The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-09-01
CHAPTER Nv.
AN EXPLANATION,

had yielded to the impulse of fait
which the girl had stirred. but as 500
as she was alone and her old doubts II
Cured she began to look searchingly q
all that Lola had said.
1t was in its effects then that Lola
cleverness in giving the pledge not {
marry without Lady Walcote's consen
wRs proved 1t w;s dILicult TO accep
the promise as anything but proof o
the girls complete good faith, aud q
this it prevailed with Lady Walcote.
She had gone to the interview con
WINGED of Lola's deceit and with
strong belief that, if only she coult
"trip off the veil, past more or les
compromising would be seen, but tn,
interview had changed much of thil
opinion, and again in this the girl:
shrewdness had been great.
She had not attempted to make her.
self too white. She had painted her past
as having its evil associations and con-
nections with which she would neces-
sarily be brought in contact. Her plea
was that she had not been injured in
the contact. Had she pleaded that there
was no sort of guile in her past Lady
Walcote would have rejected the plea
without a word, but the implication
that there was much temptation to do
wrong and the plea that she had been
kept from it by the thought of the honor
of her family had gone straight home
to one in whom the pride of race was
like religion.
Another effect of the interview was
to convince Lady Walcote that if Jaffray
loved Lola his love was returned to the
full as passionately, and this had APP
pealed naturally to the mothers heart,
softening her judgment of Lola.
She regretted the affair as much as
ever. She did not believe that Jaffray
would find half so much happiness with
Lola as with Beryl, and she would have
cut off her right hand TO have him mar
ry Beryl instead of Lola, but the sting
of her opposition was gone because the
reasons for it were changed.
Sir Jaffray saw this almost as soon as
he met his mother at the carriage door
and gave her his arm into the house.
well, mother" he asked as eager
ly almost as boy.
What | say will not stop you, Jaf.
fray, know. You are set OH this mar
riage, and l can see in it disaster as
plainly as l can see Lola's beauty" He
noticed the use of the Christian name
and was pleased IF you do what I
wish, You will not marry her.
And if I cannot think as you do?"
,e asked.
Il shall not stand in the way any
onger "
Il am glad"- he began, but she in
errupted him at once.
Don't misunderstood me. / am as
much opposed to it as ever, but since
eeing Lola have changed some of my
thoughts. 1 dread the marriage and
ear the consequences, but you shall not
ind me otherwise than ready to try to
Welcome your wife, even if my heart is
ull of foreboding. -
Il am glad" said Sir Jaffray quiet
y, and he kissed her.
1t was not very suspicious consent,
ut Sir Jaffray was satisfied. He knew
ow strongly his mother had desired the
marriage with Beryl and how hard she
ways fought against giving way in
ny much cherished project. He was
leased also at the thought that Lola
ad thus won her round from what
eemed an uncompromising and irwin
lble resistance.
And Beryl, mother" he added aft
+ pause.
Il will see her myself" said Lady
'alcote. "And now that you have con-
uered in all"-she smiled sadly-"let
10 CO."
He opened the door of the room
here they had stood, and as she passed
ut he said:
Il know all that this means to you.
lother. l shall never forget it all my
fe"
She answered with smile and a
lance laden with love, but yet sad.
When he was alone, he became
loughtful and restless, and after wan
erlng through the house and round the
ables he had his horse out and set out
II bard gallop across country-an
d habit.
He met his mother again at dinner
nd was sorry to notice kind of re-
rye between them. Neither mentioned
he name of either of the girls who
'rmed the subject of the thoughts of
9TH until the end Of dinner, when, as !.
ady Walcote was leaving the table, she
lid:
II have written to Beryl, Jaffray.
linking you would like the thing set
ed at once and not feeling equal to a ,,
'urney to Torquay.
II am glad. You are as thoughtful
usual, y he said Then, as if seeking
err opinion, he added, 81 was thinking
going back to Torquay." )
The old lady paused.
1t might be trial to You both. lint
you could have some sort of explapa.
on 1t would smooth the future, and
eryl is very dear to me.''
On that he resolved to go, and, that ,,
eryl might have warming of his COM
~ and so avoid an interview if she !,
leased, he wrote little note to Mrs
e witt, saying that he proposed to re-
1rn to Torquay on the following dav
nj that If they were mt stavino IN