The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-05-04
oromer, once your grandmother's COM

Cromer once your grandmother's COM
panion, was Clauds promised wife"
"And he threw her over" said Ade-
line, coolly, "because he was afraid Of
grandmother. He preferred to break
his hearG (such as it isD rather than
lose an Old woman's money. Mr.. sgd
ney, thank you sincerely for bringing
Miss Winfield here to-day"
81 did not know that her coming
would lead to this disclosure" he re-
piled. But am glad that you know
the truth. Only wish that it had not
been revealed in such a sudden way"
81 am sorry" said Olive, softly "It
was so startling to find her face here!
And never knew Lucy's story; she did
not blame anyone She forgave ALL"
''The dying saint might forgive but
the living sinner cannot" Adeline spoke
in her old-spirited fashion. Don't be
sorry, Miss Winfield; you have done me
avery great kindness. You shall hear
now that have been tricked into an en-
gagement with my cousin Claud-the
man who has just gone out of the room.
When he was absent, and sad, and Ian
guid-as he often was-I set it down to
weak health, and not to guilty con-
science. My grandmother always had
store of excellent excuses ready; and
even Seaward-"
'Seaward Graves your mercy Ad-
cline" Alystone said, humbly.
81 was blinded" she went on. 81
thought, as people generally do think,
that it would all come right by and by,
for him and for me. As if anything
could 60 well with a man who had been
utterly and hopclessly falsel"
! Again there was pause; and then
the chaplain turned to Olive, and said,
quietly, that they would go.
"Good-by, Miss Winfield" Adeline
said, kindly. I'VE will meet here again
some time. l ann very glad to have seen
you, Don't be sorry, please, for what
has happened to-day"
Poor Olive, with old memories and
new feelings whirling in her brain,
was glad to find herself outside the
house. Mr.. Sidney wisely forebore to
talk to her just then; but he did not
! part with her without speaking reas-
suring words. She went through the
shop, and up to her little room like one
in dream. Her recent grief seemed to
be put far away in the backgrounds;
Lucy's story was more real to-day than
her own. Yet through all her confus-
ing thoughts she was conscious of Il
kind of tender compassion for Seaward
Aylstone, and distinct remembrance
of his distressed look. 1t was always
hard, she mused, for u true person to
be mixed up with falsencss and deceit;
and he was surely true.
When the two cousins were left alone
in the studio, Adeline's face underwent
change. She softened little, and
sat down quietly in n low chair by the
! fire.
"Seaward," she said, looking up at
him as he stood leaning dejectedly
against the chimney piece, IF you
were to win that girl and cast her off /
should hate you. 1 hope you will mar
ry her; hope you will prove that base.
ness does not run in our blood"
"She must have carried away de-
lightful impression of Claud and me, "
he muttered, gloomily. II daresay she
will be afraid ever to look at me
again"
"You can remove the impression il
you take pains" Adeline replied. "And
of course Mr.. Sidney will help you. /
like that man; he has made n study of
humanity, and knows exactly how to
! deal with it, If it had not been for
him | should not easily have got di-
rect explanation to-day"
Seaward shifted his position and
sighed.
"Claud must remember the morning
when he brought Lucy Cromer here for
me to make study of her." he said
Grandmother had sent her out shop
ping, and they contrivcd to meet. He
set the jessamine spray in her hair; it
was his favorite flower, and he liked
her to wear It. You see, Adeline, he
counted on grannys real affection for
the girl, he thought thdy might per-
suade her to forgive them If they were
once married"
''She might have forgiven them; it
/ was quite possible. have never once
heard Lucy Cromer's name till to-day.
Granny has kept the secret with Won
derful craft. Go on, Seaward, and tell
me all that you know"
Seaward did tell her all that he
knew. And when he had finished, she
drew long breath and rose from her
seat.
81 don't want TO see Claud any more"
she said, quietly. "If I remain with
granny, 1t must be understood that he
is not TO come TO the house. AS TO
granny herself, feel quite equal to
the task of reducing her to submission.
II you are not too much used up, Sea-
ward, you may come and hear me an
nounce my intentions to her."
But Seaward weakly owned that he
would rather not be present at the
scene. He wanted TO smoke pipe in
peace, and calm his mind So Adeline
went off alone.
Mrs. Villiers was indeed reduced TO
submission that very evening. To do
the old woman justice she had sent
many an uneasy thought after Lucy
Cromer. And when Adeline described
the afternoons experiences, and told of
Lucy's death, the shock was too great
for granny. She astonished Miss Viii
liers by bursting into tears, and losing
all her stnrnh md hncl,rnrn ca thnt