Richland beacon., 1888-12-22
A CAPITAL CHARGE.
CHApTER IL.
BY WRAY LINDSAY.


Ddcyne Nane, needless of all thai was
passing in the room below. Sir Geotfrey's
Communication nal been read, and had
then fallen TO the floor at her feet. whilst
she rested h,r two elbows upon the toll t
table an pushing her fingers through
the wealth Of he. shining hair. critically
surveyed her own charms.
Certainly il was not surprising that the
occupation lad lis attract onS for the girl.
She vas not the only person who might
well l0'c 20 look and look again at the
debate oval ia g with its cOnstan ly
varying color, at the eyes blue as forget
me not at the tiny rearly teeth. the arched
brOws, and the curved and sweeping lashes
which almost seemed to cast a shadow
upon the SOFT skin. More than one man
had lost his heart through gazing at tina
marvellous beauty of he but, until this
very moment, never had Odeyne seriously
considered the possibility of giving her
pretty hand by way OF return.
To-day. however. with sheet Of note
paper lying upon the carpet. matters were
assuming an al Ogcther different aspect
lies not young.' she muttcrcd aloud
once talking to herself was habit
tdeyne couli mi con luer--''and gruh
sometimes {, o,h'r people with con-
s,,iGuS tile laugh. '',ti,l | DO like him
IN q way he has always been good 10 me;
and it IS letter to be an o d man darling
than young mans slave, they say.
should like TO / c at Rock iiall and he
rich She paused. and then burst out
vehemcntly. I'D marry him morrow
gladly, if only hal never seen Allan"
After which confeS ion, sri ,tiy private
a IL WAS, the blusliing lace was hidden
In the girl hlnds.
\ knock az the door was the first thin ;
that induced Miss Nane to alter her posi-
lion.
Gone in" she responded, quickly
stopping 20 pick up the trnant letter.
Then. rs Angel entered why. whatev-
er is the matter! You look i don't know
how yOn loo, chi d odd somehow.
Have YOU been crying?'
Angel nodded.
taryl is < ing out to America in a
forth ght = she 81 d aS though that were
eXp!ana,i II enough fer anyth And,
Di. isn't it perfectly hate III Tor Sir Geof-
ireJ TO have put such a notion into his
head"
Cdeyne to k the news bIther coolly.
''Awcrira she said~ in an absent
minded way. res, it's a long dis ance
Of. Iod'll miss hi a awfuly, An e.
~? Why / moe than you''
The wave o. brilliant cO.Or which at
that instant swept over Angels sweet
face might have toll whole volume 10
any one less self absorbed than Odeyne.
She did not even notice thai vivid flush
her own eye, were CT { down. and she
was nervously playing with the fringe Of
the toilet cover.
''Oh, you ha always been so much
together she answered after moment s
silence. "BeSiles be sides. y,u know.
Angel, that MAJ not perhaps always be
at home
Her companions eyes opened to the II
widest extent. then suddenly light
seemed to break in upon her understand
iny.
"Oh. 0deyne." she erie I, "whO Is II
this time; And do you really think of
saying YES at last?'
Miss NSne tossed back her bOnny head
and withdrew the hand which still 70
taine'l the paper in its grasp from her
rocket.
"Wkat do you ;hlni ofthat?" she said,
with an air OF pride and carelessness. as
she gave the note into Angels eager fin
gers. "iou may read 1t aloud if YOU
like am curious to hear how it sounds. >
WhereupOp Angel wondered but Obcyed.
my dear Ode ne. fear that VIII ell you
dis"O er the object of this letter You will
think me a presump uous, foolish person.
That, however. | intend to risk, and can
only hope that you may possibly I've ore
gentle in your judgment of the most sim
cere, II also by some years the de,t, OF
the men who love you. For very long
now it has been the one desire OF my life
10 claim YOU Tor my wife, and have only
waited until the present time because
did no, wish you t. give yourself into my
kee ing until You had had the OppOr uni
t! OF making me other choice. H0wev.
or. can refrain no longer, AMI Sd throw
mNself upon your kindness.
SHOULD yo1 be ieve that some other
path Of ia holds out 10 You greater pr S.
poets If happiness than any which car
Ofier, then, dear, l will say no more. But,
if you will trust your young life to me, II
you will let me do what | can to prove tC
sou the greatness of my love, then,
0deyne, old as you think me. and as In.
deed | am when compared with your
youthfulncss, you shall never repent your
con dence."
Sir Geolrey's epis,le fell into Angels
Ian, and the girl raised her fearful brown
eyes to Odeyne's face.
'Oh, how pathetically he writes, she
cried, land how sad l. seems, of course
you will not accept him, Odeyne, but
And why should | mott" interrupted
Odeyne, In a sharp tone. ale says thai
he is cd. | don't call fifty old-or. II So
prefer old men: and GER ainly there can
TO no other oh ecton.n
A look of astonishment crept into An
! gels face, and she began to twist the
stiff paper around her fingers.
"a beg your pardon" she sald-''l die
2 not understand that you cared for him.
II you do, of course il will be splendid
match. and we shall all congratulate you
NEST lfea tily."
''.i,ow stupid you are to-day, Angel.
returned Cdeyne pettishly. ''Whoevel
spoke of caring for him. Not ], anyhow
and, as to being such splendid match,
there are many men in the world who ART
richer than Sir Godfrey Beriram. No,
'z,keve that shall refuse him after all. :
Her adopted sister laughed.
'.Why, that what | said at frs, she
declared. Il can't help feeling very sorr,
him. isntit would be too ridiculous t
r~:ss.d III Ind ouly