Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-08-16
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.
Granville came down from London by
the afternoon express, as had felt sure
that he would do. In fact, I timed my
return so as TO meet him just when he
drove up to the door, and we entered
the house together. The best plan was
to get what l had to say over in as few
words as might be; so, when had led
him into my Sanctum and had given
him cup of tea, l told him point blank
that I did not love him we'll enough to
marry him. l explained, perhaps rath-
er foolishly, that circumstances had
forced this conviction upon me; where
at he smiled in the slow, exasperating
way which l believe is considered TO be
one Of his strong points as debater.
"This does not surprise me, DIANA"
was his comment upon my penitent con-
fesSion.
81 am quite aware, my dear Gran
ville," I returned (for | own that his
comDosure irritated me little that
nothing ever does surprise you. L am
very glad that you are not surprised,
and also that you are not particularly
! distressed"
THAT" he observed, is merely your
assumptions; am not conscious OF hav-
/ ing said or done anything 10 warrant
it. Ny sole meaning was that can
appreciate the force Of circumstances.
| hope you are now in fair way toward
curing the young Mr.. Longfeld whom
you so nearly killed"
After had Informed him that Mr..
Longfeld was recovering rapidly there
was short pause Then he resumed:
"You have heard, presume, that Sir
Edward Stotton is dead?"
81 have not" answered. at may be
very ignorant Of me, but until now l
had not so much as heard that he had
ever been alive Was he minister
| or an ex-miniSter, or anything Of that
! kind?"
"Oh, no." replied Granville smiling;
she was only the husband Of Lady SUIT
ton. thought you might possibly have
heard OF him, or at any rate Of her, from
your interesting patient; but perhaps
he has not been well enough to read the
newspapers lately. Otherwise he might
have been somewhat moved by tho news
that the lady to whom he was engaged
not so long ago is once more free"
/ dare say l turned pale. 1t really did
not signify whether l concealed my
emotion or betrayed it, for Granville evil
IDENTIFY read me like an open book. In
answer to my would-be indifferent in
auirieS, he told me all that he knew
about Jack Longfield and Lady Sutton.
1t was a sad story, he said, though, of
course. quite an everyday one. The
Young people had been neighborS; they
mad fallen In love with each other, and
there had been sort Of engagement
which had not been sapctioned by their
respective families. Then old Sir Ed
ward Sutton had presented himself, and
the consequences had been what they
are in nine out OF ten such cases. The
poor girl, Granville said, had hardly
been to blame In the matter. What
could she do with her father and
mother against her and her lover so
hopelessly impecunious?
''Well," said, "6lial obedience will
meet with its reward now, l suppose.
She has been delivered from her hus-
band, and it only remains for her to
live happily upon his money with her
lover, who won't be impecunious any
longer"
Granville shrugged his shoulders. 81
suppose So" he answered; but lovers
are not always constant. Probably you
know better than do whether hers is. y
That was Just what l did not know,
but il had known l should have kept
nv knowledge to myself. don't think
that in any case I should have been
bound to take Granville further into my
confidence, and everyone will allow that
was not so bound after the unmistaka-
BILE manner in which he had shown Inc
that the rupture OF our engagement was
a matter of absolute unconcern TO him.
did not love him, and l was relieved to
discover that he did not love me; yet
imagine that no woman living would
feel such discovery TO be otherwise
than nnfattering.
Under all the circumstances l was not
sorry to hear that his duty TO his party
and his county would compel him to be
in the House of Commons that night,
nor did contradict him when he consid.
erately added that his enforced depart
ure would probably spare me some en-
OarraSSmenl- OelOfc NC NChe away he
was so kind as TO say that should al
ways retain his friendship and his best
wishes. So we parted on amicable
terms, and I gathered that II l was glad
to be rid Of him, he was at least equally
glad to be rid of me. The truth is that
we had never had anything in the world
in common.
Mr.. Longfeld, presume, heard OF my
fance's flying visit from Mrs. Robertson,
That good soul had become greatly at
tached TO the young man. She had seen
us together, and no doubt she was anx
ious to prevent any possible misconcep'
tion on his part. 1 did not tell her that
had thrown Granville over, nor did
think IL necessary to impart that infor'