Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-06-13

How Grace got back to the house, that
afternoon. she never knew. She must
almost have flown, for she was out of
breath when she arrived. She wac
glad when night enabled her TO escape
from the children again. She spent
long hours in fighting down her misery.
Eyes, there was no doubt" she said to
herself. "Only the closest intimacy,
only an approaching marriage could ex-
plain her tone and manner; it was that
of ownership; and his was that of only
too willing service" And again she
said to herself: cob, how | despise
him p And then: "How I despise
myself for being affected by it at ALL
The next dav broke more sultry than
ever Mrs. Leigh, who was a kind
hearted woman in her way, noticed
Grace's exhausted air, and, attrib
uting it to the heat and confined
school room, suggested that the chill
dren should take holiday.
"They look little peaked, poor
things, themselves" she said. II have
mer down on Briery Beach. Suppose
you all bundle off together in the don
key cart and spend the day there. I
will have nice lunch put up for you.
The road for most of the way lies
| through shady lanes. You will be bet
| ter for it, my dear, yourself"
They had gone about a mile, and
were slowly climbing sandy hill,
| Grace driving, and the two little girls
and their brother chattering away in
the brightest of spirits, when suddenly
pedestrian came out from the woods
on the right, and, springing nimbly
down the bank, was going in the oppO-
site direction when little May called
aloud:
| ''Don't you know me, Mr.-Mr.
Stranger +? I'm the little girl who lost
her penny yesterday, in the village, and
you were the kind gentleman to find it
| for me-
Grace would have given the world if
the child had not spoken, for she had
recognized again, only too we'll, that
tail, 1.-the form and that Tree, swinging
step. She said to herself: HE saw
me; he was hurrying away, and now
this vexatious child has called him
back; he will think l whispered to her
to do it, and he and his bride will ieer at
me all the MORE"
Stuyvesant Mortimer turned at Mays
call and, coming up to the cart, with
quick impulsiveness, cried, holding his
hand out to the child:
why, so it is, absolutely my little
IdiIy, UuG u1SCOHSOldt0 uO longer. we
are going on quite an expedition, too,
aren't we I? A picnic, or something like
ii ?'
Grace's whole body was a CULVER of
nerves. She sat with her eyes down
cast and her lace half averted, appar-
emily absorbed in studying her right
hand, which held the reins.
"Oh. yes" answered May, con pic
MIC And we're going to have such
jolly time. Don't you wish you were
coming too ?"
"Of course 1 do with hearty sym
pathetic laugh. Jolly times are not SO
frequent with me, [ assure you, that [
can afford to miss chance of one. But
will Miss-Miss-I beg pardon for not
knowing her name-allow mcleod
God it is Grace herself !"
Up to this moment he had been so
engrossed with the child that he had
only a vague idea that there was gov
erness sitting next to her; but who the
governess was, or even if she were
pretty he had no thought. But now, as
he looked up, rather expecting to see
some sour visaged, middle-aged spin
ster, he beheld the sweet, downcast
profile of the only woman who had
ever touched his heart, and who was
looking all the more lovely because OF
her half-mourning dress and the traces
of sorrow and suffering on her face.
Hence the broken CALCULATIONS with
which he checked the request he had
been about half sportively to proffer.
His hat, too, was off in a moment.
He looked so eager, SO astonished. SO
glad, so rapturous, all in succession,
that Grace, who had turned to him
coldlv at first, was herself astonished,
and shall we say it ?-stirred almost to
her inmost heart.
For what could it mean Was it pos
sible there had been some terrible mis-
take Surely that look, the passionate
emotion of the voice. were not counter
felt Her head swan, and she thought
she would faint.
Miss Courtenav." said Mortimer, OBJ
own emotion with great effort, II have
been seeking you for months-ever
since my return from Europe, indeed.
May I---"and the pleading tones of
his voice were eloquence itselt-"do
in earnest what proposed just now in
jest ? May join your little party? I
see that you think hardly of me. Per-
haps [ deserve it. But oh give me
chance at least to explain. The vilest
criminal is allowed that Afterward, if
you say so, [ will 60 forever"
He did not walt for reply in words.
He had always been masterful, and
Grace felt the old spell on her. She
made no objection, therefore, when he
went to the donkey's head, and NUT
tering something about helping it up
the hill, took it by the bride and led
it to the top Of the ascent. Her heart
was in such futter that she could not
have spoken if she had tried. Of
course he found his opportunity and
that before long. The beach was only
short quarter of mile off, on the de-
clivity of the hill below, and when the
children, shoeless and stockingless, and
with many merry shout, were dab
| bling in the water, he drew Grace's
arm within his own, and told his story,
as he paced to and fro on the sands,
with her by his side.
At first she had been cold, even
naughty; for, after her surprise was
over, she told herself there could have
been no mistake, that be was false to
the core-that he was only, even now,
seeking to amuse himself. But when
he drew her arm within his own, when
he looked into her eyes with his fear