Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-03-11

with her father on the morrow, and our
two young people had seen nothing of
each other in the interim.
The tragic circumstances connected
with Mr.. Lumsden's death had put an
end to all lovemaking for the time be-
ing, and now the period Gray had al
lotted to himself for the English portion
Of his tour was nearly at an end. A
week hence, if he carried out the ar
rangement agreed upon with his father
before leaving home, he would be due
in Paris. But his love for Mary had in
powise cooled for lack of fuel to feed
itself on, and he was determined on no
account to quit London till he should
come to an understanding of some sort
with Ler mother. In this contingency
he decided % take his Uncle Orde into
his confidence and claim the benefit of
his advice in the affair. 1t was the wisest
conclusion he could have come to.
Mr.. Orde listened with lifted eyebrows
to ks nephew's recital. It was all news
to him. Nothing had he seen or sus-
pected.
81 congratulate you, my dear boy, on
having made such an excellent CHOICE"
he said heartily when Gray had come to
an end MARY Lumsden is a girl in
thousand. But tell me exactly what it
is that you wish me to do
Then Graz explained that, before
seeking an interview with Mrs. Lums-
den, he was DESTROYS of arranging for a
meeting between Mary and himself
He had not seen her since the night be-
fore her fathers death, and he was wish
! full to ascertain whether she still looked
to him to carry out the promise he had
then made her, and, in short, to satisfy
himseif-not that for one moment he
doubted her constancy-that she re-
manned as unchanged to him as he did
to her.
Mr. Orde readily undertook his
nephews commissioner week never
passed without finding him at Oakdene
once, if not Oftener-with the result
that Mary sent word she would meet
him next afternoon at three o'clock, on
the road leading from Oakdene in the
direction Of footing Common.
Well, they met, and Mary proved to
her lovers satisfaction that she was in
nowise changed. Il don't know how
my mother will receive you," remarked
the girl. ''There has been great change
in her since poor papa's death. 1t is a
dreadful thing to say, but there are
times when | fear for her reason
Il must appeal to my uncle for the
EecOnd time. If any one can induce Mrs
Lumsden to grant me an interview, he
ram
Mrs. Lumsden has consented to see
you at two o'clock tomorrow, said Mr..
Orde to his nephew three days later, al
though what kind Of a reception she
will accord to your suit it would be fu-
tile to prophesy. | must confess that in
some Of her moods | altogether fail to
understand her"
Marcus Gray lacked nothing of that
easy self possession which seems to be
the birthTight of so many Of his coun-
trymen, but it must be confessed that
when, on being ushered into the draw
ing room at Oakdene, he found himself
confronted by tall, white faced woman,
with hollow cheeks and hair which a
few short weeks had abundantly streak
I'd with gray, and with strange stee1y
glitter in her deep set eyes he felt for
once that his tongue refused to do his
bidding
''Pray be seated, Mr.. Gray" said the
widow. Il have consented to see you
in Difference to the wish of your uncle,
who was my dead husbands dearest
friend, as he is now mine. He tells me
that you have conceived an affection for
my daughter, and that you wish me to
sanction an engagement between your
self and her.
''That is the dearest wish of my life
Mrs. Lumsden.'
''And do you consider, Mr.. Gray, that
this is a fit time to dream of lovemak-
ing and giving in marriage, while the
blood q my poor murdered husband
cries out from the grave for vengeance
on his assassin? If you think so. | GER
tainly do not"
Gray knew, not what to reply. Never
in his life had he felt so nonplussed.
Eyes, the murderer is still at large"
she resumed, speaking with slow, quiet
intensity; ''as innocent seeming as you
Or |, mixing with his fellow men, no one
knowing or suspecting him for the vile
wretch that he is. Every day that passes
lessons the chances of his detection. Al
ready at Scotland Yard my husbands
death is looked upon as merely adding
another item to the long catalogue of
mysterious crimes which have never
been brought home to their perpetrators.
The task has been given up as hopeless,
other interests have come to the front,
the, reward remains unclaimed and soon
the name of Edward Lulnsden will have
faded from the minds of all, save few
who were nearest and dearest to him."
She had risen, and was Faeig the
room slowly. with something Ct the air
of Gagged animal, her clinched hands
pressed tightly to her bosom. as if to