The Globe-republican., 1891-11-05

V0uO0l uu&S1S Tue o0AuIoSAOu SuuD
authorized by the terrible old lady.
Dinner Is served" then said the
latter. Give me your arm, captain.
Our young people can 70 How"
''GraLdmamma talks as though Cap
tain Charter were as old as she is, ="
thought Lena, on Henri Bowen's arm,
land am sure he is mot old at all 1
don't believe he has one gray hair in
his head"
Henri Bowen's first remark she did
not hear, and she had to ask him to re.
peat it
"Mrs- Fredericks, your granddaugh-
ter is charming" said the captain, after
dinner.
The two younger people had gone
out into the grounds.
'Capt- Charter, formed my grand
daughter myself" retorted Mrs Fred
ericks, dryly.
The captain laughed
"You are right That is reason
enough. You have made her a charm
ing girl: you will make her a charm
ing woman. For some man she will
make an adorable wife, and in her
later years she will be what you are
now"
mo, not quite said the old lady,
sereneIy. Lena is woman made for
love- was a woman made for rule,
for command. am tyrant Oh! l
know it, and choose to be. have
yet to find anyone who can manage
my affairs land even those of a few
others as satisfactorily as myself
But Lena is different She is a very
tender blossom. She will never care
to be a tyrant. She will live for her
husband-for his love. She will only
develop into all nature intended her
for under those conditions. Therefore
it is very necessary to end an excep-
tional oak for my exceptional vine.
Dropping all metaphor, the husband
who is to be worthy of Lena must not
be the first chance sutton. If your
nephew pleases me-" concluded the old
lady, fastening her bright, piercing
eyes with masterful and humorous
challenge on the captains face, 81 may
capture him for her."
Henri is an excellent fellow" said
the captain. with some emotion.
He glanced through the window at
the two young people pacing slowly up
and down in the moonlight.
Il wonder what he is talking to her
about" thought the captain. His col
lege races, probably"
Lena's grandmother, in her turn,
watched her companions unconscious
face a moment
'Well, WE'LL" she said. 1--WE shall
see!'
But Capt Charter. 1 don't know
why
"You don't know why should COM
plain?' said the captain, gently. 1t
was many evenings since the evening
of his arrival, and it was he now who
was pacing in the dusk by Lena's side.
Conscience-stricken, he told himself
that he had no right thus TO monopo-
lie that place. Where was Henri. his
nephew?
'Ah! WE'LL" he resumed, you cannot
say that you always treated my
nephew kindly-as kindly as he would
wish" He was trying to smile. but
his heart was heavy. 1t seemed al
ways to be SO now.
Lena, with downcast eyes, made no
answer.
perhaps you will say" continued
the captain, still with his forced light.
ness. that you have not known him
long enough TOTO learn to think of
him as he would wish. But"
do you think one must know IA
person a long time to-care in that
way?" asked Lena, casting rapidly a
sly glance upon him.
''No!-I-think a day-an hour-is
often enough-often too much if it is
to make the unhappiness of whole
life The poor captain paused.
What, what had he been saying? Desr
perately he strove to gather himself to-
gether. The odor of roses and new
mown hay was in the air, and the
rustic of Lena's white dress upon the
gravel of the park made his pulses
beat. Wildly he threw himself back
into the way of duty But that must
not be with poor Henri. l hope. Ifyou
could learn to care even a little for
him, the rest might come in time"
Helplessly he floundered on. Lena.
who a moment before had flushed like
a rose. had now turned pale as ghost
under cover of the cleaning. When.
the next time, they reached the end of
the walk. she left her companion and
entered the house.
Her grandmother was sitting in the
great armchair. under shaded lamp,
Herbert Spencer.
Where have you come from?" she
said. But I know. l should do bet
ter to ask where young Mr.. Bowen is.
You have been walking with the un-
Gle, instead Why was that?"
The old lady's tone had never been
more autocratic, and her eyes had
never had a more arbitrary and sarcas-
tic CLEAN. Lena began to tremble.
Her tense nerves gave way.
''G-andmamma," she cried. you
have no right-no, no right-to marry
me against my will"
Her blue eyes were flashing like dia-
hohind the Sudden binding