The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-03-05
HENDERSON, N. c., THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1896

cane. He wished that all concerned
in making this helpless girl miserable
we're in the daisies place-he would
serve them likewise.
| "You will allow me to call some
times, will you no,?" he said at
length.
The girl turned her startled face to
his; "What! you call on me publicly at
Ise.mere? oh! never do that" she said
piteously, "it would never do"
'sBut is this to be the end Of our
friendship? Am l never to see you
again7 Won't you sometimes allow me
to accompany you on your twi-
light walks to the nightingale S
bower?" Ronald asked in despair.
81 don't know, oh! l don't know
what to say; tell me-" raising appeal
ingly her lovely face with its dewy eyes
and quivering scarlet lips, "would it be
wrong? You know l have no mother
to advise me; think we'll before you
speak" Ronald looked down in the
innocent. honest face of the girl, and
| vowed to be honest and true with her,
as he would have others be with his
own sister had she lived: While these
| thoughts passed quickly through his
mind, she looked intently in his eyes
as though trying to read his soul.
They had now reached the clump of
trees at the bend of the lane, and turn
ing Ronald took her hand; "Mss
Ivey," he said simply, sto the pure all
things are pure, circumstances prevent
my seeing you at your own home as
would wish and | am sure there can be
no harm in my occasionally accom-
panying you on your walks. 1t would :,
| hope, cheer your loneliness, and af-
ford me the greatest possible pleasure. !"
"Well, sometimes you may Ivey
answered, well satisfied with her scru-
tiny of his face. "To-night, when
the dew drops fall, shall meet you
here?" Ronald asked eagerly.
"No, | shall not go there tonight,
but day after tomorrow, if you'll meet
me here in the evening, I'll go with
you to hear the nightingales sing. "Au
,evoir," and gracefully waving her
snowy hand, she quickly vanished
round the bend of the lane.
CHAPTER vi.
BOB CRAVEN.
Long Ronald stood meath the shad-
ow of the trees as Ivey had left him.
Joyful thoughts coursed simultaneous S.
ly through his mind. He had seen
her, had conversed with her "and we
are better acquainted than we would
have been in months, had we met
under different circumstances" he
thought gleefully. "How lovely she
is; so simple, so modest and pure, and
how trustfully she turned to me to de-
eide whether i, was wrong for me to
accompany her on her walks. No, lit
tie Ivey it will not be wrong. Day after
tomorrow she said, and then to the
nightingale's bower to listen to the
sweetest of music with sweet Ivey lsel-
mere by my side.
"There is something in name after
all, for my lvey, by another name,
would not be so sweet. But I'll away
to Glen Fern now or Aunt Jane will
think the sgh ,sts' have carried me off. "
Bob Craven on reaching his lodg :
ing sat down to think. The reader will
remember his abrupt departure from
Iselmere on the night our story opened.
81 only wish l had my way with that
proud Miss, and her mulishness," he
thought. "I'd take her down a peg
or two. I'm thinking that will, be-
fore long, for marry me she shall, and
that before the month is out, or out 0
that house sh-. goes, TO perish for all
care. | was nlnnv to leave last
night 'thout coming to an understand
ing. Never mind, III go again in a
day or SO, and then | won't be quite
so easy to get rid Of"
He rose and fumbled in an old DO,
for his pipe; lighting it he sailed fortf
to spend the day in loahng or some
other disreputable way, his nights being
spent in gambling or drinking.
CHAPTER VII.
"wILD ROSE COTTAGE.
In a tiny cottage, called from
the great abundance Of luxurious
wild rose vines which almost smoth
cred it, "Wlld Rose Cottage,' and al
most within sight of Glen Fern Villa
lived widow lady, Mrs. Vivienne
and her lovely daughter Nina. JUS
now as they sat at breakfast, which th
neat maid servant had spread witt
such CAFE f'r them, the c,nvers ,,i,'
had strangely enough dri'sed to thei
5 neighbors at Glen Fern and Iselmere
"Ronald Thurston used to be tn
most sociable person l ever saw,
, Nina remarked to her mother, cam
now we never see him at all. He ha
: called only once and then it seemed
as though his thoughts were mile
: away. | can't imagine what has com
S over the spirit OF his dreams.
t "Maybe he is in love with some gil
he met while travelling" suggeste
t her mother.
Nina flashed a side glance at he
. and was silent.
"Mama," she said presently: "
:; have the greatest curiosity to see thos
# people at Iselmere. l believe | wi
: CALL"
S "Why, Nina! l would do no sue
d thing, you know nothing of thos
e people, and they show very plainly h
# their action that Company would |
distasteful TO them"
d "Yes | know Mama, but the neigl
[, bOrs have not tried very hard tn cor