New-York tribune., 1896-11-15
VIII.

A week had passed by. a week so full Of hope,
and fears that it seemed year. and again
Cecil Hartley stood In the presence OF the nrst
lawyer In the land The whir OF conflicting
emotions through which he passed had ended
In the calm that follows a storm, and now his
steady. self-possessed bearing was all that the
most most phlegmatic Of Engishmen could desire.
Whatever the gift Fate had in store-golden
apple or Goals Of fire-he would take 1t with m
shrinking hand.
And so Fate seeing she was poweress "a
frlghten. smiled graciously upon him once again
HIS Lordships first words put heart OF gracs
into him Immediately. so cordial ard kindly
were the tones Of that sometimes awful voice
Well. Mr.. Hartley, have you come to-day Ia
tell me that, after mature reflection you wish
to withdraw that rash proposal to which you
unfortunately committed yourself last June?"
his Lordships piercing eyes twinkled as he
spoke. quite like those Of an ordinary mortal
because 1t Is perfectly obvious that YOU can.
not. in common fairness be held bound by an
oHer made under such misunderstanding a.
yours seems t. have been. according TO what I
can gather from the lady's somewhat confused
account. 1t is one thing to assume the charge
OF an insignificant wanderer with an unfortu.
nate family history and quite another to I'm.
dertahe the management OF a spollt younr
Har.leyT ,'
Cecil laughed aloud in tho pIadnas. ~. -.
heart - ''''
II say. My Lord. that had the matter bee,
left to my own choice. l should certainly have
preferred the insignificant wanderer Ru, ,hs
Fates having wled that I should bestow nv
heart blindfolded. it is not for me to question o.
reverse their decision"
SO you won't accept a friendly warning,
Well well. II you will have your own way Won
must put up with the consequences. Excuse me
a moment. Mr.. Hartley"
With a step almost boyish in its quick light
energy. the Lord Chancellor left the room Rs.
fore Cecil had recovered from the surprise Of
this interruption he heard rustic Of silken
garments behind him. He rose to his feet and
turned sharply. With rosy cheeks and softly
smiling lips Grace Thornton stood motionless IN
the middle OF the room. The heavy sken cur.
u in hiding the door by which she had entered
was still swaying slowly into its accustomed
folds.
Cecil sprang eagerly toward her She did not
stir. and something In the gentle submissiveness
Of her attitude put sudden daring into his heart
He drew her quickly to him and laid lovers
kiss upon her lips.
Laughing: bushing and frownirg all In a mo-
ment, Grace disengaged herself soon a.
might be.
still rash and impetuous as ever. How
could you dare to take things for granted In
such fashion,"
For immediate answer the culprit took her
hand and placed her beside him on a comfort
able divan. Then he answered with at least an
outward show Of due pentence:
1T was abominable OF me, Don't ask how
dared do 1t; for don't know myself You just
IL couldn't help IT,"
Miss Thornton laughed.
And yet you expect me to hand over myself
and all my future life to the care OF such
such a creature OF impulse"
so long as the impulses entirely praise
worthy what natter"
You not afraid then" she said softly.
after a long. sweet silence. "of the responsibility
OF all that horrid money? used to think Of Il
as great wall Of gold. shutting me out from
every hope of being loved for myself
alone"
Was that why you kept me in ignorance %
long? And let me blunder as did,"
Yes II only you knew how many a NORTH.
cation my money had brought upon me before
resolved to fly from II all for little while
with Aunt Anne! or course. am still minor:
but my allowance Is a very large one. and every
form OF fortune-hunter. male and female. seemed
already 10 have marked me down as lawful
prey. Again and again hoped that had won
a little disinterested affection: but something
always came TO open my eyes,.
Eyes sweet and true They might well
have won world OF love had you been beg
gar-maid,"
"Flatterng King Cophetua! Well. was
heart-sick OF II all. I got my guardians leave
TO travel for six months with Mrs. Armytage
You know the rest. We left our maids at home
bought the plainest clothes We could fnd--and
went forth in search OF little peace. 1t was
lovely to go Just where We pleased and do just
as we liked. for once."
And how could you feel sure that had not
penetrated your artful disguise? How came you
to trust me more than others?
Miss Thornton hesitated.
II don't quite know-perhaps II was instinct
Or perhaps II was just-your honest eyes" She
her for Aen
from the very first day you contradicted an9
corrected me as had never been contradicteo
and corrected In my life!'
Cecil looked at her in bewilderment
II? Contradict and correct your r
"Of course you did, A hundred times."
Tell me one! can't believe IT,"
We'll. didn't you tell me that my italian had
decidedly British flavor when I asked you
about my accent?" -
"Oh! Well, you know. you really did SPEAK
italian very badly them" A..
'Of course l did; but no one else had ever told
me Then there was my favorite ha'-ho"
you revied it,
And wasn't 1t an absurd headgear to wear On
board ship in stiff breeze" s.-
mo doubt it was. But no man had ever pe;
fore found fault with a hat Of mine III naa
worn a coal l-scuttle they would have vowed F"
was charming. .,.
You must have thought me a perfect bear. 49,
Not at all. II was infinitely reiresnihe 70 "a
treated as a reasonable human belng. l's.eau
of as the heiress to so many thousands ye" -
But 1t made me more and more carelul hoL ~
destroy the charm by giving you any .,v
which might have identified me- Fortuna.es..
NV name alone is not so uncommon as to attrac'
attention"
Under a cloud But did not Know tnas S
till-till that day at Aiasso Amusem,entt ~ her
shyness were struggling for posses'" sd"a' didn't
ROSY face 1T was too comica an idea: - anS
iaurh because you were so much In earnest IN
I was too-too happy! And then you yur,.d are Ito 70
and mpetuous,you know Months: NJ A"a absence would
not make you forget me. And then there "
my guardians'-- ..,s .,,,rousiy
lust then a door manure Tat.e" -,-a.s IN.
$50. Mr.. Hartley. in spite OF my mypr,cstion express
function. find YOU again IN conn comn1 10 purge
with INV ward! How are you going 70 p"''
wourself sir Of this contempt OF court s;.o nv
my Lord. this my fair temptation, ,r 10 court Of
Justification VIII you not relieve you. .n NV saSe
an onerous charge by giving her INTO s2. my can
Heeping? So far as human love ana care
make s.s her happy, she shall be happy,a yo,a m. a.
S'r. 40 " aid His Lordship grimy. What cisn ~
can You advance to the prize: Mr. Hartley; Hartley s"
they could not plausby bring .ds csn better
"That question. MY LORD. .ne ,so'
Cecil took his sweetheart's unres'sasns rhere
and led her to where her guardian sat mace or
he released her. and stepped paun ,,,HnIned Grace