Nevada County picayune., 1891-03-12

beauty.
During the walk there was mucl,
laughing and iesting over the trilling
accidents which befell them; bu,
one real, quite violent fall over q
stone, which was hidden by pile OF
drifting dead leaves in her path,
brought Grenvlle Grace impulsively
to Leslie's side to ask if she were
d. hurt.
Not in the least, thanks she an-
swercd. coldly, turning from him
with an indifference that seemed on.
ly too real.
"How you hate me !" he exclaimed
with passionate bitterness. "But
some day, Leslie, you will know that
you have been unjust. "
There was look in his blue eyes,
as he spoke these last words, that
would have thrilled her to the heart
in those days gone by; (ah! did it
not thrill HERO but her only answer
was mocking smile curving the red
lips, and a flash of increduIous scorn
from the witching dark eyes, as she
abruptly left him and fastened to
join the others who were little way
ahead.
Before returning home the party
made detour for the purpose OF
visiting an old ruined church which
had its romantic legend.
They spent an hour or two ex,
ploring it, and it was quite dusk
when at last they started homeward
They had gone fully half mile
when they. for the first time, missed
Leslie Arlington from among their
number.
why. where is Miss Arliugton!'
exclaimed one of the gentleman sud.
denly, in surprise.
why. isn't she back there with
you?' asked Fay Winfield, quickly
"Certainly not. We supposed
she was ahead there with YOU"
"Whcre can she be-" was tn,
anxious query that began at once tC
go around.
The little party stopped i'll th'
road for consultation.
} Good heavens" cried Fay
J suddenly, in Mortified tones; "we
must have left her in that ole
church. -
"Some one must back" sale
Grenville Grace, huskily. "She will
be terrified to death. If l."
He paused an instant, irresolute
then, his handsome face ghostly
white even in the faint light of tn,
crescent moon, he turned and wen
down the road to the old church Will
long, swift strides, Which, as soon al
he was ont Of sight, merged into {
rua.
MOI many niial'cs -lapsed before
he was pounding, with his powerful
strokes, on the old door of til,
church, and calling Leshe's nam,
again and again at the top of hi,
lungs,
II hear you'll am here" !" called
back, after brief interval, a sweet
terrified voice on the inside near the
door.
And with a thrill of unspeakable
joy Grenville bade her be patient ;
little longer, and battered away more
iiercely than ever at the door.
Soon the half-ruined fastenings
gave way, and as he stepped inside
he saw her standing there in the dim
lonesome aisle, white and trem bling
looking like some beautiful spirit o
the ruins.
lie caught the half-fainting igur,
in his arms.
Leslie, darling, come" he said
leading her out Of that grewsom'
place into the tender moonlight. :"
will take you safely home, dear. Oh
if l could thus protect you always !!
he whispered passionately, drawin.
) her closer to his side.
"Grenvillel"
, 1t was but little word, and oh
, so family spoken, yet it told him 81
much.
In moment all was forgotten
save the love that was burning a
warmly as ever in each other
: hearts.
"We were both to blame, dear,
he said, when that bitter, relentlcs
quarrel in the past had been dis
cusscd. But you should have bee
! convinced that your fancied rival wa
nothing to me, when l went ava,
the moment you cast me off, ant
crossed the Atlantic without eve
tD 30 ara;,, I nal,n