The Democratic advocate., 1896-12-05

battery of eyes. ''Remove your wraps,
while l order it served. Both processes
were expeditiously consummated.
As they sat around the board, bearing
so many tokens of their former life, it was
quite as much as the sisters were capable
of to restrain their tears, tears nobody
seemed to notice, and when Anne impul-
sively said : ''Now, Jasper, Jasper put
his hand lovingly on Marshall $ shoulder,
who sat next, and said ''We owe it all
to Fred When he came to us last Christ
mas | forgot my writing in talking, and
finally l told him of our great expecta-
ton Later mentioned our recent trou-
ble One day we saw an advertisement
asking the whereabouts of the descendants
of Anne Wynterdyne. Just beneath this
we read
"If Jasper Witerdene, of Maryland,
will communicate with A. B. G., Mon
treal, he will hear something to his advan
tage.
Fred was more sanguine than | was.
He loaned me money to prosecute my
English claim and volunteered to go to
Canada to see what was wanted there.
Reaching Montreal he found A. B. Z.
was our absconding trustee, whose guilty
soul had urged him to farther flight.
Fred tracked him to Paris, to Monaco,
where he discovered him dying, but with
deed of transfer of Portland Manor to
the rightful owners and 500, 900 in hard
cash. which he placed in Fred S hands for
us and then shuffled off this mortal coil,
poor soul.
but our great expectations 2 Anne
asked, timidly. ''The estate is in chan
Gerry, so tied up with red tape that was
in danger of going the way of all chancery
claimants when Fred, his hunt success
fully ended a month ago, seized me- and
brought me home. And what more can
we desire, my dears, home together, and
not cloud in our Christmas sky except
that Fred says he must leave us soon,
mournfuly.
Mrs. Rockwell checked any hasty tongue
that might have formulated congratulatory
speech by importantly waving her white,
jeweled hand across the table
II have kept my word, Jasper. The
girls are happier than when you saw them
last-except Anne, who is little firt,
though hope to reform her yet But |
bespeak your approval for Margaret and
Alice
As Jasper, with gasp, responded suit
ably, Rockwell and Marshall exchanged
glances. each making up his mind regard
ing the chances of the other. Mrs. Rock
well had thoughtlessly Illuminated dark
place.
The renewal of hand -clasping inaugu-
rated general uprising. Anne blithely
led the way back to the parlur, where she
seated herself at an ancient piano.
''We must be very good and thankful
tonight she said, and without longer
proem began to chant the Nativity hymn.
':Glory to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will towards men,
As the last note died, quiet whisper
reached her ear.
''Good will towards all men p
''All men Her whisper was tremu-
lous, and she did not vouchsafe Marshall
a look. but went to the hearth and stood
by Jasper until bedroom lamps were
brought.
The morrow was merry one, but de-
spite the gayety there was Il craving in
Annes heart to steal away from the jests
and laughter and look her destiny in the
face. With the sunset the craving over
came hospitable scruples. Thinking her
self unperceived she left the parlor and
hid herself on little rear piazza overlook
Ing the smiling Chesapeake. 1t was
snug nook, giving egress to two apart
ments, circumstance which had often
been taken advantage of-and was now.
Simultaneously the doors opened stimuli
taneously Rockwell and Marshall appeared
Fury and amazement were reflected in
their faces for a second Anne stood erect
and motionless, making no sign that she
knew Of their nearness, but oh ! how her
pulses throbbed The silence had become
torture when Marshall spoke. II pre-
sume you did not come to see the sun set,
Rockwell | confess that did not But
now that am here, shall stay so if you
have anything to say, say it Whatever
it may be, and whatever the answer is, l
pledge my word shall never be known
through me. My man. as Rockwell
hesitated, IF it will console you she has
already declared that she hates me- y
Braced by this unequivocal assertion,
Rockwell, under the ban of his customary
cautiousness, said
Am cheating myself when believe
your love lies between us two?
Anne bent her lovely head; she would
be good now, she knew she loved
1T is mine = assuredly casting look
of triumph on Marshall, as he captured
her hand
1T is not, with unmistakable dis
tinctness, snatching her fingers from his
lips, and hiding her face, feeling that the
world was slipping away from her as the
door slammed after the enraged Adonis,
whose dilittante lovemaking had prospered
so poorly.
An arm guiled her and voice-how
surprised, how tender, how rapturous it
was-eagerly asked ''And I-haye |
at last come into my kingdom, Anne p
Maryland Affairs.