The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-03-16
II am AFRAID 90. sweetheart. aithoush

And you have to go very soon? Why
did you let me sleep so long. Roy?
could have cried when found that it
was so late"
But you needed the sleep"
She interrupted him.
Il can sleep at any time; but / can
see you only tonight. How much
more time is there for US to be togeth-
err"
Il suppose l shall have to go in an
hour; and part of that little interval
your new friends will waste. How do
you like the Emmotts?"
II think / shall like the major. He
appears to be gentlemanIy and consid-
crate"
And Miss Emmott?"
Lilac did not answer for a few mo.
ments Then she asked. slowly, as
though the question was troubling
her
rs Miss Emmott a type of an Eng
fish lady?"
Well" laughed Roy. 1T is hardly
fair to English ladies to say Yes Miss
Emmott is rather affected and vain
isn't she? But think you will find her
very kind and friendly"
1t did not occur to him that the
young lady might be in the habit of
reserving her kindness and friendliness
for young baronets and other "eligi-
bles," and Lilac, afraid that the in
stinctive dislike she had conceived for
her new companion might be unjust,
said no more about her
1T was lucky that the Emmotts hap
pened to be here. and just on the point
of returning home. too Roy went on.
They have always been kind and
obliging. so l expect you will be pretty
comfortable with them. They start in
two days, and you will have first a
weeks ride in the cars right across the
continent of North America. and then
a sea voyage of about a week from
New York to Liverpool, from which
place 1t will take you half a day to get
10 Delverton hall. Major Emmott has
W sAdy lOt d Ody III LlNSIpOol, WHISIi
will give my mother time to receive the
letter / am sending her before she sees
you. l have already sent her a cable
gram, telling her that we are engaged,
Emmott's charge. During the two days
you have left before you start. Miss
Emmott will help you to select all that
you want for your journey, and you can
get in Liverpool ALI the other things
you will need during your visit. In case
| did not see you long enough alone tC
arrange all these matters. / have put
down all l wanted to say. so you car
look at it. little prairie-hower. when
am gone" He handed her sealed en-
velope as he spoke, and the girl took
it almost mechanically, while the
baronet ran on in a cheerful business
like tone II have already booked your
passage by the cars and boat That is
part of the business that has employed
me all day"
But, Roy"-the girls face had red
dened painfully, and she spoke with
difficulty-"J never thought, when
agreed to do what you suggested. thai
you would spend money on me. l have
5000 of my own which l brought away
with me. Will that be enough to pay
sfor everything"
II should not think Of your spending
1t il it were, sweetheart he said
You are taking thls Journey, for my
sake. 1t is only right that l should
bear the expense of 1t; and. besides
in few more weeks you will be my
wife You will not object to my buy
ing you dresses and paying your rail
way fares then. will you. sweetheart
1T would be different IL I became
your wife"
N"Ot course you will BECOME my wife
darling: and you are my wife now in
heart. as l am your loving husband
II you raise a single word more OF OBJ
lection. shall insist upon marrying
you here in San Francisco before yot
start. so that you cannot make an,
demur."
Lilac shook her head
81 would die. Roy, rather than MARI,
you before you had seen me with YOU
own people. and have had time to for
get little the romantic circumstance:
in which we metz
g We'll, we will not waste these las
I sweet moments by talking of ways ant
means. sweetheart" Roy said drawing
her to him fondly once more. Like tn,
tactful young man he was, he spok
only of his love for her, of the hard
ship of being parted from her for s
long. OF the eagerness with which h
would look forward to his return t
England to find his bride-elect waitin
for him.
AS far as Sir Reydon Garth was con
cerned, there was nothing tentative i
their engagement. and nothing of
test in this visit that Lilac was to max
to his home. 1t was happy refectio
that while his business at the mine
made it impossible, for them to be to
gether his fiancee would be making tn
acquaintance, of his people and obtain
ing an insight into the new life tina
was to be hers when they were mar
ried.
Lilac could not forget however, tha
she might be compelled to sacrifice he
love, and she disengaged herself fror
her lovers arms to say something tha
was in her thoughts.
Roy, dear she said, there is some
thing l wished to ask you
well, little woman?"E
She went on slowly, as If thinkin
out what she had to say:
You have told Lady Garth, l know
and the Emmotts, that we are engaget