The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-03-12

Ivey slowly turned from the win.
dow and looked up at him with he1
sad, troubled eyes. "No," she re.
piled wearily, 81 must not leave this
place yet, have mission to perform
promise made to the dying to keep
and besides what could l do, cast ou,
friendless and alone on the cruel
world9" She glanced fearfully at Mrs.
Craven and said hurriedly, go, now
and tomorrow night, if possible, ]
will 60 with you to nightingale's bowe,
and will there tell you my sad history"
.But is it safe to leave you alone
with that mad woman?" Ronald asked
anxiously.
eyes, l think so, at any rate it will
only make matters worse if you stay
longer. But oh! how l thank you TO,
releasing me. l would have died be.
fore morning as 1 was.''
Ronald saw tha, he could do no
more and left the room with a passing
glance a, the old woman which plain
ly said 81 shall watch you." The
folding door stood open as he had
left it and he paused on the old veran-
da as Ivey's light footsteps passed down
the dark hall, up the stairs and echoed
drearily in the hall above. 1t was still
dark as Eurebus but the rain had
ceased. Ronald cautiously picked his
way through the dense shrubbery and
the old owl set up his midnight whoo?
whoo? as he passed the ruined wing.
Ronald felt as though he would be un-
able to tell "who" he was if he tried,
so dazed and bewildered was he by his
strange midnight adventure. He found
Aunt Jane sitting up for him and the
cheerful sitting room and Aunt James
kindly face formed pleasing picture
after the darkness and unpleasant ex-
perience Of the night.
81 thought you would be caught in
the rain SO ! sat up and kept cup of
tea warm for you," Aunt Jane said
pleasantly. "Drink it while you tell
me of your visit. Don't you think
Nina Vivienne pretty?"
Ronald drank the tea and assured
Miss Leigh that he did think Miss WV
ienne quite pretty.
eyes, she is, and so sweet, Ronnie,
| wish," she continued wstfully s.that
you could love her; it would brighten
my life to have young face about the
house."
Ronald smiled at Aunt James ear
nestness. care you partial to that
particular young lady, Auntie?' he
asked, thinking of Ivey and how her
sweet face would brighten his lovely
home. Presently he babe Aunt Jane
good night and retired, but not to
sleep. He lay awake the short sum-
mer night through, wondering wha,
Ivey's sad story would be and if she
would b. able to keep her engagement.
CHAPTER X.
TALE OF WOE.
Ronald stood at the trysting place
b,eathlessly awaiting the approach OF
Ivey. Not sign Of last nights storm
remained, broa | fields lay smiling be-
fore him; bees hummed lazily in the
wild clover at his feet; straight before
him his own beautiful home could be
seen through the trees surrounding
it; while far to his left lselmere rose
like frowning black cloud and to the
right the nightingales' bower was out
lined against the clear, blue sky, the
first wild, sweet notes of their evening
song falling on the fragrant air. Still
Ivey came not. Ronald waited pa
tiently for an hour or more; still no
Ivey. He gave her out in despair and
sadly left the spot. Next evening
found him again under the clump ol
trees He thought possibly she had
been unable to come when she prom
ised and would come to day instead.
Nor was he disappointed; hardly had
he stationed himself in a position to
look for her ere he saw her coming
towards him. Her face was pale ard
great circles under her eyes marred its
pure lovelness. But as they walked
on to the nightingales' bower Ronald
thought he had never seen fairer
face, or one more touching. His whole
heart went to her in her helpless in
nocence and he longed 10 gather beau
| tiful Ivey to his bosom and cherish
her there forever. In silence they
reached nighlngales' bower and Ron
aid conducted his companion to sea,
on he fallen log and stood before he'
prepared to hear her story. She looked
away to where the full moon was slow
ly rising over the hill tops and begun
"My story is indeed sad one, and
| do not know that l should burden
you with it, but it will comfort me and
after all you can go away and can for
get it. When l was tiny child" she
continued" my parents lived at Isel
mere, but my father died suddenl,
leaving Mama and alone in ths
world with no means of support. L
seems strange that Mama did not lool
for Papa's will at the time. but she die
not, but moved to New York, taking
humble lodgings which she paid for b.
doing fancy needle work.
The woman you saw at 1se!mere hat
always been my nurse and went alonl
with US as such, leaving her son to tn
care of an Aunt. Mama managed Il
give me good education and live'
until l was seventeen; but before sh
died she conhded to me her belief i
the existence of will of my father S
She said she dreamed it was in tn
cushion of an old arm chair in N
fathers study and made me promis
to 20 at once to Iselmere, after he