The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-12-13

Lists against me-" retorteo the captain,
forcing laugh.
You may find me tougher than Won
imagine" declared Fngal, solemnly.
you handed me a note O few days since
on the occasion of our first meeting. Was
1t OF your compositiona'
The Captain regarded Fingal keenlv as he
put the question. His gaze had not the eff.
iect intended The youxg hunter was not
the least discon certed.
II shall make no denials, august Captain. u
answered Fingal. stroking his mustache
with grave look
Il am then to understand that you mean
to interfere with my plansl"
Understand any thing you please, nv
dear Captain
''Confound you'll" muttered Starbripht.
angered at the cool impudence of the young
hunter. II warn you to keep away from
this vicinity and leave me to myself, or you
may rue your impertinence in the time to
come. You understands"
Certainly"
And you will heed the warnings"
Certainly"
II am glad to find you sensible"
always that, Captain Starbright," as
sured the young hunter. "Fair means you
will be permitted to use in a suit for Miss
Penroy's hand, but when you step beyond
that look to yourself. The eagle will see that
the hawk harms not the pretty dove"
Then, bowling lo.v. Fingal turned and
darted away with the Heerness OF O aeer.
Captain Starbright stared after him in rag
and establishment.
CHAPTER VIII
A LETTER.
A few days later
Grace Penroy and Lura Joyce stood TO-
gether in the room of the former. Grace
had just leosened her waving masses of vel.
low hair, and stood by the glass combing
| the golden strands, while her cousin leaned
against richly-carved mantel over the nar-
row CRATE and regarded the pretty girl be,
ore her with no attempt to conceal her ad.
1iration.
81 do not wonder that so many men are in
I'VE with you, Grace" said Lura at length,
fter full a minute given to silent admira-
ion. eff I was half as beautiful should
eel proud as Lucifer, and
'Lura, please don't"
otis nota bit of f1attery that am giving
'ou, young lady. You are the most beauti-
ul human creature / ever beheld, and I
ay again it's no wonder the men love you
%, and are ready to cut one another's
hroats through their infatuation. There's
he gallant Captain, and handsome Austin
Nentword, and"
"Lura, will you cease?'
Grace turned now and faced her cousin, a
,ained expression on her white face and
urking in her honest gray eyes.
"Don't you like to hear the truth? Are
acts so repugnant to you that you feel
iurt at their utterance, pretty cousin?"
"You do not understand, Lura,'- said
trace, in a low tone, slightly tremulous with
ceiling. "None of the gentlemen named
IRE aught to me-"
"Not one?"
Lura Joyce seemed surprised.
"That is the truth, Lura. beg you to
| say nothing about any of these fortune
| hunters"
"Ah, there's the rub!" exclaimed Miss
| Joyce, with merry laugh. 81 understand
| ;he situation exactly. You don't encour-
| age one of these fellows for fear he is look
ng only after your fortune. I've no doubt
| four fears are not ill-founded. have been
1t Lone Hollow but a fortnight, yet in that
comparatively short space of time have
made n discovery"
Lura Joyce threw herself into rocker
| and clasped her hands over one of the
irms, peerlng up from under sandy brows
| 1T her cousin.
| AS Grace made no remark Lura went on !:
81 have spotted one fortune-hunter at
east, cousin NINE, the handsome, heartless
| Captain Starbright. Have you ever thought
| II his attentions seriously, Grace!"
"Never"
"That is good" calculated Lura, with
| evident satisfaction. Captain Starbright
| Is fortune-hunter in every sense of the
term, and as heartIess as demon. Have
met him before! I thought you knew that
| he once pleaded with me on Bonded knees
10 marry him. It's fact all the same, and
| you know it now. He was after my fortune,
| which proved myth, and so the gallant
| Captain ran away from that part of the
country to seek out the granddaughter of
old Morgan Vandible, and if possible win a
| fortune and wife at one and the same time
He has not yet succeeded and never will, if
you are wise, Grace
81 shall be wise enough not to, wed one l
DO not love-" answered the heiress, simply.
"Well said, cousin. hope you will stick
10 that text"
You m y be sure that will"
"Now tell me, is there one that you do
love, GraceT'
The girl at the glass busted herself with
her toilet without seeming to notice this
| question. 1t was repeated, with still no
| answer.
| Then Lura Joyce came to her feet and,
crossing the carpet, peered into the face of
her cousin. She was not wholly surprised
70 find the honest gray eyes brimming with
| tears.
smile fitted over the countenance of
| Lura. Was it possible that she rejoiced in
the trouble that was growing in the heart
| IF her cousin?
| 'See here, Oracle, is it this that you arc
| feeling bad about?"
Lura laid gold ring on the dresser in
| front of her cousin
II found it IN the grass yesterday. I
imagined that you might have dropped it
am sure that l saw it on your finger few
| lays since.''
| It was her ring indeed, the Que she had
given back to Austin Wentword but few
lays since-her engagement ring. Doubt
less he had flung it away that day when
they had quarreled. The sight Of it only
The more emb:ttered her feelings. Grace
did not offer to touch it, but continued her
occupation with increased nervousness.
| SIT IS not my ring" asserted Grace, try
ing to speak firmly, indlfferently.
| care you sure?"
The smile deepened on the face of Lura.
"Yes, 1 am sure"
"Now. how could have been 30 deceiveai
| was sure that 1 saw this r1nQ IN vour