The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-13

when 1t was over Lord Lismere said
cou~rteously, though-firmly:
Miss GreatoreX, 4 must ask you to
allow me a few minutes conversation.
l will not detain you very long. There
is a small room at the end of this suite
where few people are passing. Will you
permit me to find you a seat there,
where we can be undisturbed while /
seize this opportunity of explaining
much / have long desired to make
known to your"
She murmured an assent, for she felt
he had a right to make the request, and
soon they We're seated side by side in a
quiet corner where they were quite I'M
observed by the other guests.
Miss Greatorex,' said Lord LiSmere
81 have asked to speak TO you alone
that l might thank o with all my
heart and soul for the splendid service
you did me on that one occasion when
we met under circumstances that were
a shame and disgrace to me. Your no
BILE words of pure and burning indigna-
ton at my unworthy d opened
my eyes suddenly to the true nature of
the infamou trade in which 1 had en-
barked. Believe me, before l saw you
the glamour of the wild adventurous
| career, with all it's danger and daring,
had blinded mt wholly TO it's guilt and
degradation; but when you, a fair,
young girl. with magnificent courage
and high-souled adherence of injustice
and oppression, denounced me to my
face the scales fell from my distorted
vision. 1t was as though a new being
had been born within me. I was filled
with detestation of my former life; l
| longed to redeem the past, and / took
a secret VOW then and there that for
ali the rest of my existence / would
live a pure and honorable life as a
righteous man, and that VOW I have
Kept unswervingly from the m
that your carriage bore you away from
my longing eyes. From thai hour / was
a highwayman no more forever. I re-
stored Mrs. Winton'S property, l dis
missed my followers, I enlisted as an
ordinary soldier to serve my country.
l toiIed to build up a blameless charac-
ter for myself till 1 was called to my
present position, in which / strive still
to maintain it. and all this, Cicely
Greatorex, / owe TO you, and 1 thank
you for it deeply, humbly and most sin
cerely."
She strove to express her delight at
what he had said, to beg his forgiveness
now for the insults which a sprung
from her lips on that memorable day,
but she was in fact too much moved to
explain her feelings clearly, and as some
persons came into the room they re-
turned in silence to where her aunt was
seated.
After that evening Lord Lismere and
Miss Greatorex met very frequently,
both at various ENTERTAINMENTS 10 Wnlcn
they were invited and at the house OF
her aunt. where he called as often as
the etiquette of the day permitted. They
became great friends, Inc finally much
more than friends.
One morning a few weeks later Cicely
came into her aunt's room with a radiant
light in her eyes and a soft flush on her
delicate cheek.
Aunt" she said, holding out her
hands with a ~rapturous gesture, wish
me joy. / am going to marry Captain
Rookie"
Captain who?" said her aunt,
amazed. for she had been absent from
England when that name was notorious
and had never heard it. Cicely GRIM
soned all over her fair face.
"Oh. what possessed me TO utter that
name?" she said. confused Il mean
Lord Lismere."
"Ah. Lord Lismere. Well and good. /
can congratulate you, my dear. with all
my heart on a union with him, for he is
a. noble gentleman, honorable, true and
good You will be very happy. L doubt
not. if your life is henceforward to be
spent by his side"
The Argosy.