Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-06-02

and confidence IN me by making a sac
r.aca Lesiav. could yov. would you
marry re ST once. in secret, and let
the matter remeiu 4 secret for q certain
time. not far distant. when I will di-
vulge 1t 70 the worid?"
She rested her mead ~p1n his shoul-
der. ard her sweet face flushed
u trust you she rlurmurei
Then you wiu ccnsert?" ne cried,
eagerly
II VIII 'hirk it over. and le, you
know hy tomorrow she responded
in 2 whisper
Heaven bless you,"
and then step upon the veranda
startled The lovers. and when Mrs.
Grsvsoa approa h-d. rohD was stand
jne alooI. one hand resting idly upon
The uetl.s nea. upon which the Guelder
roses we're creeping slowly. their fra
grant heads glitterlng with dev; while
Le5lev raeliuei il hef elsy-Cha!T some
distance away. Put no one saw the
dark figure which crouched behind a
-rsa. its trunk covered with clinging
ivy forming a screen; or the white.
nIathful face, and burning eyes. which
had been watching them iDtently.
Lesley knew that she loved John
Ardsley with all he strength Of her
youns heart. which had never cared for
any man before. She trusted him, al
though she had not known him over
three months And considering the
high recommendations IN regard to his
chara cteI-frou scaGc o: the most eX-
alted dignitarles in the land-the girl
was not SO much 70 be blamed and cen
sured. as blindly credul0us. She gave
him her answer. and, as one might pre-
dict, It was not adverse She rad made
Up her mind 70 parry John Ardsley So
cretlv ard Gt once Why need they
waite True she would not come Into
complete control Of her fortune for
nearly Two years vet. but whv could
they not 1--we or as they were and We:
she would have soR;e one always near
her who would have a risht 70 protect
her and care for Esg2 She was in
tersely romantic. yo1 will perceive.
STE had never cared for any one be-
fore John Ard7Iey vas the only man
who had ever kissed her lips. and she
layisked Gpon hin an the wealth OF
love IN her heart she did not uues-
ton his reason for keeping their love
a secret, or for asking her to marry
him clandestinely; she had all the
beautiful trust and confidence OF youth
which, once lost, Is like the down
brushed from the pink cheek of the
ripe peach-it can never be restored
though We barter Our lives % regain
it.
The days cane and went. Maude
Bradburn fitted II and oTt Of th5
house like fairy. but Lesley felt nc
longer Jealous Of her pretty friend
John Ardsley loved her; he had nc
soft words or tender glances for any
other woman, and Lesley was content
and oh, 50 happy
And one night, ;n the fair moon
light. Lesley stole forth from Chad
wicke Hall, and entering the carriage
which ArdsIey had in waiting. she was
driven TO a distant town. and there tbs
solemn vows were plighted which
made them husband and wife
In the pearly moonlight they drove
| slowly back TO the hall too intensely
| happy for words.
Mrs Greyson believing that Lesley
had been visiting her friend Maude
met her in the entrance hall.
why, my dear" she cried. taking
the white hands in her own. and kiss
| ing the girls soft cheeks, "how lovely
how radiant you are. You look 50 hap
by, Lesley"
And both OF them recalled thesc
words in the dread, dark afterwardi
for it was many a long day ere tht
heiress OF Chadwick Hall was happy
and care-free again.
Sitting III the pretty morning-room
the next morning, all in white, as usu'
al, Lesley was startled as a servant an
nounced Max Ruthven. She arose with
quiet dignity. He came in, white tc
the very lips, and his dark eyes glintec
maliciously as they fell upon the
young girl.
"Good-morning," he began, with i'll
! concealed derisiou, goodmorning
Mrs Ardsleyi"
Lesley, pallid as marble. sank into
her seat again.
How had he learned her secret?
-you-mean?" she fal'
tered
Max Ruthven's cold eyes never re.
| moved their glance of triumph and ha-
tired from her white face.
"Ah!" he sneered, insolently, "you
fancied your secret unknown; but
listen to me, madam-you can never
hide anything from Max Ruthven; SC
don't you Try it, Stop moment" ne
continued, as Lesley arose with quiet
dignity. and laid her hand upon the
baH rope; ''Isten 10 what / have tc
say, if you please. madam; it VIII not
detain you long; and then, II you thin4i
best. you can order your servants tC
nut NE out. You nave seen fit 10 wed
with this stranger; now let me tell you
a secret. ! know ell about him. He
calls himself John Ardsley; but his
real name is Guy Raleigh, and-he is q
married mani"
with & low groan Of mortal agony
Lesleys hand dropped from the bell
rope, and she reeled forward unsteadi'
ly
There was u hustle in the hall with
out. and CHANGING up, her eyes fell up
on the face Of Lurline Chadwicke.
She came forward with insolent
grace.
Madam" she cried, in . clear, ring
ing tone, Il swore never to cross the
threshold OF ChadwicEe Hall again un'
III came back TO my own-until 1 re.
turned its mistress. Lesley Dinsmort
Ardsley-whatever you call yourself
MY hour has come!"
CHAPTER X
Lurlines Triumph.
My hour has comet
a.. YrIfro Hhaduyigkp uttered these