The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-04-15

"Dear Paul!" she whispered, softly,
and just for the fraction of moment
her little black straw bonnet crushed its
cluster of scarlet poppies against his
waterproof shoulder-''only put me ON
the throne of your heart and keep me
there, and that is all want As for my
kingdom, why, Westerndale-"
.'What about Westerndale?"
"Perhaps one day we may be rich
enough to buy it back. Not Just vet,
Paul, we are only beginning the world
as yet; but some day"
"Westerndale then be it." said Paul,
in his dreamy, far-off way. Suppose,
Verona, that you and and my mother
make holiday of tomorrow, and go up
and see what this imaginary place is
like"
'But it isn't imaginary; and
wouldn't for the world have the heir
suppose that we are prying about the
premises that are lawfully his"
''Oh, hang the fellowr' said Paul. 81
suppose he can't forbid us the privilege
of looking, can he?"
Paul Rothermel had his way. He al
ways did haye his way, in soft, imper-
turbable fashion, which you never fully
comprehended until it had got the better
of you past all recovery. .-t
They took the train the next morning,
all three of them-Verona having gone
to the Office and easily obtained leave
from her kind-hearted chief, and went
up to Eastport, which was the little vii
lage about a mile from where the salt
waves were curling in foamy fringes to
the very foundations of Westerndale
Hall.
Isn't it sweet old placer" cried
Verona. '1Ohi how long to be here
once again-to be at home herer O..
1T isn't bad" said Paul, meditatixely
surveying its grey stone towers and case
ments of stained glass, the old sun-dial
at the south end of the house, and the
group Of cedars opposite, while old Mrs.
Rothermel boldly assended the flight Of
stone steps and rang the bell.
Out came Mr.. Pepperton, the lawyer,
smiling and bowing like an amiable
Jack-in-the-box,
Happy to see you. MIR. Rothernelw
said he, .'most happy, am sure! Would
you be so kind as to step in-yourself
and these ladies? I've had fires lighted
in all the rooms Ga stone house like this
is apt to be damp il it isn't kept we'll
aired1 and lunch has been sent up
from the hotel in the village. Pray
walk in, Miss Gordon; your most obedi-
ent! I am exceedingly glad to see that
you have been able to arrive at salts
factory arrangement with your cousin,
the heir"
'tMy cousin, the heir? think, MIR.
Popperton, that you must have gone out
nf vo,1r u,ipdpt soi1 Varona dra axu;n,~
herself up after most stately manner.
But Paul Rothermel turned to her with
o smile.
His mind is all right Verona" {" said
he. 81 am your cousin, two or three
times removed, instead of your poor first
cousin-am / notP As for being the
heir, that isn't my fault, is it? The law
suit was begun before was born" +"
''Paul, you have deceived mer' cried
Verona, with flashing eyes.
But the next instant they softened into
liquid light; her color rose beneath his
tender glance.
Have /. dearestp" he said. "Not
when told you that I loved you. That
is the main thing-isn't it. dearestP We
were going to be happy without Western
dale Hall; cannot we be happier still
with itP"
And Fanny Tullan and Ella Hay came
to the wedding. and helped the bride re-
joice.
1.-The story has ended exactly as it
ought to, said Fanny, ''as foretold it
would"
''And now we know that novels aren't
a bit more romantic than in real life,"
asserted Miss Hay.