The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-05-25
A GILDED SIN.
ny BERTHA VI. CLAY.

that she had done as she had-that she
had sacrificed herself! II she had kept
her inheritance, then Katherine could
not have been married. Lord wyn:eigh
wondered at the light that came into the
girls beautiful face. How little Veronica
dreamed at that moment of all that
would come to pass before Christmas
time!
There had not been the least difficulty
in the settlement OF Sir Jasper's affairs:
the will that he had made when Rather.
inc Brandon was an infant wa. still n
the hands OF the family sol;citor-every-
thin. was perfectly straightforward.
Lady Brandon explained that she under
stool Miss III Cyntha's affairs and should
continue 10 act As her guardian. She had
Loyalty kept her word, and had settled
one thousand year upon Veronica
>hc showed her gratitude to her in n
hundred other ways; she was most kind
10 her; but the one subject was never
mentioned between them again.
Sir Jasper's fair-haired daughter had
become Baroness of Hurstwood she was
called Lady Katherine at home, and the
bright days passed with naught save
pleasant hours.
One beautiful August evening, when
the red glow of the western sunset filed
IRE sky, Veronica stood under the shade
Il the tail lime-trees, watching the even
~ light. \ happiness had come to her,
- great, so sudden, so enhancing, that
&c was dazed by it, bewiidercd. For Sir
Marc Caryli had asked her TO become his
Sife. She did not know until then al.
Ast slept in her heart-the love, the
7-s-:on, the tenderness-and the waking
- startled her. She was .ost IN wonder
i herself The crown and the glory of
her womanhooI had come 10 her. She
rcioiccd in the new and perfect happi-
ness she opened her whole heart to it
Il was uch chivalrous wOoing, and he
.oved her SO dearly. No one could ever
.:avc been 50 dearly loved before She
stool there thinking of il with smile
o! perfect content on her face, and Is she
did 80 Sir Mare came to her.
81 have been watching you, Veronica"
he s=id, until have grown jealous OF
the sky and the foliage, and everything
e.sc that your beautiiu! eyes have rested
on. What have you been thinking of ~
~Of nothing in the wide world but
you" she replied.
~Of me, sweetheart he exclaimed
jayiui.y; and then he told her what he
kaI come to ask-when would she be his
wife.
.'Nou are too kind ever TO be cruel.
caring" he said, looking at the bcautiiu.
ilus-.cd face. Il told you long ago how
lonely INV home is. want the ause! in
the house'-I want you there You
cannot tell how dreary il AL seems to
me. Veronica, when will you come to
me ?"
Not yet" she replied shyly-'it csn-
not bc yet"
"why not p" he asked.
"You have only Just found out that
yol love me-"
"Nay, Veronica" he said smiling, ''I
.ound that out long since l was coming
'>,t July 10 tel: you so, but poor Sir
Jasper had Just died.
She turned her face away lest he should
Gee the quiver OF pain on it.
"Sir Mare" she said gently, "you have
never asked me any questions about my
-. ., or my home in Venice, or my
fortune"
LADY Brandon has explained" he re-
pied. "Your father was great friend
of Sir Jasper's, she tells me-"
Veronica made no reply. She could
70: tel! him the truth, but she would
SPEAK no ia.se word to him-never one.
lie continued:
Il care nothing about your fortune.
~,etheart. l am rich man-so rich
::.at am troubled at times 10 know how
10 spend my money. iay It al. at your
e-t. You are mistress of everything
TIA: belongs TO me. When VII. you come
10 me, my Veronica? You have nothin:
% wait for. Do not be unkind and send
nc away :"
She made no answer. In her heart she
wished TO be with him, but the very
consciousness of it prevented her from
speaking.
This is July" lie said; shall we say
September. Veronica ="
Snc agreed. and sir Marc was so de-
icrmined % keep her to her word that
ne went at once in search of Lady Bran-
don and tod Ter. He brought Ter back
w.ih him TO where Veronica still stood
-ndrr the lines.
"I leave my interests in your hands.
Lady Brandon" ne said. Il saa!. return.
with your permission, to marry Veronica
On the twentieth OF September You wil.
promise that she shall be ready ?" Lady
Brandon promised
II DO not think that 1 can live away
'.--a her altogether unit! then, Lady
EranIon. Will you invite me to come
down in August ,"
'Ssar. whenever you viii, Sir Marc"
49, Lady Brandon.
He pressed the hand OF his love-
Il have bound YOU, sweetheart" he
sa.d-"you can never free yoursel:
a.a.n."
And, looking at his handsome face,
MS ewes LIT with love, she said TO her
sci that separation from him would be
death.
CHAPTER IN.
August had come with its ripe, rich
beauty. the fruit hung in the orchards,
:. gardens were = blaze of color. the
>.:,ey and The corn were ready for the
:-ers. Sir Marc had come down sss.n
- the Chace-
Those who had seen Veronica when
she irst reached England would hardly
-avc rc~o-r.zed her had t&ey seen her
IL. I..n...sI..l L.