The morning call., 1891-10-14
GRACE SOMERS.


fC0ncludedI
ooh! Grace" said she breathlessly,
show splendid you lookl How beautiful
your hair is?' And Nora, bonny, bright
and generally saucy Nora, came and stood
tiuidly before her strangely fascinating
cousin, put both hands on her shoulders,
and lifting her flushed, excited face On +!
Grace. I wish you could stay with US a.,
ways! Oh! Grace, l love you so dearly"
said she, half shyly, half eagerly.
Aud l love you, my bonny beautiful
Norsw said Grace, kissing her affection
ately. " But bark! there is uncle calling
Us. The carriage is at the door" And the
two girls hurried dawn.
BERTHE stood ready to hand them into the
carriage. His eyes rested on Grace-Grdce,
flushed, and smiling, and radiant sparkling
eyes ana glorious hair, sweeping dress, and
queenhke step-and his heart sank. With
true loves dlftideace he began TO despair Of
ever winning her.
e She will be surrounded by dozens of fell
lows" lie said to himself, gloomily. " She
will be charmed with their dattery; she will
never look at me-"
Grace was quick to perceive the gloom on
his fac. aud WAS likewise perfectly aware
of the reason; but with the deception which,
we believe, is pretty genera! on such occa-
sions, she affected to be wholly unconscious
Of it and being capital actress, succeeded
TO perfection.
She was in high spirits when they entered
the ballroom She knew she looked we'll
She had perfect confidence in herself. The
game she had set herself was all but won.
That night she eXerted he. self to the utmost
TO please; and her sparkling eyes, splendid
hair, and graceful carriage did attract the
attention Of a great many, and the rare,
bright smile, that gave such a wonderful
charm to her pale face, was laVlshed freely
on all.
Her aunt was astouished at her triumphs.
Why, that handsome young solicitor, Mr..
Bentley was actually hanging over her
chair, enchanted with her gay speeches,
when he ought to have been dancing with
Nora.
Berte watched her with jealous misery,
and told his heavy heart over and over again
that she was a heaTtess fiTt But il was
no use. she had bound him in chains that
could not be broken.
They ha1 been listening for the last ten
minutes to the singing CT young lady who
had been RECALLING them IN very harsh,
shTill voice, with You'll Remember Me-"
during which performance all the young
gentlemen in the room, who didn't think
much OF that Shakespeare fellow, you
know" suddenly changed their opinion,
and became convinced that he knew what
was what when he pronounced "a low,
sweet voice an excellent thing in woman"
DO you sing, Miss SOmers?' asked the
handsome young solicitor, before alluded
to, when the shrlll-YoiCed young lady had
ceased.
sometimes" said Grace. smiling.
DO sing, Grace" said Nora, who was
sitting near; and "Ohl do" Joined in
chorus of voices, and the young lawyer led
Craze to the piano.
'What shall l sing? Thisp" and she
struck tile opening bars Of
One morning oh. so early
Ny beloved, my beloved!
TIE birds were singing blitheiy,
ASH never they would cease.
And then, in low, clear voice, began to
sing rising aud swelling as she went on.
Her singing was her great gift, and before
her song was half over her audience was
listening spellbound, and when she came to
the words
Not for fame and not for cIorv
But Tor all one Iife's dear story,
Give US ioTei Oh! give US Lowell
The thrilling voice rang out with a despair
ing. passionate wall that went to the hearts
of all who heard 1t, and Grace, glancing up,
caught Berries eyes fixed upon her with a
look OF such passionate longing love that her
own fell instantly upon the music again.
Bertie's heart beat high with hope, and
he told himself eXultingly he had won her
he bad won her-ber eyes had confessed ii.
Il Will learn my fate tonight" he said to
himself, feeling pretty certain his fate would
be happy one.
When Grace had finished her song there
WAS pbIlcCb ulu VI IdpluIOus applause,
and she rose from the piano smiling care
lessly and fitted about the room like but
terfiy, and smiled on this one and chatted
gayiy with that, and looked over a book of
eBgravings with another, and BERTHE never
had chance to see her alone all the even
ing, and he went to bed furlously jealous
and desperately miserable.
1t was astonishing what strong hold this
strange girl had obtained over careless, high
spirited BERTHE. He vent down 10 the
breakfast-parlor next morning feeling
WIetched in the extreme.
Grace was there alone, standing in the
bay-wiBdow, looking out into the garden.
She wore the same ugly, slate-eolored dress
she had worn the day of her arrival, her
hair was dressed in the same unbeeom-
fashion, drawn away from her forehead,
and twisted in tight knot behind; not u
particle of ornament, not a bright color
about her. She wore plain ned-dOwn
collar, fastened with big, round, ugly Jet
brooch.
She turned round when BERTHE entered the
room, and he looked at her wonderingly,
and felt that this grave, plain girl in her
unbecomlng dress, in any guise, with her
strange, silent influence. had made him her
slave; be she what she might she was his
fate. he came and stood before her.
Grace" said he bluntly; will you be
my wife? Stay; don't answer me yet, listen.
l love you more than | ever thought it posi-
Die could love any one; IL you refuse me
you will make my whole life wretched.
Now give me my answer quickly"
He was white with anxiety and his lip
trembled; otherwise he was perfectly calm.
Grace looked up, and she was quite salts
fed; his calm demeaUor did not deceive her
ono jUt. She knew well how strong a hold
she had obtained over him, aud she looked
up at him, blushing and shy, yet half
amused, ond said arcEly:
80 have won you, BertieW
he looked at her gravely and wOnderingly.
Yes, Bertie," said she, answering his
look, 81 have confession to make. Do
you remember two years ago, when there
was fire at Maldon House, and the people
were rushing about in all directions and did
not know what TO do. and the ire engines
were so long In coming, and you were there,
Berthe? l don't know what brought you
there-I never did. Well, at last, when
they thought everybody was saved, do you
remember seeing girl at one oil the burning
windows. stretching out her arms and call
ing for help, and nobody dare venture, it
looked every moment as if the roof must
fall; and you rushed forward and flew UP
the ladder, snatched the girl in your arms
and descended with her in safety, scarcely
moment before the roof fell in; and then,
without even glance at the being you had
knew whittier? Do You remember, Ber-
tie? Grace was trembling with excite
ment and suppressed feeling. DO you re-
member, BeTtc?"
Yes, remember" said BERTHE, slowly,