The herald., 1896-01-26

already furiously jealous of him."
Catherine smiled, and yet she was
pleased with this exacting affection.
What woman does not like her lover to
be little jealous of her?
Suddenly one afternoon, Almund ar
rived at Otterby Catherine was out
with the boys, but he could guess where
they were likely to be found, and went
straight to the park pond. Very soon
the voices of the three happy skaters
convinced him that he had been a cor
rect diviner Catherine was flying over
the ice, the boys vainly trying to catch
her ere she reached the goal, and in
their eager chase Almund's approach
was not perceived, until they turned
and saw him standing on the edge of
the pond. Then it was who could
reach him first, and there was a little
hubbub of joy over his arrival.
Never had Catherine seemed so ex-
quisite and so desirable. If any pitying
scruples had been in his heart ere he saw
her, the splendor of her beauty and his
own overmastering passion for the girl
silenced all doubts and made him reckless
as to consequences. AS they walked
home through the winter twilight he told
her what urgent case had brought him
to Ottcrby.
"My uncle leaves in two days for the
Mediterranean" he said, "and | must 20
with him. 1t is not likely he will ever
return alive. 1t is true | am his natural
heir, but he is enormously rich. and his
personal property he can leave as he de-
Sires. 1t is most important to me, Cath
crime. Without it, my title will be but q
killing burden. l cannot leave you with
nothing but a promise between u.s. There
must be an irrevocable tie. You must
marry me tomorrow morning"
Il cannot do that. / must stay here
until Mrs. MoWbray returns. She eX-
poets nothing less from me-"
81 do not wish you to leave here Just
yet, l only wish you to marry me. No
one but the priest and two witnesses will
be present, l have arranged everything.
Then, when my poor uncle is no more,
shall return home free and rich, and we
shall have public ceremony. ask moth
ing from you but this We will part at
the church door, and I will not see you
again till / can claim you before all the
world"
She only answered with sigh, and he
continued his pleading until the house
was reached. Then he turned to Willie
and said:
ASK me to tea with Miss Raeburn and
you, boys. 1 think you might do that"
And Willie and Fred jumped at such
delightful proposal, and very soon the
footman was spreading the table in the
children's parlor, and Catherine was
pouring out the tea, and Lord Morpeth
serving the game pasty. A delightful
hour followed the meal, and then the
boys, wearied with skating and talking,
fell sound asleep; and Lord Morpeth had
his opportunity. All the sweet ways of
persuasion known to men, his love
strong and eXacting-taught him; and
when he left the Manor House at nine
O'Clock that night, it was with Gather
ines promise to meet him at nine o'clock
the next morning in the parish Church
at Otterby. The rector was in Italy, and
the curate lived at the larger village of
Otterby-Major; but Almund had a cler-
gyman with him, a friend of his college
days, and shilling would obtain the
keys from the sexton.
The promise was made,and she was too
truthful to waver a moment after it,:
but she did not dare to think of what
might follow. She was going to make
Almund happy, going to give him an
unmistakable proof that she desired none
but him, and that she fully trusted her
future to his honor. Women who really
love rejoice in such self-sacrifice, and
Catherine went to sleep smiling. She
was glad to show her love by doing all
that love asked; she would trust Almund
without guarantee; her faith in him
nppdpl no witness
Nine o'clock was an early hour at Of
terby Manor. When she left the house,
half an hour before it, only a servant
maid was about. 81 am going for a
walk, Ann" she said, 'but shall be
back before breakfast is served" 1t
was clear, cold morning, and she
walked rapidly, neither debating with
herself nor spelling the grace Of her
surrender with questions and suspi-
cion. Almund met her at the stile where
the park touched the highway, and as
soon as they entered the church a