Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-19

1 SOL ludI iSlltI, even II Hduu uSal u
from the lawyers about the money at
the same tine. She had kept her prom
ise God bless her. But I am only Dor
ing you. You aren't listening"
yes I was. You said you came
straight as an arrow from Buluwayo,"
said Lord Bodmin, hurriedly. Il fan
cied I saw some one. Yes, by Jove; hero
she comes"
Crawling. following the direction Of
his friends eyes, started Violently.
How did you know?" he %sked, his
voice sounding husky from emotion.
But Bodm!n did not hear the ques-
ton. A carriage had passed. An
elderly woman and a handsome girl
who had just entered the park. were
waiting on the other side for the car
riage to go by, before crossing the road.
The noise of the passing wheels had
drowned Cravings words.
It's Edith Chalmers-the girl I am
engaged to-and her mother" said Lord
Bodmin quickly. Don't run away! I
should like to introduce you to them"
mo, won't run away" said Crawling
quietly But you needn't introduce
me. I have often met Lady Jane and
her daughter"
Presently, after he had been welcom-
ed back to London with the unexufsrant
pCliteness of well bred people, Mr.. Gray
ling and his old friends strolled back
to the Achilles statue At this point the
crowd rendered progress difficult. and
Miss Chalmers was given an opportunity
to renewing her acquaintance with the
exile in a brief tete-a-tete.. Lord Bod
min was few PAGES in front Of them.
CALAMITY steering Lady Jane through
the press CT the mob, and Miss Chalmers
spoke in rapid, low tones
why didn't YOU write to say that
you were returning?"
Il have arrived as soon as my letter
could"
"Have Won heard Of it-from him?"
eyes; Bodm.n has just told me-" .
Are YOU surprised?"
Crawling locked at her - lily and
said. with cold contempt "No. am not
surprised"
"You are very cruel. Are you going
ITO re long IN tOwn?"
'No. I am only passing through I
am on my way to Africa"
"You will come this afternoon. Come
early, l."
81 am very sorry 7 have 50 little
time in London that I fear"
You must come. Do you hear?"
Grayling looked at her again. and the
beautiful dark eyes flashed in command
and softened in appeal It was the
same face, but paler and harder than
when it came to him in his dreams IN
der the southern stars night after
night during the last three years. Tho
dark hair, the firm white brow and
chin and the full lips which trembled
ever so slightly. and the stately car
riage Of the graceful head were the
same. The sense Of the wrong she had
done him hardened his heart against
her beauty and filled him with vague
wonder at his own folly.
My coming could do no good. 7
don't ask for any explanation. | can
quite understand GOodby" he said
firmly; and then. making his adieus to
Lady Jane and BOdmin, he left them.
IF you had not come l should have
gbne to your hotelr'
Your note gave me no choice. But
it is very foolish. Your mother will
be angry. Does she know l am going
back tomorrow"
The winter afternoon was drawing
to close, the little panelled room
which Grayling remembered so we'll
was full Of strange shadows. Each
time that the fire leaped into life in the
basket CRATE some familiar object
sprang out from the gloom of the
walls-a picture, a carved bookcase, the
writing table which had kept his hopes
from fading out there in the wilderness.
Never mind my mother She knows
that | meant to see yOu-alOne. And
she prefers this to the other way. |
want you to understand how it hap
pened. You know that we hadn't too
much money in the old days Well.
things got worse and worse. My moth
er's income has dwindled away almost
TO nothing. 1t is only what my father
settled on me and the help my uncle
gives us that enables us to keep on in
the old house, and even then we are
hideously in debt and always in money
difficulties. OF course. they all said
must marry some rich man and save
the family. Everybody was against
me-mother, Alice, my uncles-every-
body. They said it was madness to
expect YOU to return-that you would
either get killed or would settle down
with a score of black wives and be a
chief, and never come back They said
that if you really cared for me you
would have been back long ago. Then
when they found out had refused Lord
I,. 'ro'u Aov made my life an absolute
torment to me. My uncle said I was
killing my mother, my mother said |
was running my sisters prospects-that
she could never get married until | was
out of the way. They all made me feel
how much they wanted to get rid of me
George. don't be unkindl Say you
can make allowances or something
even if YOU don't mean it. Why did
you go away? Why were you so proud?
| had enough then for both of us. Why
didn't you marry me? 1t was your
horrible pride-the pride that men al
ways hold dearer than their love.
George, do you hear what I say?"
and She came over to the ~arth rug
where he stood staring into the heart
of the red fire, and laid her hand on his
shoulder.
4 swear I was as much in love with
YOU as | was on the day that I told Bod
min | would be his wife They had
made me believe that it was my duty
that it would be best for you as well as
for us. But now that you have come
back. what shall I dO-what shall
do?" and she leaned her head upon her
hand
did you tell Bodmin anything OF
the past?"
NO. Il b had known he would
never have asked me to be his wife.
He is very good and very kind. and I
L IL IL, 81 IL