Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-03-14
LONE HOLLOW.
Or, The Peril Of the PenrOyS.
A Thrilling and Romantic Story
of Love and Adventure.
BY JAMES NJ. MERRILL. AUTHOR OF BOGUS
BILL FISHER JOE AND
OTHER STORIES.
(Copyrigat, 1889, By nc 4 " kellogg Rers.
paper conpanyl
CHAPTER VIII.
rrrEli


Grace Penroy and Lura Joyce stood to
getner in the room Of tho former. Grace
nad Just loosened her waving masses Of vel
ow hair, and stood by the glass combine
.he golden strands, while her cousin leaned
against richly-carxed mantel over the mar
low CRATE and regarded the pretty girl be
fore her with no attempt TO conceal her ad
miration.
II do not wonder that so many men are in
love with you, Grace said Lura at length,
after full a minute given to silent admira
ton. IF was half as beautiful / should
feel proud as Lucifer, and -
"Lura, please DON'T
'It's nota bit of iiattery that l am giving
you, young lady You are the most beauti.
full human creature | ever beheld, and
say again it's no wonder the men love you
so, and are ready to cut one another's
threats through their infatuation. There's
the gallant Captain, and handsome Austin
Wentword, and ~
"Lura, will you cease!n
Grace turned now and faced her cousin, a
panied expression on her white face and
lurking in her honest gray eyes,
"Don't you like to hear the truth! Are
facts so repugnant TO You that you fee
hurt at their utterapce, pretty cousinso
You do not understand, Lura,' said
Grace, in low tone, slightly tremulous with
feeling. !" None Of the gentlemen named
are aught to me
mot one!s'
Lura Joyce seemed surprised.
"That is the truth, Lura. | beg you tC
say nothing about any of these fortune
hunters
"Ah, there's the rubi' exclaimed Miss
Joyce, with a merry laugh. II understand
the situation exactly. You don't encour
age ono of these fellows for fear he is look
ing only after your fortune. I've no doub
your fears are not ill-founded. have beer
at Lone Hollow but fortnight, yet in TIA
comparatively short space of time hav,
made discovery
Lura Joyce threw herself into rocker
and clasped her hands over one Of the
arms, peemng up from under sandy brow!
at her cousin.
As trace made no remark Lura went on
Il nave spotted one fortune-hunter a
least, cousin NINE, the handsome, heartles
Captain Starbright. Have you ever though
of his attentions seriously, Gracef
9 Never
Ahop ~ So1Ni tIANuAaNS0 VIII
evident satisfaction. Captain Starbrigh
is fortune hunter in every sense of TIL
term, and as heartess as demon. Hav,
| met him beforel ! thought you knew tina
he once pleaded with me on Bonded knees
TO marry him. Its fact all the same anC
you know it now. He was after my fortune
which proved a myth, and so the gallan
Captain ran away from that part of tn,
\.
old Morgan Nandible, and If possible win
fortune and wife at one and the same time
He has not yet succeeded and never will, i
you arc wise, Grace.
g | shall be wise enough not to wed one
do not love, ans ered the hciress, simply
Wei said, cousin. hope you will sticl
TO that text
4" You mly be sure that | viii. :
8 Now tell me, is there one that you d.
love, Grace"
The girl at the glass busted herself witt
her toilet without seeming to notice THU
question. 1t was repeated, with still NJ
answer
Then Lura Joyce came 10 her feet, and
crossing the carpet, pcered into the face o
her cousin. She was not wholly SURPRISED
to find the honest gray eyes trimming will
tears.
A smile fitted over the countenance o.
Lura Was it possible that she reioiced il
the trouble that was growing in the hear
of her cousin.
'See here, Oracle, is il this that you ar,
feeling bad abouts"
Lura laid gold ring on the dresser in
front of her cousin.
Il found it IN the grass yesterday
imagined that you might have dropped it
l am sure that saw it on your finger few
days SINCE
1t was her ring indeed, the one she hao
given back to Austin Wentword but few
days since-her engagement ring. Doubt
less he had flung it away that day wher
they had quarrcled. The sight Of it only
the more emb.ttered her feelings Grace
did not offer to touch it, but continued hel
occupation with increased nervousness.
1T Is not my ring,n asserted Grace, try
ing to speak firmly, indlfferently,
Are you sure!r
The smile deepened on the face of Lura.
Eyes, am sure. ~
''Now, how could have been so deceived
l was sure that | saw this ring on your
finger not week since
ut was mine then, but"
'Just read this, Grace. think you have
made yourself miserable for nothiug.''
Lura thrust letter into the hand of hel
cousin and then stole from the room. Whai
a thrill shot over Grace's being as she rec
ognized the well-known chirography Of
Austin Wentword.
Sinking to chair, she tore open the let
ter with nervous fingers, and read
"DEAR GRACE / am ashamed of the tenn
per exhibited at our last meeting / be
lieve was wholly in the wrong, and if YOU
can forgive me and take me back into your
affections you will never have cause to re
greet it, / will never distrust you again
whatever may happen. A word or line
from you, in token Of forgiveness, by the
bearer of this will be eagerly looked for.
"AUsTISm
Grace pressed the note TO her lips, while
tears flowed freely. She breathed easier
then, and happy smile touched her face
as she came to her feet, after concealine
the precious letter.
A few minutes later Lura came in and
stood regarding her cousin with smiling
half-questioning look on her face. She
seemed TO realize at once that Grace was in
a more pleasant mood, and this was sufi-
Gent assurance that the young mechanics
letter had been welcome.
"Shall ! carry the answer to-day,
Gracie."
Miss Penroy turned with a beaming face
toward her cousin.
You did not bring this from Stonefield,
Lurs!''
"Certainly Why not. / would delight
to carry your answer to-day, for, to tell the
truth, the foolish boy is about distracted
over the thought of losing you-and fort
une'
"l.ura Joyce'
"Well, didn't you say they were all fort
une-hunters, Miss Penroyi Don't look at
ne so with those gray eyes. was only
taking you at your word.
But did not mean"
"Welll" as the girl hesItated.
81 did not mean AUSTIN
"No, it seems not. Well, hurry and pre-
pare avn answer
"But you can not 90 TO Stonefield to-day.
The stage will take the letter over ia the
morning.
.'It win never do To trust that mode OF
conveyance; besides, The boy expects an aa-
swer tonight. A ten-mile ride is Just sport
for Romeo and i.
Then Lura danced UP to Grace, embraced
and kissed her, aud quickly rushed from the
room.
Grace, fun OF happy thoughts at this un-
expected reconciliation. proceeded at once
to pen an answer to the letter she had re-
celved that would bring JOY and peace 10 the
heart Of the anxious young mechanic
Grace was sealing the letter when her
cousin returned
All ready, Grace; Romeo / anSinns for
0 race over the hills, aud am fully as Inn
patient TO be Of All, won't the boys eyes
snap when be reads thisr'