The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-11


Colswood," !" she said, to change the SUBJ
feet. al know Mrs. Thurston and Ethel
will do all they can TO make your stay
pleasant"
"Thank ysu, I've no doubt shall nnd
Il pleasant" returned Hugh. "You, too,
are one of Mrs. Thurston's household, !
supposeT
dyes" with Q smile. "You SEQ am q
distant relative TO Mrs. Thurston; then
Miss Wayne is my cousin and exercises
kind OF cousinly guardianship over me,
which no doubt Is very necessary"
$50 you are Miss Wsyne's cousin! l
do not remember hearing Mr.. Cranston
mention you. ! did not expect to have
the pleasure Of meeting any ladies but
Mrs. Thurston and Miss Wayne"
"How unkind In Mr.. Cranston not TO
prepare you for this meeting" and there
was q roguish CLEAN In her eyes which
Hugh did not see. AZ had up to date re-
garded Mr.. Cranston as one OF my very
best friends, but to ignore mo 20 utterly,
when he knew ! would accompany Cousin
Ethel here, looks like downright inten-
tional neglect"
"You have not given me the pleasure OF
knowing your name," said Hugh, both
amused and pleased with his pretty
driver.
"Oh, I'm a Wayne, too," she answered
laughingly. "Ethel Estelle Wayne, vari-
ously nicknamed, - you will observe
later on"
Two Ethel waynesi Here was real
surprise for Colewood. Why had Grams
ton not mentioned that strange fact to
him?
II the Ethel Wayne referred to in the
will was only half as animated and gen.
orally captivating as the one by his side
Hugh thought 1t might be an easy matter
after all to obey that condition whicn had
30 vexed him.
Colewood received cordial welcome at
Mrs. Thurston's pleasant home. he found
Miss Wayne to be tall, dignifed girl of
about twenty-three, with coal black hair
and deep gray eyes. She was ~ unlike
her little merry hearted cousin a. 1t was
possible to be.
Yes, Hugh decided she was just such
woman as his eccentric aunt would be
likely to select as the wife Of her heir.
1t did not require q long time for the
young man to realize that he could never
love Miss Wayne as the man should love
the girl whom he intends to marry.
He made another important discovery
that his life would be q failure without
the little cousin to furnish daily sunshine
and wifely cheer for his own home.
He resolved to let Miss Wayne have
ne-half of his aunt's estates and the or
phan asylum the other. He would marry
the girl of his own choice, provided he
could win her, and boldly fight his own
way through life.
Having so decided Hugh set out for .
stroll along the river, feeling more manly
for his resolve.
He came suddenly upon little figure in
white, reading, in little viney nook by
the rivers side.
"Wait, Estelle," he called, for she had
started to run away. "I shall leave to-
morrow, and / have something to say to.
you which you must hear"
The telltale flush which swept over face
and neck at his words might have given
some hint of an easy surrender. However,
in q moment she had regained that Gus
tomary piquancy which had more than
once exasperated Hugh.
"Td be sorry to have you leave us with
any burden on your mind" she said pro-
vokingly.
at is needless for me to tell you why it
was arranged for me to meet Miss Wayne
here" he said, unheeding her light words.
"You know, suppose"
"Some slight idea, believe" she re-
turned, lingering her book.
"Well, may az we'll tell you that that
condition in my late aunt's Will can never
be fulfilled"
"And why notf"
"Because / love another" he cried,
passionately. ooh, Estellel can you not
see how tenderly, how ardently love
your without you ! shall make failure
of life. Won't you show mercy, Estellei"
"Oh, Hugh! would you marry poor
girl when you have q chance to win q
dignified bride and retain those princely
estatesf" she asked.
eyes, darling. prefer you with love
in O cottage to the wealthiest woman
with all the estate In the worldi"
Crash statement, young man."
"It Is true. Do not torture me longer,
Estelle. Can you not love me ittlef"
"No."
"Then you do not love mef"
"I'm afraid do"
"Do not mock me, Estelle."
81 am not mocking you, Hugh" In .
very sweet voice.
"Then you do love me a little?"
ANO, hOe u httho, Oub NCAy AhuCns
He would have caught her to his breast,
but she eluded his arms, crying:
"Oh, there's Uncle Cranstonp and she
rushed forward to greet the little lawyer,
who had approached them unseen.
ait is useless for me to ignore facts"
said Mr.. Cranston, pleasantly. "I did
not mean to overhear your conversation,
but arrived unexpectedly and thought
I'd hunt up my sprite here and surprise
her. see you understand each other
pretty clearly"
eyes, sir" said Hugh, bravely; al
have decided TO enjoy love In cottage
with this dear girl rather than keep the
estate with Miss Wayne"
"Love in a cottagei Oh, that's too
goodi"
And Mr.. Cranston broke into hearty
laugh, in which the girl finally joined
him.
"Will you have the goodness to explain
what amuses you SO much In my state
mentw asked Hugh, not q little nettled.
Upardon ma Colewood Rut reallv