New-York tribune., 1896-11-15


to be resisted. Miss Thornton rose meeKiy ahe the
abandoned her sketching paraphernaiia 10 '"e
mercy Of the intruder utt,e
Il am just going to SIT In the shaue ioi ~
while Aunt Anne." a
Mrs. Armytage gave little acquiescen. ,trg Mvu,
without lifting her eyes from the absorplns
pages of her novel. The two young people
strolled leisurely toward the artfully cnosen
shady nook and there Grace sat down on tne
warm. dry sand, while her attendant N'''s"'
stretched himself humblv at her feet .,,,.
For awhile the two chatted on IN lrlenu,S lr
fashion about art and literature poetry. sclence,
religion and all the other trfing matters ,,Soos Wo
stand apart from the one great fact OF lile-"e
life appeared to their eyes that fair June uay.
Rut presently there came long. dangerous
pause. broken at length by Cecil with ar re''a'N
quite foreign to the previous conversatloi
1T was just awfully good or you-ahu Mis-
Armytage-to let me come on here. ne ~
claimed in sudden burst OF gratItude WIFI ,i,
somewhat startled his companion But she oriy
laughed and answered with careless ilghtness.
II do not quite see how We could have pre-
vented it. We certainly had not acquires ,ai', any
monopoly of Alassio-nor even of all the no,ei:
That's all very well. But how could nave
inflicted myself upon you like this II you hadn
given ME permission? And ! say again. IL VIZ =,
awfully good Of you. II only you knew what ~
meant to me- he broke off suddenly. his
companion gave him no help. and presently ne
resumed in camer tone .s
II wonder what / should have done II you nao
shunted me for good and all at Genoa! You
might easily have done 1t. as soon as had
been dried and dosed!
tenor Of your way and seen all you intended TO
see when you started. AS it is, you have spent
more than half your holiday already here, see
ing nothing and doing nothing-eXcept waiting
upon and amusing-tw) strangers
The young mans face flushed hotly
THAT is not kind OF you. Miss Thornton. Why
do you remind me so coldiy and cuttlngly no"
slight claim have upon your kindness"
"A slight claim do you call 1t. Mr. Hartley!
Did you not risk; II not your life at least very
bad cold in our service and defence that day AT
ricd my easel about for me under sun not
enough to entltle you to say you nave peeh
through fire and water for us?
Cecil changed his position. 80 that as he lay
resting on his elbows. he could look up into the
girls laughing face.
II wish you would be serious. There is some
thing want to tell you: something l can't be
with you another day without telling YOU MISS
Thornton. you must listen to me. You must
Know
Grace Thornton's face was grave enough now.
as she hurriedly interrupted the impetuous
words.
IT know. Mr.. Hartley that we are after all
only strangers in all essential points What do
you know about us to-day more than you knew
after the first day or two on board the Cam
Groom"
II know this much at least. Miss Thornton
I know that to me you the one woman in
the world. and that love you as man only
loves in his life"
ton had vanished now. His answer TO the chal-
lenge had an earnest ring In IT that would not
be GainSaid ~ II were possible
Then there was long silence. Miss thornton
sat motionlcss gazing hxedly out 10 sea. out
wardy calm but for the telltale color which
came and went with startling rapidity The
little waves Tapped gently along the shore. and
the voices of some bare-legged urchins al play
far along the sands smotc with almost painfu
distinctn"ss on the ears Of boir.
Cecil waited patiently for long time. Then
he spoke again. very gently and calmly.
Have startled you? | know you might well
be offended al my presumption In daring 10 tell
hIt IL know.
you have been very good to mo. Don't think l
mean that YOU have ever given me the rght 10
expect anything beyond the kindness you have
already shown mc-just such kindness as your
own sweet heart might prompt You TO show any
lonely stranger you met. only could not go
away without telling you how loved you. Nor
could stay beside you any longer in silence.
don, ask you any question: dare not only
tell me YOU arc not angry with me for speaking
so Soon
For moment n smile lowered family around
the girls pale lips.
Il am not angry" she said. gently; but am
very much surprised.
'sur,r!s 1, why surprised? Isn't It the most
natural thing in the world that any man who
gets tho chance should tell you he loves you and
wants 10 marry vou?"
Som, thing In the words seemed 10 startle the
girl strangely. She lifted her head with a sud
don quick movement. and looked full up into the
bright blue eyes above her. Therc was scrutiny
In her gaze almost suspicion. Then slowly her
eyes sank again. and n smile once more crept
back To- the tremulous mouth.
You talk Ike boy" she said softly Have
you ever thought what IL mcans-this that yoI
ere doing-ths placing your whole future at the
mercy Of n woman OF whose antcccdcnts and
belongings you know absolutely nothing? How
do you know that do not come Of pcope whom
you would not willingly claim as aclua.ntances.
/ much more as your wifr's rclat!ons?'
IF the relations were unlucky enough to he
objectionable people. why. all the more reason
you should he taken away from them. AZ Tor
myself | don't want Ia marry n family circle.
or 10 contract an advantageous alliance 1t
Is you want-you your own sweet self You
only"
by her past surroundings. What do you know
~ mine? So far you know my aunt and |
might have dropped from the clouds that day
we met at Southampton. You have told me n
hundred things about yourself and your people.
your schoodays. your home. your work. your
hopes. What have we told you IN return :
/ Nothing: you cannot deny IL, How can you ex-
plain such silence to yourself? People are not
reticcnt without reason. what reason nave
you assigned to us yoursclf?
| Cecil did not reply Immediately. The present
had been so sweet 10 him OF late that all else
had been forgotten. and he had troubled himself
| little about the silence in question. But now he
was directly challenged to give "A reason for the
| faith that was In him. and he had 10 dive down
! into his thoughts awhile before he could
| answer. Then he spoke. slowly and gravely:
You must not he angry with me II tell you
| the plain truth-Im not good AT hiding things.
| OF course. have sometimes wondered that you
! never spoke OF yourself as people naturally do
| when they are much together. But II was nc
business OF mine. and have tried not to let my
thoughts dwell on II. Only. since you wish II.
will tell you what have sometimes fancied
| think there must he some great sorrow In your
| past life-something which you want to forget.
| perhaps some burden which time has lifted from
| your shoulders. and which you hope never to
| carry again"
/, lie paused but Grace made no sign. He looked
| down at her half-averted face. and wondered
! whether It possible that she had ever
| passed through one Of those tragedies which
| from time to time crop up In families Of hitherto
| stainless name leaving their indelibe brand Of
| shame on a whole generation Of innocent women
| and children? great wave of love and pity
| swept into the young mans heart at the bare
| supposition. He spoke again, and more boldly:
IF am right-if there Is some good reason
| why your thoughts should turn more willingly
| to the future than to the past. then let me help