The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-12

someone that you like better eh, my queen?"
he said, triumphantly.
All, yes" she breathed, softly, and he felt
now her slender shape swayed towards him;
but L am afraid Roddy has not, and l am
SO sorry for him.
Poor beggar! he will be awfully cut up of
course; but even you could not have made
him happy if you did not love him.
1t was easy enough to be compassionate
now towards the rival who had, after all,
been so little of rival.
Only, before he went back the other day,
ne asked me If there anyone else, and
and I said No. said Shela, uneasily.
And what made you say that my un-
II could not tell him about you. II
was not sure myself she said, shyly; t'and
now l am afraid he will think 1 deceived him
on purpose. Oh, it is not eaSy to speak the
truth always!"
But think that, to you. it is still harder
to tell lie said her lover, tenderly. Sheila,
90 ..STo you .kn know when I loved you first?'
little closer to his side
When first [ saw you standing there in
tnat mob of women, in your white dress, with
the hlles in your hand, and your sweet face
all allght with interest and wonder. l vowed
then that / would make you love me, and 1
think have kept my vow, have I not?''
Yes, but it was dreadfully conceited Of
you to make it," said Sheila, laughing and
bushing
Mrs. Harding delighted with the news
when Lord Fanshawe appeared next morning
to interview the colonel.
1t was a great triumph for her as chaperon
that her charge should be making such
match, and that with no unseemly scheming
on her part. too.
OF course we cannot speak absolutely for
what Sheia has let fall T should imagine
there will be no difficulty with him.
L rear he has never taken much interest in
the chlld; he is man with only one love in
q md rhn hi rr,,f s4l -
have only a grudge against all the rest of the
world for being still alive
can't understand any man not caring for
Sheila,' said the lover, warmly ''Well, my
best course will be to go over and see him.
That is small respect tc pay her father
And, of course, the wedding will take
place from here" said Mrs. Harding, looking
her far better than do my own child
The colonel, also. was full of congratula-
tlons. and Edith was the only person who
did not join in the chorus of approval.
Yes; General Fanshawe is a very nice little
man, and you are making very good
match, as the phrase goes,' she sad her
hands in her pockets, her back against the
rnantelpece; but my poor Spanish pirate is
worth dozen of him. .4.,u -'--+
How you say Gerald is a little man ?
He is quite as big as, Roddy;" said sheila,
Indignantly. +i-'
"Oh was net referring to bodily stature.
Gerald Fanshawe is just an ordinary man,
civilized to the last degree; the other is
primitive, with primitive loves and hates. 1
am sorry for him, and 1 think candidly that
you are making e mistake
| For goodness sake. do not talk such nom
sense, Edith said her mother irritably 81
cannot think-I really cannot-how it comes
that child of mine should hold such views
as you do''
Poor, dear little mother! did the poor old
hen hatch out tiresome duckling that would
go and get its feet wet?" said Edith in an
I1f ffnOf ofc1y- sir,
dissmilarty of views, there was a very real
affection between the two.
| 1t was settled that Lord Fanshawe should
go over to Rathclare to lay the state of af-
astonishment, Sheiia declared that she must
go tOo.
''Why, what nonsense my dear" protested
Mrs. Harding. Your lather will not want
the bother of things, and it will only mean
that you have to come back here directly
Stay quietly with me till Gerald returns
But Sheila was not to be turned from her
purpose.
She felt that perhaps now when love had
come to her it had to him in the long ago,
her father might awake to the fact that she
was indeed his child and might show her a
little of that tenderness for which she had so
often yearned and then there was another
reason: her promise to Roderc that he should
hear such news only from her.
1t was the only thing she could do for his
sake now, and she was resolved that nothing
should make her break that promise.
She felt by instinct that her aunt would
not comprehend how binding it was upon her.
and only to her lover did she confide it.
At first little shadow came over his face,
and then, understanding more fully. he
stopped and kissed the earnest eyes almost
reverently.
Very well, dearest, I think I understand.
Heaven forbid that 1 should ever make Won
break any promise sacred to you"
And happy little thrill ran through the
girls heart at realizing that he so well under