Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-05-30


cess. the prince of fate was at last
coming to claim her. And she let her.
SELF glide down the stream of oblivion,
and led her beautiful lotus life.
Two or three days passed; the house
party was gcy ard bright. 1t seemed to
Carmen that she h2i never tasted such
pleasure. Everything ran on wheels.
The gentle, u-seltish hostess. Clara as
bright Us a butterfly and as pretty, who,
if no. the first person in the hosts esti-
nation, certainly was in that of Squire
Hun;.ey, rather heavy, ponderous in
Gividual, but easily pleased, and greatly
IN love with pretty Miss Gay; ard this
young lady. being a diplomatist. kept
him in reserve until she saw how events
we're going TO arrange themselves.
As for julius Gay, he asked nothing
better than t., sun himself in Garments
smiles; while Sir Geoffry, in his minds
eye, saw the woman he loved, radiant.
beautiful, his wife-receiving their
friends. Col. Massingbird found a con-
genial friend in Mr.. Fairfax, who had
lately como into some property in the
neighborhood, and being an old Indian,
they plunged into their grievances and
theories of Anglo-Indian life and were
happy.
They were very delightful days. Per-
haps they would never come again to
some of them. Quien sabe?
Carmen" whispered Geoffry as they
separated on the softly moonlit terrace,
"come down to the Lady's Glen to-mor-
row, after breakfast. / have something
particularly wish to tell you"
With a little access of color, Carmen
answered, II will come"
Such dayl Cloudless, joyous!" Car
men threw open her windows and let in
the dewy. scent laden air. and it gently
lifted the heavy masses of her hair. II
wonder what he wishes to tell me!" But
the ripping smile round her saucy arched
lips betrayed her. She knew what he
wished to tell her. and she was deli
ciously happy. There was no sladowing
of the evil to come. no cloud bigger
than q mans hand" On tho horizon of
her day.
After breakfast every one dispersed,
Miss Estcourt to this housekeeper's room,
Miss Gay to write letters, the gentlemen
to the stables. Sir Geoffry to see his
steward; but instead of interviewing
that functionary he wcnded his way,
smoking a cigar. through the park in all
its beauty. The celebrating feeling
from without was intensified by the deep
happiness within. He knew he was
loved; the beautiful eyes of Carmen had
told him SO much. And he loved her so
truly. 1t was tho love Of his manhood,
firm. strong, loyal. She was SO lovely,
SO holy, so pure; and then her father had
been the beau ideal of his boyish dreams,
so brave, true and modest. so gentle in
his life, such a thorough soldier, with
his Victoria cross that he priced moro
than his c. B. And they would be his
relatives, "wife, brother and father in
one" He would. indeed. be proud Of
them.
The Lady's Glen was a wild, seques-
tered. but beautiful spot And there
was tradition that somo dead and gone
Lady Estcourt haunted it. for why or
wherefore no one could exactly say.
But it certainly showed Ler good taste,
for it was an exquisite bit Of sylvan
beauty. The overhanging rocks were
covered with creeping vegetation, here
red, there deep messy green. In the
gently sloping ravine was busy little
brook that tumbled and splashed into
miniature waterfalls, and then staid like
an idle gossip to coquette with the SUM-
beams in some brown pool, and on again
with frothy impatience to make up for
lost time. A few oaks reared their large
branches overhead, green with their
midsummer growth. while the silver
birch stood out slim and dainty; lower
down few gray old pollards guided the
stream. and here and there in the shady
banks the kingfisher flashed in an out.
The leaves were beginning to fall,
brown and golden. with just faint little
sigh; a gentle protest against the muta-
bility of leaves in general.
And .Geoffry seated himself on the
lovers seat. How many Of his house
had told their love tale there! For it Is
such an old. old story. He knew not.
Then he saw the white clad form Of his
queen, she for whom he had waited,
longed for; she was coming! He threw
away his cigar, and the brook bore it
away. like good many things discarded
in life. A blush like the rosy morn
greeted him.
"Sir knight! What may be your
pleasurcy'
my pleasure, fair lady7 My pleasure
and my love 60 hand in hand, like two
fair twin sisters. All, Carmen! You
must know why asked you to give me
this opportunity. You must have seen
my love for you. l shall never know
peace Of mind, shall never rest and be
happy. until you are my wife. That is
my pleasure. that is my request Only
say yes, Carmen"
Very shyly and te:.derly flor Carmen
loved him with all her heart, with all the
strength Of her warm, passionate, per.
haps undisciplined nature) came tho an.
swer. low but clear: "Geofry. I love
you dearly, and say, yes"
The soft wind played through the
glen, the tinted leaves rustlcd and fell
gently, the brook chartered and bah.
bled In soft. sympathetic sounds.
It had had 80 much experience In
these mundane affairs: it knew sc
much Of lovers vowsl But the birds
sang hymn Of Joy; they believed i'm.
plicitly in love; the bees droned softly
and monotonously as they winged theil
busy flight to and fro distant flower pas.
lures.
"Geofry" after long silence, said
Carmen, "there Is just little episode ir
my life ! should like Ito tell you. I thinl
you ought to know"
TELL on. sweetheart" putting his arm
round her waist.
Years ago; let me see. three year.
ago. I was H."
"How old" said Geoffry with happy
laugh.
chad q boy lover; he was 10, and We
went of one morning and got married al
. registrars. Think Of thati It wal
while was at school at Havensmouth
But you can put all that right. she con.
tinued lightly, "because"-
Garment His voice was so hoarse
90 full Of horror that she turned her soft,
unconscious eyes on him in absolute
amazement. "Good God, Garment Are
you in your right senses"
II hope So" she replied with some
thing like petulance in her tone. For
she yet failed to grasp the severe solem-
v,ikp ~ b;o vv,on~..