The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-28

SpOnSe.
After this conversation their break
fast was finished in silence. following
which the Squire wrote the permit,
and prouder party of little children
never travelled over the walks through
the beautiful meadows of Paradise hail
than did his own dear children and
little Gwladys Thomas upon this occa-
sion.
For five years these children walked
over the same ground, during the last
two of which. Harry Gwynne. who was
now O stalwar. lad of seventeen sum
mers, erect of figure, Of fair complexion
and handsome in every feature, and
Gwladys Thomas. beautiful girl OF
sixteen, blooming into maidenhood,
with a countenance at once exceedingly
beautiful and winsome. had walked to
and fro alone.
Love had been playing her part!
Harry Gwynne was now sent to q
higher grade school in the ancient town
of Carmarthen. Before leaving he
called ut the "Royal Prince" and
stayed with Gwladys u long time alone;
so that only they knew what words
were spoken. and what each felt, as for
the first time he pressed her gently
to his bosom and kissed her.
He had not been to school at Car
marthen three days before he wrote a
loving missive to handsome Gwladys
Thomas. The letter was short, but
full of loving expressions, and ended
thus:
"Gwladys, dear. / am yours forever
| and forever. VIII you be mine?"
Gwladys realized that there was
distance almost immeasurable between
their stations in life. Harry was the
| favOrite son of the Squire of Paradise
Hall. one of the wealthiest gentlemen
| farmers in the Vale of Towy. She
was the daughter of poor roadside
| innkeeper. Should she answer the let
| ter? Was she in love? She did not
know. though the slightest mention Of
| Harry's name thrilled her heart and
quickened her every pulse; she knew
| that. Yes, she would answer the let
| ter, but she would be very careful So
| she wrote a letter, couched In the
| choicest phrases, for Ciwladys was an
| excellent scholar, and a girl Of remark
| able mental powers, and her progress
| at the seminary had been wonderful.
But she gave no direct answer to his
| pointed question. and other letters fol-
lowed, each of Harry's redolent of his
| determination as expressed In her en-
phatic declaration.
You must be mine, dear Gwladys."
| The correspondence was kept up
steadily while Harry was at school.
| but Gwladys in none of her beautiful
| letters showed any signs of deep love
for Harry Her knowledge since Har-
ry saw her last had increased rapidly.
| She was an OmniverOus reader and had
become perfectly familiar with the
| writings of Dickens, Elliot Scott, 1rv-
ing, Lytton and other great fictionists.
She was also well versed in current
| literature and standard works. and in
| addition, a rare conversationalist.
At length Harry graduated and re-
turned to Paradise Hall to await his
fathers decision as to what his future
course in life should be.
Being leading director in one of the
| large banks of Carmarthen. the Squire
| concluded that Harry should become a
banker, and that he should commence
his banking career there at once.
During this period OF waiting at
Paradise Hall his visits to the Royal
| Prince" were frequent, and the beauty
and wonderful intelligence of Gwladys
completely chained him.
"Gwladys. you must be mine." he
would frequently exclaim. II admired
you when a child. loved you when a
girl, and adore you now with all the ar
| Vi u Illdl tldl i've Nllioul
you. l will not return to Carmarthen
until you declare
II am yours forever and forever"
Harry, / cannot. The distance be-
tween our stations In life Is too great.
BY saying what you wish me to say, l
would ruin your future forever. Con-
slider matters In calmer moment.
Your father would disinherit you, and
why such sacrifice for poor girl?
That i am rather fair to look upon, l
am aware, and that am tOlerably edu-
Gated, I know: but there are hundreds
more handsome and thousands more
intelligent in dear old Gwalia than
poor Gwladys Thomas, of the old road
side inn. No, Harry. ! cannot. That
/ love you. and will love no other man
while grass grows in the meadows
at the foot of Grongar Hill. / cannot
deny; but my love must not interfere
with your good prospects in life. No,
Harry, / must not, cannot declare as
you desire,
"Gwladys. darling. your love then is
mine. ! am strong and young. with
an education superior to that of most
young men of my native Wales. This
world is ours. My father may disin-
I 4. 4. u ..ca L