Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-11-17
CHAPTER v.

- litfNl NDA- stA'& DhNA~hAAF .
Grace-eycr you cannot deny that. l
must speak to your mother today
Mrs. Sansiey looked wistfully into
her lovers face. hut she did not eon
tradict his assertion. In every rela-
ton of life Grace seemed 10 be the one
10 obey. ObediCucc, as Ruth had told
her, was an absolute necessity OF her
nature, and IN this Instance she yielded
il with n shy.proud pleasure.
There had been very little of conyeIl-
tional wooing between these two.
Vincent Erie lad taken the glad wei
come OF her ewes and the unconscious
cry that broke from her soft lips OF
the day OF his return. as full assurance
OF her unaitered faith. He was only
too willing to ignore the girls previous
d~isloyalty, and take up the thread OF
the hove story inst where tlieg had
dropped ii fse years back.
AS fer Grace, the whole world had
changed Stree yfnccnt ETle's return: II
seemed as L ileT whole uaturc had al
tered with IL From morbid misery.
She had come back 10 q Joy 50 full AMI
intense that ste treglLlgd 30 think that
ii might not last. The .irllsh love thai
her mother iaad rutllessy trampled on
had beer Shy and timid. childish and
destitute of all resistant power; but IL
had been very loy-l ,ud true. ard ii
awoke 10 new and more vigorous life
In the richer soil of thc womaa's son
row-rried heart.
Grace had loved Vincent Erie. al
though At her mothers bidding, sh,
had sent back his simple presents and
refused his band. us. also. when, ut
Mrs. Lcger's behcst, she became Her
bert Santleys wife. and put. as she.
thought, all eternal barrier between
them.
The Girl often recalled the vague,
blank misery &c these days. with an
aching sympathy and pity for the
Grace Legef WHO had been so poor a
pnppet in her p:3rent's hands, and who
had let the best gift o. life be stolen
from her. But eyer ROW her mother
should not carae between them again.
She had bit II lord and master now:
he had broker nil her ether chains.
Though she felt thai She could be
strong on this ~ point, there was
STU Il larga leavcn of tlmidity in
Grace santley's nature; and her eyes
became so wistful and her face grew
so pale at Mr., Erie's suggestion that he
laugilcd with aiIectioRale amusement
AT her fears.
"lou shocking littls coward is your
mother such 4 scarecr0w 10 ycu siillg
DO you think She will refuse you 10
me again
.'She caanot DO that, Grace an
ewered. If her lover hal had che un-
easy doabt, 1t vanished before the
glance Of her clear. truthful eyes. "But
she will be very angry, dear. She Viii
try your patlnce 10 the utmost,
know"
But she shall not wear il out. | prom
Use you,' he said. warmly: and Grace.
knowing how fully she might rely On
that promise. rewarded him with a
grateful look.
Each was silent for a few seconds;
then Mr.. Erie remarked:
"lou must think FOUR mother has m
insuperable objection to me, Grace.
whereas /, in my vanity, had thought
she only despised my poverty. But,
since | am no longer a poor man, ] iDi-
agined myself an eligible wooer."
Grace laughed. but tho laugh was un-
easy. and the troubled look came into
her eyes.
Does she so hate me?' the man per-
sisted: and Grace replied, hurriedly:
Not you: ~but-but-I think-I am
sure she does not wish me to marry
again"
Vincent's eyes flashed. but he an
swered. coolly
If her objection is so general her
protest should be- equally general; but
I do not see that she takes any trouble
60 keep other suitors ut n distance"
There are no others: and besides
BESIDES wliatg'' Vincent asked, as
the girl paused, a deep blush suff using
her cheeks. do not rob me of the
pretty confession. dear. No other
would be dangerous Your eyes said
that. though your lips were dumb.
Shall | take that as my answer
Grace nodded a shy assent; and Mr..
Erie continued. graveiy:
Then l care for nothing else: | will
see your mother at once dear, and. be-
lieve me. | shall win her over TO our
side"
Grace by no means shared this han
by confidence, but the look of resolute
power on her lovers face reassuTei
her, and she made no further objcc-
ton. Her heart beat fast as she saw
Ncr Rover eoolly accost Mrs. Leger. II
the pair ultimately retire to the dining
room for a private conference.
Ruth laughed when she found her
sister wandering restlessly through
corridor, drawing room and green
house. and learned the cause of her
perturbation.
well, you are a self-tormentor.."
Ruth declared. twisting the slender fig
ure in the pretty lace dress round the
better 70 survey the pale. pretty, but
troubisr face. .'Of course. mother viii
say NO. and Vincent will say Yes,
and d~elicateiy hint that. your consen.
being given. there was really no need
10 ask for hers; that will be an end to
the matter. The mater will be IL n
fine rage for a day or two, but that
will not keep the bells from ringing or
the cake from being made. What
dress shall | wear at the wedding.
Gracieg'
But Mrs. Santley could o view the
matter as light-heartedly MS did her sis
ter, or enter into The TESTING tone. The
moments Of suspense We're periods of
agony 10 her. Whatever happened,
she would be true to Vincent Erie