The morning times., 1895-08-04

tains."
.And what shall say to HaIold?",
queI led.
For a minute Lucy faltered. "Oh, he
isis such a dear fellow" said she, with
trembling lip but he shall live with us, too.
Ana Lionel will assist him 10 become the
GI"st doctor he has planned to be-"
very nice for Harold" 1 said, dryIy.
Lucy pat up little hand to my lips and
slaIVi to say something, but there was
a crashing in the bushes and hurried
Iustling, as though some one were hasten
ing away.
We oked, but could see no one.
"Only squirrel" said Lucy, but You
will do all you can for me, viii you not,
deaI Miss Alice?''
Yes" said /, seeing it would be use
less to interfere, for her love was of the
quiet, peIsistent type that thrives on
opposition, but you must promise me one
thing When you go to the station to-
morrow night to meet your-your Count,
you must allow Harold and me to accom-
pany you as far as the train. You must
promise me this, Lucy, or cannot promise
you TO keep your secret"
After much demurring on account of
Lionel's fears and sensitiVeness, Lucy
consented; but we Were to go quietly and
not betIay the slightest hint to Aunt Has
sen.
That night, after had sought my room
and sat pondeIing over the revelations OF
the day. there came knock upon my door.
Looking out, | saw one OF the maids.
HaI hair was dishevelled and her face
was led and swollen with CRYING II
must tell you something" whispered she,
looking hastily around, "come out here
in-in this alcove window with me. You
viii not be soIryl''
l followed the girl fearfully, for she
locked wild. But until the stars had
burned themselves out in the morning
/ sat in the little alcove listening TO the
strange tale she had to tell.
Next morning dawned the brightest of
the season. 1t day break | heard Lucy
singing in her rose garden, and when
she came in to breakfast it was with a
flush in her face and happy look in
her eyes that told ME she had reconciled
her couscienceto what she was about 10 do.
Harold had clinched his hands in a
fernzy of love and hatred when | told
him the story; for Lucy could not get
the heart to break IL to him. And all
that day his moody face and my aDX
ious one, with Lucy's beamiDg smiles,
were a source OF wouderment 10 Miss
Hasseu, who sought in her gentle way to
fiud out the cause. Finally She asked Lucy
outright what made her SO happy, but
greatly TO her dismay the girl suddeGly
broke down and wept.
That night at Lucy knocked at my
door. She was dressed in her modest
Sunday suit OF gray and she carried a
little handbag. Lionel says l VIII not
want much" She said, hiding her face
upon my shoulder I'VE viii buy things
in the city-and come back in a few days
Then before L could answer, Lucy knelt
down by the wide-open window and
with the moon shining on her hair and
the river ripping below us, prayed: Ion,
God, make aunty forgive me, and do not
H. II
and me very happy And Harold but
Lucy got no further, for HaTrold's step
was at the door.
Down the mountain path we Crept.
The moon was bright at times, but now
and then went under cloud. Once Lucy
slipped upon loose stone, ana Harold
put his arm around her and held her close
as we hold those we are gioug 10 lose
forever. l followed after them. / could
not trust myself to speak. The simple
trusting grill The honesthearted boy!
And how about my part in the night s
work? Was / doing right? A prayer
was on my lips all the way.
The footpath within hundred yards OF
the station is level and closely bordered
with shrubbery. Usually the mountaineers
choose the wagon road, and so the little
path is nearly overgrown with brush.
Upon the thick pine needles and shrubs our
footsteps fell softly. l peered ahead. Could
the plan have failed?
Suddenly Harold, who was ahead, with
one hand behind him to support Lucy,
whispered: "Hush-h! There's some one
here, Listenl
Sure enough we were in range of loud,
angry voices. One was that OF a woman
speaking in swift, sharp tones. The other
voice was low and pleading-a mans voice
and at its sound Lucy clasped my arm
so tightly that l exclaimed with pain.
At the noise the womans voice grew louder
and she drew nearer. as If for US to hear.
Il tell YOU" said she, you shall never
marry her. You shall come home to us
in the city. 1 let you alone So long is
/ thought you were going to marry the
heiress, for you are ambitious and want
money. But this little country simpetOn-
neveri'
Then came the mans pleading voice.
Il never meant to marry her, Maraquita,
never, never!'
You lier' burst out the woman "She
was to meet you here to-night-is on her
way now. l know all. l have been work
ing at the inn. | followed you there TO be
near you wien you were paying court to
the hciress over at the great hotel. l
dared not go there. ! saw you making
love to this little simpleton. who believed
your tales of palaces in France and what
not And last night l found out all. You,
poor peddler, masquerading as a French
Count! Ha! hal hal"
Don't be hard on me, Maraquita,' came
the mans voice, Il will give up the little
fool / might have been in love with her.
But-but only you go away now, and will
go back to the hotel might. And then,
darauuita, when / have married the heir
ess''-
Il wouldn't trust you again." snapped
the girl "You will run away with the first
pretty face I've loved you ever since
your mother gave me, the little match girl,
q roof, and now you shall come home with
us again Come might, or I'll tell your
rich friends how you borrowed the money Of
old Jacques to become French count-with
your pretty face ard musical voice!'
The mans reply was inaudible, but it
was soft and pleading.
Reaching through the darkness, for the
moons face was still hidden, l touched
Iucy's hand 1t was as cold as ice, and
Harold was breathing upon it and chatting
it.
Let US take her home," I whispered.
ats no place for her here, in the cold
night
With grateful glance atme for my share
in the nights work, Harold lifted her
gently.
Once going up the hill Lucy spoke. "Har-
old, Harold, dear. Are you here? II
did not go away, did L? And you will not
send me away now?"
walked briskly ahead A few steps
further on I stopped and called back:
Hurry, Harold and Lucy! Miss Hassen
will be looking for u.s.
Well Deserved.