The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-10-20

her from mead to foot. There had been
a wedding ut Whiteapple church that
morning, and the bells were ringing a
merry pealin honor of the event. But
what the bells kept saying in Margery's
ear was, Countess of Cheshunt-Count-
ess of Chestnut" over and over again.
Gascoigne still held her hand. and she
could feel rather than see the passionate
yearning look he bent on her.
"But," she began, and then she
paused: then she withdrew her hand,
but not unkindly. "You have taken me
utterly by surprise, Mr.. Gascoigne, and
/ feel very grateful for the honor
you have done me. do feel it an hon
or, / assure you. But even if No,
no. you must so away and try to forget
me. Papa would never, never consent;
l know him too well.
"If that is air. cried Gascoigne i'm
petuously, and next instant he had re-
gained possession Of her hand.
"Alll as if that were not enoughi
You don't know papa. He has will of
IRON
"And is not iron malleable? Can it
not be made to assume any form one
pleases? If only you yourself care for
me little, you may leave me to deal
with Mr.. Ferlnor. Is it so, Margeryl
Can you-ahl no. how is it possible that
you could ever bring yourself to love
such an abortion as Ir' He dropped her
hand and drew back little, and again
great wave of bitterness swept over
his soul.
''Oh, it Is not that--it is not that, in
deedr' exclaimed Margery "But have
known you SO short time, and it is all
SO strange. and sudden; and, OIL can
not tell you" With that she broke into
tempest Of tears. Her overstrained
nerves had given way in her own de-
spite; and yet. as she acknowledged to
herself afterward, it was perhaps the
most fortunate thing that could have
befallen her. In no more effective
way could matters have been brought
to climax, for an instant later she was
in Gascoigne's arms, and he was rain
ing kisses on her forehead, her lips, and
her tear believed cheeks.
Ten minutes later, as they sat hand in
hand, Gascoigne said: 81 have told you
nothing yet as to my position in life, or
my income, or anything"
'FWhy trouble about such things nowf'
said Margery. st sounds so mercenaryA
mot at all. 1t is nothing but right
that you should be told.
''In any case, please to remember that
Ihave not asked you single question.
II don't know which to admire most
your simple trustfulness or your good
ness to me-" he said, with little laugh.
"Where is there another girl who would
have taken me SO absolutely on trust as
you have?" TheH he paused, looking
down and gnawing the end of his mus
tache.
Margery scarcely breathed. sis he go
ing to declare himself" she whispered in
her heart II don't believe he will, he
is too fond of his incognito not to keep it
up till the last possible moment"
''Shall tell her, or shall
not?" his lordship was asking him
self. why should I? She bas prom
ised to be mine in any case.
Nothing so romantic can ever happen to
me again. 1t will be time enough to
end it when I'm 'cornered' by the rec
tor"
Gas for my income" he said aloud, Il
am afraid you will think six hundred
year very beggarly amount to begin
married life on"
"Beggarlyl Why it's two hundred a
year more than papa's income We shall
be quite rich people,
Again Gascoigne laughed. ''What an
artless little darling she isl'' he said to
himself. Then: ssWhatever your fathers
income may be, am afraid he will pull
a very long face when l tell him the
amount of mine"
Margery gave little tragic start and
clasped her hands ''Why did you make
me forget for little while that papa
will never-never give his consent 70
our engagement 5
''Shouid Mr.. Fermor remain obdurate,
only one thing will be left for me to dor
''And that isY'
''To run away with you"
v.
Three weeks later.
1t was brilliant morning in late 90
tober when Margery FerIlor and Mrs
Jenrick booked themselves ',y the 10
O'clock train at Marley Station, after
having driven over from Whiteapple in
the latter lady's basket carriage. Their
destination was the town of Derby, some
twenty-five miles away.
In the course of the previous afternoon
Margery had dropped in at Jonquil cot
tage, as she was in the habit of doing
three or four times a week While chat
ting with the widow about nothing in
particular she said as if the thought had
only that moment struck her: by the
wav. I am going as far as Derby to-mor-