The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-21

He could hardly command himself to
carry ON the conversation, ana Whe'i
alone he seized pen and paper, ana
wrote u stern, angry letter. Whlch Ill
due time produced the following reply:
Il have deserved all you say. ! have
deceived and betrayed you. You are
right to say you will never see my race
again. / can only urge that l did this
to save. u. young life. full of promise,
which Is most precious to my more
than sister, Ellen O'Grady. Moreover.
Val Is completely cured of his mistaken
enthusiasm Do not think all the suf-
fering Is yours. You are wounded, IN
suited, disappointed, but you do not
feel what do. the gnawing sting OF
remOrse. Yet. Colonel CaDel could l
have done less for my old playfellow.
for Ellen's cousin? God bless and keep
YOU, We can never meet again.
Grace Digby."
over and over did Capel read this
brief epistle, and each time he felt his
indignation fading away. He knew
exactly how her voice would sound II
she had spoken the words. Across all
the cares of his command, all his eff
forts at improvement and reorganiZa-
tion. he caught her voice: and saw the
last look he had caught from her lovely
eyes.
"Roper." he said, to his soldier SER
want. one evening at dinner, "go around
to Fogarty's stables, order a chaise and
four for six o'clock sharp tomorrow
morning. I want to see Mr. Digby
and return at night. I'll be back to
ten o'clock supper"
"All right, SIR"
Capel wrote out some instructions
and addressed them to the next in
command. Then he went to bed and
tried to sleep in vain.
The next day was wet and thunder
Gus. Unable to go out Grace and her
cousin We're sitting listlessly in sort
of recess at the end of the big drawing
room. from which 1t was divided by
curtains. These the girls often drew
across the wide space to take off from
the desolate size Of the room.
you know you have my everlasting
gratitude, Grace" (Ellen O'Grady was
speaking) You have saved Val and
me, for I could not have lived mad ire
been taken; but I wish we had not
brought you bad luck. Do not give up
hope, my dear, generous cousin. DO
not regret what you have DONE"
mo-" said Grace. slowly and very
distinctly. II do not, though the cost
or vars mead mas Deen my broken
heart" and covering her face with her
hands. low sObs broke from her. The
curtains were pushed aside, and to
their amazement Capel came quickly
to her side.
1T must not break, my love. my dar-
ling" he said. II was harsh and bit
ter, but l find that life without you is
intolerable. If you can love me, I
will forgive everything. Give me your
heart, give me yourself. utterly, and
forever" He drew her to him in a
passionate embrace. and as she whis-
pered: But l do. have tried not to
love you, and | cannot help It," his
lips caught hers and clung there unre-
buked. In the intense sweetness of
this first kiss all Indignation and bit
terness were swept away forever.
Ellen O'Grady had slipped from the
room at once, and going to- the library
encountered her uncle coming into the
hall at a rapid pace.
"They tell me Col. Capel has arrived.
Where Is he?" exclaimed Mr.. Digby in
some excitement.
Don't be i'll hurry, uncle! l
rather think he and Grace are settling
that you shall see a good deal of each
other in future!"
Nelly, my heart! You don't say sol"
THE END.