenting and
this is his way of proving his forgive
ness,' he thought. 81 thought him
too stern and obdurate; but to whom
can | attribute this favor il not to
him?"
So the time sped and he became
oonvalescent, and affairs were as bad
as ever.
Grace herself looked as though she
had endured long, severe illness; a
mere shadow of her former self she
seemed, and her manner had in il little
that was brave or cheerful now.
Rollo dressed himself one evening
for a journey.
Il am going to my uncle's," he said.
II think he must have been our good
angel, Grace, and if so, perhaps he
will be kinder now"
She watched him go with strange
look in her dark eyes and drew note
from her pocket. 1t was brief, but
what an import in the words
'GRAcE-Be kind to me, to your
self, and end this. Come to me when
you will, l will protect you always.
The letters that bind you can be sew
cred. l.. H."
kind to myself" she repeated
"Ah, why should l not. This life is
killing me. We shall never lie happy
together. Why do l not accept now?
l cannot live on in this way"
With feverish glow on her cheeks
and CLEAN in her eyes she drew on
her dark mantle and tied her bonnet
down with veil.
Out of the room, down the narrow
stairs she crept, her limbs trembling
beneath her, her breath coming in
gasps. Lance Harland, just entering, |
met her in the lower hall.
"Grace, " he said, "where are you |
going?"
The question came to her with aw-
full meaning. Where was she goingPI
For the first time she realized the sell
fishness, the shame of her error, and
with cry she thrust him aside and
tarted out into the evening air.
On, on, down the dark street; herI
brain was whirling, she threw out herI
arms and fell PROSTATE on the cold
stones at the feet of Rollo Bartram.
who was making his way homeward. |
When Grace Bartram awoke to CON
seriousness she lay upon couch in a |
room of elegant appointments. Beside
her was her husband, and behind him
q tall, gray haired man.
''Rollo," she murmured family.
'At last. Grace, let me tell you the
good news. This is my uncle; he has
forgiven me and will start me in busi-
ness"
Grace started up with a glad cry.
THANK Godp she said, and theyI
lid not know what feelings actuated
he words of gratitude.
1t was lesson she never forgot. andI
lenceforth love and faith were to herI
rue and steadfast.
4