The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-04-13

and people would call me unfeeling, In
deed, did neglect to pay q proper re-
spect to his memory"
but consider the months and months
. I should have to wait ere could call
You mine, dear Gertrude" the barOne,
pleaded. II cannot bear to. contem
plate SO long pause 'twixt myself and
. the contamination Of my dearest
wishes. Gertrude, you must be mine
for veal or woe, before another week
has passed over our heads. Away
with these foolish worldly forms; such
are not for loves observance"
my grandfather would strongly OBJ
ject to-nay. strongly oppose-Our union
on the grounds I have just mentioned
I'VE will not risk his opposition, dear
est" Sir Basil rejoined.
II do not comprehend YOU"
I'VE will not ask his consent.
II cannot we'd without It,"
Wherefore? He has no right Of any
sort over YOU"
II am aware Of that much" she an.
swerel seriously; but he has ever beer
kind to mc-ever acted towards me
like parent, and should be worse
than ungrateful were to do anything
without his full sanction"
, AOu uO lVl NStIc lUE 1CElSIluC
else you could not reckon matters after
this freezing fashion,
How would YOU have ME Dr,ye my
affection for you?"
by acting according to my wishes.
Gertrude" he eagerly answered.
"Well?'
ITO fly with ME this very hour, ;n or
der to become my wife In the next" he
argued, with great ardour.
NO, nO!" objected she. II dare lot
cannot forsake the poor sick old ::Gn.
Wait-wait awhile. Sir Basil; Seek my
gElnlfathers approval to our early
marriage. and doubt not then my will
ling acqufcscence to your wishes"
Gertrude" he said, passionately
wringing her hand,-"Gertrtllc, IL you
refuse to becorac mine ut once. us I pro-
pose, shall fly this very night, and
You will never see me mOre!'
"What.' she exclaimed, in i: Sudden
trepidation. "Oh, Sir Basil. you threat
en- me thus-you who say YOU love mel"
"And l do love You. GertrNie-tfc
powers above alone know how dearly
I do SOL
And yet you would leave ne, Sir
Basil!" she said, looking trustfully into
his handsome face. "Ah, you are lot
kind to poor Gertrude, think::'
Nor is Gertrude kind to Basil Dove
tree
Say not 3d. she breathe,l, her lips
close to his car. Gertrude would give
her life, II such would benefit you in
any way!'
"Words-merc words, Gertrude, since
YOU refuse to accept my honorable
Offer
She was distressed at his tone. and
knew not how to reply.
With her whole heart she loved him.
AMI with her whole heart she was also
ready to obey him; but the reme,n-
hrancc Of her duty to hic .hD had
through life 80 cherished ner, claiming
her utmost consideration aud attention.
| Sir Basil DOvctrce young though he
was, was quite aware Of Gertrude's feel
ings toward him. He knew That SHE
would not he leaning ON his shoulder
thus. We're she not pr2.arel to yield to
all his wishes. A little more urging on
lis part. and she would bend entirely.
10 his w'iI.
He charged his maupsis -lookal cold
aud drs,a;ringly-and the loving, gen
tic creature gradually s:.fanel ..wal,ls
him. aad consented to all mat ne s:o.
posed. =" meet him III tho nutsEirls
Of IL" Gage carly on :hr fnl:..!te1 /.
day. aud then to rePair ~ Windsor :llli
Le it,a:ritd T.. him; an! afterwards to
i.t,lrn ., Ter hOn,c-her ,ullon T.. II.
kept s..c'et until shs could win lie;
grandfather's approval Of 1t.
Such was the arrangement between
Sir Basil Dovetree and the innocent
and trusting girl he was seeking 20 le-
tray. We shall see how he kept his
word with her, and how unworthy lie
was of her confidence and love.
Sir Basil returned home greatly elat-
ed; and Warrington, who was soon
made acquainted with all, started off
to prepare his mock parson, and to get
all things in readiness for the perform
ance of the pretended ceremony ut
Windsor.
Before daylight on the following NOR
row, Sir Basil's carriage was waiting
at the end of certain lane near Raven
marsh, while the baronet himself was
hastily proceeding towards the place Mt
which Gertrude had promised to meet
him, and where he found her, anxious
ly anticipating his coming.
Il am sorry" she commenced; "but
my grandfather is much worse; and 1
feel I cannot deceive him by taking
this unadvised step. have been
dreaming all night, Sir Basil---oh, such
dreadful. terrible dreams!--anl I am
now more reluctant than ever to wed
you without the good old mans con-
sent"
"Whe-c does your grantlft tller think
you have gone to ut this lOur?" he de.
manded, rather abruptly.
II asked him to allow me to visit
Mrs. Baldrick.''
For 'he whole day, of courseY'
Eyes, Sir BASIL" faltcred she.
"That's right" he returned. drawing
her arm within his own, and proceed
ing to retrace his steps.
stop" she cried, II cannot go with
you, Sir Basll-indeed, indeed can
not"
And she stood still, trembling, aud
almost painting for breath.
But Sir Basil needed not her words
and continued to draw her onward and
onward, all the while pouring into hel
ears his lOve-syllables, until poor Ger
trude was no longer the mistress OF
herself or of her actions.
Having reached the end of the lane
where the carriage was waiting, Sill
Basil's speech assumed such tones Of
passionate earnestness that Gertrude't
| UTtlu grew WHOLLY D0WlkuCECU, uuU Bit
suffered him to lift her into the vehicle
without Offering the slightest resistance
of any kind, and without uttering 6
single word.
The worst that could befall her, shs
was thinking, was to become Sir Ba
sill Dovetree's wife, and that would mo-
be any such sore misfortune, after all
So Gertrude laid comfort to her heart
and made up her mind to become Lady
Dovetree.
Meanwhile, the conveyance was pro
ceeding Mt a rapid rate, and daylight
was growing brighter and brighter. Al
O certain turnpike Warrington met thu
equipage, and entered 1t.
"All is in readiness!' he whispered
speaking in French.
MY best friendw the baronet re
Joined, in the same tongue.
Gertrude, who had no doubt what
ever regarding the good faith Of hel
lover, paid but little attention to WIN
he and his friend were saying to on,
another.
Now, although she was not unhappy
Gertrude was not altogether easy II
her mind. She knew she was acting
wrongly, and hence her present st0t,
of mental discontinue.
The carriage entered Windsori apt
obeying Warrington's directions, stop
/ ped before large house, the door O
! which was opened by man in rlcl
suit Of livery.
l