The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-23


I am not at Liberty to interfere between
you and your guardian he said, with eff
fort. Il have authority"
My guardian!" she repeated, faint red
tlntlng her cheeks at the recollection of
Demands boorish wooing. II not child,
Mr. Romer, and can choose my own path in
life! When l first came to the Priory did
not foresee any difficulty. l thought myself
the happiest girl in the world but there is
change which cannot help noticing. I know
that Clori does not care for me- and l seem
to be in the way. Can you blame me for
wishing to leave Bell Bay?"
Il sorry for this he said. eff I could
help you, would, certainly. I have seen how
you have been stung and humbled, and my
heart has ached for you. Still, nothing can be
dc ne,' he added, as though speaking to him
self
He had averted his eyes from the pleading
face bathed in moonlight, that seemed to shed
witching lustre on her golden curls and into
her violet eyes.
Below them the breakers tossed and
sparkled with the reflection of twinking
stars, and Osmonde followed the motion of
the tide with despairng gaze.
What prevented hi n from folding the little
creature he loved SO devotedly to his tor
niepted heart, and asking ner to let him plan
her future?
The memory Of Jim Dage.
He again mentally pictured the scene of
that horrible hour, the advancing form of
the young squire bufTeted by the wind and
rain, and the sudden falling of a tottering
body the brink of the cliff.
He had not actually sought to injure his
rival; but he had Lated him with raging
anger, to which some hideous iend had APP
peared to respond
He felt that he was morally guilty of the
awful accident that had happned so strange
w.
The waves beating against the Jagged,
re cky sides of ST. Kevin's Cave could not have
revealed a more gruesome secret than that
which haunted the secretary.
lSaVo PriOrV'
when he turned to her 1T is your home, and
you must try to bear with your cousins
whims little longer Soon she will be Lady
Drake of Ashcroft and"
Nothing will induce to be Mrs
Vansdlyt of Cliff Priory," Eva interrupted
her eyes shining defiance. Il do not like
Bernard in the least now"
And, without another word she darted past
Osmonde running up the steep path, her
white skirts f1uttering, her elfsh curls of
gold tossed back in the wind.
CHAPTER VI.
Clorinda's wedding was to take place in
the autumn, and she had almost ceased to
feel any qGalms of remorse in connection with
Giles WINTERS wretched fate
Not that she had forgotten him.
+ There Were days when she brooded rest
lessy oyer the thought of that lonely grave
in the little cemetery near Hazel Wood
| Sir Oscar might worship her in his serene
distinguished way. but she could not love
him she had loved the man she had driven
to death
Her fierce, capricious temper had to have
limit in the presence of her betrothed hus-
band
slight rebuff from him reused her to a
heat of scornful ire that verged upon hatred
She knew that, although she had despised
the position of the horse trainer she would
have been more in her element with him than
she would ever be when bound to Sir Oscar
The placid temperament of the latter irri-
tated her.
When he said, My dearest!" in mild. dig
nified rebuke as some fresh trait in her of
which he disapproved, she could have laugh
ed in defiant mockery. had she dared
But ambition held her in restraint to some
extent; she yelled her true feelings de-
termined to tprannize all the more once the
marriage bond had been securely riveted
One afternoon having completed her toilet
for tennis, Clorinda made her way to Elva's
room, demanding admittance with her usual
imperiousness.
There was no answer to her impatient rap,
and f1inging open the door, she saw that the
apartment was empty.
Tiresome little wretch" reflected Miss
Vansdlyt, angrily She is out still-with
Bruno, I suppose! She would have nosted
that note to Madame de Lse so much sooner
than either of the servants. Now it will be
too late for the appointment"
She looked at her handsome reflection in
the glass, and hurried down to the drawing
room.
One Of her friends had already arrived
large, pompous-looking girl. with row of
pearly teeth, amably displayed in a
gushing smile of greeting.
'It was the Perfect Mine" heiress T a..
Bramble.
You early, are you not?" Miss yansdlvt
asked, without ceremony, as she shook hands
with her guest. Il expected Sir Oscar at
four"
Miss Bramble laughed merrily ier,xne
round tiny watch that sparkled with dia