The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-20

folly, and months OF useless hpdtny. All
he sighed, 81 was straight enough before
my marriage, but my life was shlpwrecked
solely by that woman.
His daughter listened intently, and
when he had finished she echoed has deep
SIGH. Her father had never before told
her the tragic story. She had always be-
leysd that her mother died of fever IN In
dia year after marriage. ,,
"Then my mother is not dead! sne
obs erved reflectively.
~ do not know. To me she has been
dead for eighteen years." he answered,
with a stern look upon his hard, set feat
rres. A lump rose i'll his throat, and in
his eye there was suspicion of tear.
Was she like me?" Liane asked softly,
still holding her fathers hand and look
ing up at him.
ayes, darling" he replied. "Solne-
times when you look at me shrink from
YOU because your eyes are SO like hers.
She was just your age when l married
her.
There was aflong and painful silence.
The hearts of father and daughter were
too full for words. They were indeed an
incongruous pair. He was reckless
samester, cunning adyenturer whose
career had more than once brought him
within an ace of arrest, while she, al
though premaJurely versed in the evil
ways of polyglot world where the laws
of rectitude and morality were lax, was
nevertheless pure, honest, and good.
'sBut. dear old dad why may l not
marry George?" she asked, when, after
thinking deeply over the truth regarding
her parentage, her mind reverted to
thoughts of the man she loved.
IL cannot sufficiently explain the reason
now," he answered vaguely. "Some day,
when am aware of all the facts, you
shall know
ITO. r go, love - ,>+har r,o,, che eY.
claimed decisiyely with eyes downcast.
"You know my wish Lame, her father
answered rather coldly. 6 feel sure you
will enedeavor to respect it, 7"
st cannot, fatheri I really cannoti"
she cried, starting up. besides you
give me no reason why l should not
marry"
II am unable to explain facts of which
I am as yet unaware" he said, with.
drawing his hand.
1--WE love each other, therefore l cannot
see why you should object"
81 do not objecG that there is affection
between you; but my objection Is we'll
based, assure you, as some day you Will
Re convinced"
Have you any antipathy against George
personally?'
"None whatever; rather like him." he
said. 81 only tell you in plain, straight
forward terms that your marriage with
him is impossible, therefore the sooner
you part the better;'' and opening the
door he slowly left the room.
Deep in thought. Lame stood leaning
against the table, in the same position as
Zertho had stood when he had asked the
Captain for her hand. Evidently her
father entertained some deep-rooted preju-
dice against the Stratfields; nevertheless,
al ter calm reflection, she felt confident
that sooner or later she could over-rule
his objection and persuade him to adopt
her view. as she had done on previous &C.
casious without number.
On the following afternoon double
funeral attracted hundreds of persons to
the churchyard of Stratfeld Mortimer
where Nelly Bridson was laid to rest in
a plain grave beneath a dropping willow,
and the body of Sir John Stratfiald, four
tenth baronet. WAS PLACID in the family
vault among his ancestors. When the
int rments were over George met Lame
and managed to whisper few words to
her. 1t was an appointment, and in ac-
cordance with his quest she went at sum
down along the chestnut avenue to the
Court, and was at once shown to the
library, where her lover awaited her.
Her mourning became her we'll. His
quick eyes detected that her black dress,
though not new, bore the unmistakable
cut of the fashionable dressmaker. Her
figure, perfect in its symmetry. was shown
to advantage by her short French corset.
and the narrow band of black satin that
begirt her slim waist
81 have to offer my apologies to you,
dearest" he said, when the servant had
closed the door. "At the inquest I was
bound to openly confess that we had met
ella ndestineiy."
"What apology is needed" she asked,
smiling. 1--WE love each other, and care
nothing for what the world may think. :"
"That is true" he answered deep in
thought. "But II have an announce.
ment to make to you which I fear must
cause you pain.
"An announcement! What?"
80 must leave you.
She stood before him, looked quickly
into his face, and turned deathly pale.
"Leaye me p she gasped.
eyes. I find, alas, am compelled to
"And only the day before yesterday you
asked me to become your wife!' she cried
you should treat me thuss''
Nothing. You have done nothing,
Lame, only to fascinate me and hold me
irrevocably to you,'' he answered, looking
earnestly into her clear beautiful eyes.
He paused. His soul was too full for ut
teranoe Then, at length, he said: 81 have
asked you here this evening to tell you
every Uu1iiG 4OI WlOA 4OhfC ACIo lodE ~
i'll be never to return"
"Why?" she asked, looking him full in
the face with puzzled expression.
because I am not wealthy, as is gen.
orally believed" he replied, colouring
Deeply as he met her searching gaze.
"It is useless to deceive you, therefore
must tell you the hideous truth. My
father has thought fit to leave his whole
fortune to my brother, and allow me to
go penniless. I am, therefore, unable to
marry"
LANES lips had grown white with fear
and establishment. "And that is the
reason you now intend to forsske me?"
she gasped.
He bowed his head.
She passed her hand over her eyes, Her
soul was in tumult She, too fondly
wished to believe that he actually loved
her to trust the evidence of what she saw.
His words were trifle ambiguous, and
that was sufficient to fill her with uncer.
tainty. Jealous of that delicaoy which
is the parent of love, and it's best pre-
server, she checked the overfowings of
her heart, and while her face streamed
with tears, placed her hand protestingly
upon his arm.
Forgive mep' he cried, with increased
earnestness. 81 know 1 have wronged
,o,, Eorriva mo In ipctioa vow, 49,,