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

1. dnu came 10 lseimeIe, bringing my
old nurse with me- In the mean time
her son Bob had grown up and
came sometimes to see his mother.
paid no attention to him of course, re-
garding him as an inferior and being
too saddened by Mama's death to
think Of any one, however charming.
But had only few weeks of grace.
Mrs. Craven's manner, which had al.
ways been most respectful, changed
suddenly and she began annoying me
in many ways. She told me that
Iselmere did not belong to me and
that was there on sufferance; but she
said it would be all right if l would
marry her son.
Last night that odious man came
again and told me i'll did not marry
him at once that l must leave Iselmere.
From their evident anxiety on this
subject / have concluded that nv
fathers will must have been found by
him and it is my property they want.
When you came in so opportunely the
other night Mrs Craven was trying to
compel me to promise that l would
marry her son. She was also annoy
ing me when Miss Vivienne called
but l asked her to say nothing about
it Now what am l to do? Icannot
compel Mrs. Craven to give up the
will because do not know that she
has it and l can't leave Iselmere be-
cause 1 promised my dying mother
that | would not; stand in hourly
danger of personal violence as it is,
and oh! do not know what to do"
she concluded, burying her face in her
hands.
Ronald knelt before her, his pent up
love for her rushing to his lips in pas
sionate words. He took her tremb-
ling hands tenderly within his own.
"Marry me, darling, and l will protect
you from all harm and no one shall
ever wound or annoy you again, my
precious Ivey." He pleaded thus
long and earnestly and finally she
yielded, and laying her gentle head
against his manly breast she nestled
trustfully there. She looked up in his
eyes and said:
81 loved you from the first moment
l Saw you, Ronald, but l did not
dream that my love was returned"
"You will marry me at once, sweet
hearth l can not trust you out of my
care now."
"But Ronald, cannot marry you
and leave Iselmere until l fulfill the
promise made my dying MOTHER"
Ivey said.
"You must, or how am to take
care of you little Iveyr'
"Can't you watch over me from
afar?" she asked with the first CLEAN
OF sauciness he had ever noticed in her.
"No, do not choose to watch over
my property that way" Ronald said
fondly, 81 want to take you home and
make up in love and petting for what
you have suffered" Then he told her
of his home, of Aun, Jane. how glad
she would be TO have her, and all.
She listened in silence and then
twined her soft arms round his neck
and said softly: "You would not
have me false to my word, dearest,
would you? No, l know you would
not for your eyes are truth itself and
when this will is found will be free
and then it shall be as you wish.''
With this promise Ronald had to
bc content. They rose and left the
spot before the nightingales COM
menced their evening song. They
were very happy as they walked slow
ly along through the fragrant clover.
They paused at the bend Of the lane
conversing happily of the future SO
bright with hope for them. After a
tender good night and promise 10
meet again the following evening,
they separated, Ronald inl high spirits,
thinking lovingly of the pure, gentle
girl who had promised to be his wife.
TTc BE CONTINUED.