The Winslow mail., 1898-05-07
( WILLFUL GRACE WEIR. !
\ BY HELEN BEEKHAN.

! GRACE WEIR was pouting-yes, alb.
u solutely, undeniably pouting. The
pretty little mouth dropped at the cor
ners in a very injured fashion, the
bright, blue eyes were suspiciously
moist and the little fingers tapped i'm
patiently on the window pane, There
was not much in the outside prospect to
cheer her. The rain was falling in tor
rents. A few luckless pedestrians who
had ventured out were bidding defiance
to wind and weather in rubber suits,
which in vain strove to conceal the for
lornity of their owners, and even the
horses possessed an injured air. With
in, the room was attractive enough, and
the figure at the window, notwithstand-
ing the pouts, by no means the least OF
it's attractions.
why, Grace" exclaimed q voice from
the open doorway, 81 left you standing
in that identical position a full half
hour ago. What spell has kept you
chained so long?"
The spell of my own thoughts" an
swered the girl, breaking away with a
little, short laugh, rather forced laugh,
very unlike the merry, musical ripples
which were wont to bubble over in con-
tagious peals. 81 was thinking, Helen,
actually thinking. Of course I could
DO nothing else"
And what was the engrcssing sub
ject? All, ] pan guess without that
blush in answer, Go, Grace, and dress.
You have barely time before dinner, and
the rain will not keep Neil Horton away
tonight"
What care I if he comes or goes? l
fortunately have other matter for my
thoughts more worthy their attention" :"
and with shrug of the shoulders Grace
fitted past her cousin and left the
room.
Il can't help it," she thought, as she
unloesed the coils of nut-brown hair,
preparatory to their Encouragement.
'It is not my fault if he makes me say
ugly things. He is so jealous and ex-
acting. l do not believe he will come
tonight" but the thought hardly rose
from her heart, for way in a corner
nestled the secret belief that he would,
and SO, notwithstanding the veXation
of the moment, the pretty lace cravat
was tied with tender care and a rose,
taken from the vase upon her bureau,
to peep out from the glossy braids.
Full well she knew whose hand gave the
quick peal at the bell as the clock struck
eight, but she would not raise her eyes
from her work until he had crossed
the room and stood before her. Her
cousin had vanished. She was alone
with him,
"Have you no welcome for me,
Grace?"
"Ah, good evening, Mr.. Horton. I
hardly thought you would venture out
in such weather"
"You do not mean that, Grace. You
know no weather couldIdetain me. Per-
haps you thought my pride would have
prevented my coming. did have lit
tie war with it, but l conquered, 1t was
a grand victory. Do you guess what
gave me the strength to put it under?
Love, Grace; the love l bear you, and
which, spite of yourself and the quick
words which you said when we last met,
/ think has awakened some answer in
your heart. You told me last night,
when 1 asked you not to dance with
man I know to be unworthy your re-
spect, that had not the right to choose
your associates. Give me the right, dar-
ling, by giving me yourself"
Neil Horizons voice as he said these
words was low and tender, the face
bending over her young and handsome.
A great wave of color had surged up
ward at his words, but as he finished it
receded, leaving her deathly white, and
her eyes flashed as she answered:
Never! The right to be tyrant be-
cause am in your power. The right to
choose my friends! This is your def
nition of love, is it, Neil Horton? Then
it is not mine. thank you for thus Civ
ing me an insight into your jealous and
exacting nature. Yes, it is true. You
are jealous of Capt. Randolph, and,
therefore, malign him."
"Grace, do you think so meanly of
me? Listen, darling. / might be jeal-
ous 1t would be hard to see you with
other men and not feel some touch of
such feeling, but no jealousy would
cause me TO wrong another. Capt. Ran
dolph is a man; had ! sister | would
rather see her in her grave than his
wife; had ] home its threshold never
should be polluted by his footstep. Yet
such men are given the entree into So
ciety. Can / not say this to you with
out fear of misconstruction?
''It is not necessary to argue the
question further. Capt. Randolph is
my friend. | have promised to dine
with him tomorrow afternoon, and
shall certainly keep my engagement. /
release you from any further interest
in tie matter. and think we may find
some pleasanter topic to discuss"
"And this is your decision? burst
from the mans white lips. 81 con-
quered pride tonight, Grace, and came
to you. believing that you loved me, be-
lieving that the hot words of impulse
You already had regretted. l find
you cold and hardened; nay, more cruel
and unjust. I loved you, Grace. love
you still. The right to care for, to guard
and cherish you deny me, but if the
hopes which once filed my breast were
not all false, if the answering love had
so gladly thought read in your eyes
may bear some fruit, however withered
and you need friend, stand ready tc
come to you. Good evening, Miss Weir