The Delta independent., 1888-03-06

Q6r arm anu r6SU6u GneIo. Anu I'LL u
notice she took Of its contact was tt
carnation hue which deepsned vjsibl
upon her cheeks.
"Miss Ravenswood, he whispere,
81 have seen great deal of the worl,
and you are the jolliest little glrl ev
met We must be friends"
Suppose say we must not" 81
returned mischievously.
Then should be the most miserab
of men. But you would not be SO cru
with such kidd little face, yc
couldn't," he said, with such rich to
der infection OF voice that it made b.
pulses thrill, and softeped her.
81 think should like 10 be friends,
she replied with her eyes downcast.
Think! Are you not sureP There
NO question in my mind upon the su
ject. Tell me you ara certsiu too"
She raised her eyes to his with q flu
of strange interest, and he drew her
little nearer.
"Tell me, childP"
~ want to be friends" she said softf
ly: But, really. l don't even know
who you are yet"
"Do you notp" he returned with a de-
cided raising of the head, as though
conscious that his name could not fail
to carry weight.
"Well, Miss Ravenswood, am not
sorry that you like me little for my
unworthy self, unbiased by the halo,
small as it may be, that my reputation
has thrown about me. l am Paul
L'Estrange."
"What, the actor?" she exclaimed
with interest. "And have seen you SO
often, and never recognized you and
yet might have done so, for no one else
has mouth like yours. Everyone says
that.
'Is that compliment" he asked,
knowing all the tine that it was, and
that his mouth was his chief beauty.
ut is the truth" she said simply. 81
never pay compliments. Now l see
why Sir Walter did not introduce me {:
he thought that Paul L'Estrange must
be known to everybody. l am SO glad
we have met love acting myself, and
no one can give me greater treat than
taking me to the theatre"
81 am delighted our tastes agree" he
said, smiling at her, and before they
half realized it, the eleven miles had
teen traversed, and The Glen was
lcdSucu. all solly tio uiiNc 10 ofcl,
he said, as he handed her out, and
sighed as only an actor can, and both
his look and touch were tender.
However, they were moi parted, these
two. They had coalesced like globules
of quicksilver, and seemed inclined to
remain together.
He had been to The Glen before, and
made an excellent Snowman, taking
her to all the prettiest spots, and de-
tanning her there to talk.
At two O'Clock gong was sounded,
which brought all the party together,
and there before them, spread upon a
large white cloth, was recherche lunch
con, under the green branches of the
trees, and they all seated themselves
upon the soft turf to enjoy it, while the
baronet's servants moved quickly about.
serving everybody without noise or
commotion.
Mr.. Ravenswood' S brow was clouded.
He had pet scheme to marry his
daughter to a man of title, and, more
over, he now saw his way to the de-
sired end.
Lord Cranburn was an impecunious
peer and he and the merchant had
struck up decided friendship since
their stay at Muthill.
He owned massive gray-stone
mansion, lying within eight miles of
Hillside, but the wherewithal to keep it
up was wanting.
He was not young man, nor a
handsome one.
Thirty-seven summers and winters
had passed over his head, sprinkling
his chestnut hair here and there with
silver threads, but his face was kind.
and told one that he would be faithful
to any charge entrusted to him.
There was a strange resemblance
about his sensible eyes to those of his
collie, who was his shadow, and Ellie
had laughingly told him SO, a remark
which he took in very good part.
He and Mr.. Ravenswood had held
many conversations concerning Ellie.
Lord Cranburn thought her the
his path. Still, he was Scotchman,
and poor, and had she been twice as
fair he could not have married her
without the "bawbees" which were 80
much needed to oil the wheel of cir
in his favour
The '.bawbees" were at the
DdnKeTS, ana MS lOTuSnlp
understood that they could
be passed over to his own, or goodly
portion of them, if he could persuade
Ellie Ravenswood to become his wife.
So far she lad made fun of the Scotch
lord but neither he nor her father
despaired of her ultimately showing
him favor, but over-rating the value OF
a coronet in woman's eyes.
With these views in his mind, it was
with deep annoyance that Mr.. Ravens
wood saw Paul L'Estrange monopolise
his daughter; but his black looks were
of no avail.
Ellie had always had her own way,
and he now found it too late to check
her. She spent the rest of the day by
the actors side, returned home with
him in the mail phaeton as she come,
and before the drive was over she had
promised to accompany him to the
Grief the following day, to witness the
Highland games.
And the formal address OF "Miss
Ravenswood" had been laid aside.
"Elfie," he whispered, 81 wish we
ould have just such another day to-
has been the happiest day
of my life"
I'VE shall be together" she answer
ed, with a new born gentleness in her
voice, and soft light in the dark eyes.
''Elfie, wish 1t were for life!'' he
continued in his hcart-stirring voice
He had takan rossaaaiOn Of her hand