Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-04-13


The vilest criminal is allowed that.
Afterward. if you say SO, l will 80
away-forever-'
He did not wait for Il reply in words.
He had always been masterlul, and
Grace felt the old spell ON her. She
made no objection, therefore. when we
went to the donkeyS head. and. NUT
tering something about "helplng t up
the hill. took it by the br die and led
il to the top of the ascent. Her heart
was in such flutter 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 "A IN le off, on the
declvitv of the hill below, and when
the children, shoeess and stocklngless,
and with many a merry shout. were
dabbling in the water, he drew Gracc'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 that there
could have been no mistake, that he
was false 10 the core-that ne was only,
even now, seeking 10 amusc himself
but when he drew her arm within his
own. when he looked into her eyes with
his fearless look Of innocence, and
when he told his story in his frank,
manly, yot impassiOned way. she broke
utterly down, and would have fallen
into his arms if it had not been for the
children playing so near As it was,
the tears rolled along her cheeks. aud
her eyes emphasized the low whisper
in which she begged forgiveness for
having wronged him, even when things
seemed so pronounced against him.
"When your father failed and died -
he said, for we tell his story in his own
words. though less disjointed by far.
"my impulse was to fly at once But
rs was not an accepted lOver-as | did
not know. indeed. whether | ever would
be-your manner now makes me fear
have. and never had but little hope
for-l had TO wait tho CUSTOMARY con
vent onal period. before calling on You.
Meant me, thought it my dutf to tell
my father that loved Won. and that
intended to tell you so the first nom.
ent | saw you. had expected some
opposit on. But / was surprised at the
extent Of it, NJ father, alas! good as
he was 10 me. worthy as he was in
most respect. had that excess We love
of money which so many successful
bankers acquire. He was desirous that
should IN lrry an heiIess Rumor
| had once linked my name with that OF
NJ s. Marion. but | had never serious
~ thought o. her. IL fact after saw
YOU. at that first Patriarchs' ball--oh,
shall | ever forget it?-I knew there
] lint ba l,T' q,
world that could ever love. STAY. ito
not shake Your head. Hear me ont. |
owed something. even YOU must admit
] TO my father. was bound b dut -
| in some DECREE, ut least. We'll, my
! father. after stormy interview. pro-
| posed a comprom So. IF went to You.
he said he would never forgive me. He
did not believe in nv affection; it was
only youthful fancy, were his words:
as for YOU, he had understood. from
your father that an allanc, for YOU
had been settled elsewhere. False.
YOU say? Thank Won for the words
They are the first kind oncs--do YOU
know YOU have spoken to me. My
father, then, had Teen misinformed.
But it staggered me. All you
say there was some ground foi
it, rs J our father had really wished
such a match. And Won would have
nothing to do with it? Bless YOU
again. Oh, had | only known that
Finally. m father, as | have said,
promised that. if would 60 abroad
for two years. giving my word of
honor not TO see you or write TO YOU
he would, ut the end of that period
consent to my wish. if | still said |
loved you. He urged that this was not
much for him to ask. as he had always
been good parent to me, which, God
knows with emotion. "he was. Thus
entreated for he fairly begged now
with tears in his eyes, | consented.
Perhaps | did wrong. | have often
thought did No? You never would
have married me. YOU say. against my
| fathers w shes? You would have torn
me from your heart first? Does that
mean, " with a cry of jo, "that you
! have given me place there that YOU
will marry me now? Oh! Grace. if you
will only have pity, if YOU will only re-
! alize how much love you! | went
abroad. But my father relented, at
the end of the first year. and | was
coming home when | heard of his
! death Since that time ! have search
ed everywhere for you. But YOU had
| disappeared-loSt TO your old world
completely; no clew to YOU was left.
Yet you say that. three DAYS ago. you
met Miss Marion. and that YOU are
sure she knew YOU? That she saw you
| again. yesterda, WIN, il was only
! then that. Tor the twentieth time, that |
was telling her of my anxiety TO find
YOU. liz love with her? Ny manner
like it? Ali. if you would only believe
whom / do love- All this SO earnest
" that Grace felt she had mistaken his
IN inner, through her own sens itiveness,
no doubt; for, after all, coald "A gen
| tleman refuse an invitation from
lady? And, when he accepted. ought
he not to accept n aciousk? so YOU
really he went on, impetuously.
catching her eve now. forgive me all.
at last? Oh, dearest!"
The little romance" rs Mrs Leigh
persisted in calling it, of Grace and
Mortimer. made "A great sensation at
Seaverge and in New York. 1T was
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