Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-27

take shelter with them until he had time to
think out his plans. "Who knows, he
thought, shut 1 may settle down among
them, the humblest rustic of them all? y
His mothers relatives, he knew, were
farmers, and at this moment the only thing
that occurred to hip was to carry the only
knowledge he had acquired to the most like
ly market that he knew Of. In mis- per-
turbed state of mind he found walking a
relief to him; and he accordingly set out to
walk to Shropshire. But after getting sew
eral times drenched to the skin his strength
gave way, and after arriving at Shrewsbury
he took to his bed and awoke in high state
of fever. He was nearly convalescent now
when Doggett found him, through the COM
munications of the kind-hearted landlady.
Miss Eversleigh set out for Shrewsbury,
accompanied by her maid, Immediately on
the receipt of Doggett's telegram. The
next day, when Ralph was sitting up fol
the first time, the landlady hustled into the
room, saying, "There's lady to see you,
SIR"
Before Ralph could recover from his sur
prise Gwendoline was kneeling at his feet
with her arms thrown round his neck, and
her smiling face raised to his. Gwendoline
looked very lovely as she knelt there, fol
though the griefs through which she had
gone, and the trying anxieties of the past
few weeks, that seemed to her now like an
ugly dream, had told upon her, her excite
ment and joy on seeing Ralph again, had
smoothed out the lines OF care from her face
and dyed her softly-rounded cheeks with
deep rosy red. Ralph thought he had never
seen her look so lovely before.
kiss me, Ralph" she said, after they
had remained awhile, with eyes fastened on
,z1o raoaofad
touch of her old imperiousness.
Ralph kissed her on the brow.
''Not there, you foolish boy" Gwendoline
said gaily. "On my lips, quick"
"Can this be true?" said Ralph, slowly,
after he had kissed her. "Or am deceiv-
ing myself?'
"Can what be true?" asked Gwendoline.
''ls it that you are here, or am dream
ing2"
Gwendoline, with soft low laugh.
'Has the will been found?" asked Ralph.
"Now, not word about the will, Ralph, +"
answered Gwendoline. ST am mistress of
Eversleigh, you know. You settled it so, if
you remember. Do you wish to go back on
your word?"
''You know better than that, +" said Ralph,
sadly. "It passes my comprehension how
my uncle could have imagined that would
succeed to Eversleigh. 1t belonged to you
of right. What has old world customs got
to do with such matters?"
.'Then you are quite content that should
remain mistress of Eversleigh?" asked
Gwendoline, and there was a look of mis-
chief in her eye, which, however, Ralph
failed to notice.
"Quite content"
ftNouorfha1aco II hroab he o1aI1 sc
your illusion, Ralph" went on Gwendo-
line, "You are the master of Eversleigh. -
GLOW so, if the will is not found?" asked
Ralph.
Because you are the master of its mis-
tress' heart"
"Gweudoliner' exclaimed Ralph. tremb-
ling now with mingled apprehension and
delight, doubling whether he understood
her meaning.
SIT is true, quite true" said Gwendoline
with downcast eyes.
Ralph drew her to his breast, and as he
held her there the throbbing of her heart
told him all that he wished to know, and
this time when his lips sought hers she re-
turned his kiss.
Then she told him everything-of Eric's
sin and Doggett's strategy, and her own
little ruse in keeping back from him infor-
nation of the recovery of the stolen will
lest the renewal of their former dispute re-
speeting the succession to Eversleigh should
provoke the rise of feeling that would keep
them asunder all their lives.
"You did not know that was fortune
hunter before" she said, merrily, when she
had finished her story.
"My darling!" he exclaimed; and he
kissed her again and again, while Gwendo-
line nestled closer IN his breast
ST do not understand it, Ralph said,
presently. when did you begin to love
me?'-the question that lovers will always
ask from their mistresses.
ST think Ihave always loved you, Ralph, %
Gwendoline said, softly.
"But you did not show it" said Ralph,
doubtfully.
"No, you were my suIky bear, and didn't
go the right way. But you were nv sulky
bear all the time. And then, when knew
no change in me would produce any change
in you, that you would love me still, what
ever came-that was necessary to you, in
fact-why, 1 was pleased-where is the
woman that would not be?-and 1 meant to
tell you all this before, but you went
away"
''Not word about Eric. That was only
passing infatuation because you were
rude. Do you know what POOR dear papa
said? He said that Eric was Eric, and
thoughtful for rhimself-very thoughtful"
''The Squire was right, said Ralph with
emphasis.
Ralph reigns at Eversleigh now, and
makes, as Gwendoline predicted, good
master and good landlord to his tenants.
He is very happy and very proud of his
beautiful wife, for, as he says, "She not
only gave me herself, but if Eversleigh had
not been left to me she would have given
me Eyersleigh too. hold all have in
trust for her and our children"
1.-THE END.1
Next Saturday,