Smyrna times., 1899-12-27

too," he added. ITS rather fun to be |
snubbed when you know it is unneces-
sary."
GrOsvepor looked thoughtfully into |
the fire. Il had ideals. too, once upon
time" he said. Il would have died for
any of them any day. The difficult part
was to live up to them"
Don't outlive them, old fellow" said
Needham. 1T is a mistake. When the
real shines in the reflected glory of the
ideal, it is always the better for it."
"DO you really think so?' asked
GrosvenOr as he got up. Il am off to
bed now. If l stay up any longer you
will be per3uading me to follow your
example, and | don't think | should
find it as amusing as you did,
The next morning Randall Needham
was coming back from giving a lesson
when he saw Cecil Carwithen in front
of him. She was carrying her violin
case and looked white and tired.
'YOu must let me have that" he said
masterfully, pointing to the case. And
now tell me why you are looking so
pale this morning"
A slight flush mounted to her brow.
Il am tired" she said briefly.
THAT isn't all" he replied.
At this moment Mrs. Ranter bore
down upon them. She cut the girl,
and bowed icily to Needham. 1t would
not do for her to offend him. Kate was
beginning to play tie violin so well
under his careful tuition.
Cecil" said the man. possessing
himself of her hand, you know | love
| you, dear. Couldn't you make up your
mind to marry me some day?
| "Its no use" she said sadly. "My
parents would never consent"
"Oh, yes they wouIdv'-in a triumph
ant tone.
"Our lives lie in different directions"
objected the girl.
"But l make enough to keep you"
urged Needham. You need never do
a stroke of work. And l am not COM
mon nor vulgar, whatever my father
may be. Cecil. say you love me-
The girl looked at him, and he read
the answer in her brown eyes. Then
she seized her violin out of his hand
and fed, leaving him staring stupidly
after her. with a whole world of joy
ON his face.
For the next week neither of them
saw each other. Randall Needham
went away suddenly the day after,
and staid away, to the surprise of his
pupils (fOr it was term time). and the
righteous Indignation of Mrs. Ranter
But what could one expect of a man
like that?' she whispered confidential
ly to her bosom friend, a lady whose
great niece had married the great
nephew of a barOnet.
Needham came back the day after
this charitable remark had been made
He was in deep mourning. and his first
visit was to General Carwithen. Cecil
was in the garden. and thither he
wended his way after the interview
was over.
Il have come to claim yOu," he said.
what has made father consentT
asked the girl. The tones of her voice
We're incredulous.
81 have informed him of a few facts
and now | must break them gently t.
you." answered he.
The wind had ruffled Cecil's hair, anC
he smoothed it back with a loving ges
ture.
81 am not bound to work for a liv
ing" he said, ''and'-
"WellY' she queried anxiously.
Look ut that" he said, thrusting
paper into her hand and turning away
so that he might not see her face. Ii
need not have been afraid.
Cecil read the marked paragraph
'The funeral of Lord Cunningham
There was also a likeness of the he'll
and it and the man sitting beside he
were identical.
Mrs. Ranter was considerably aston
ished the next morning to get lette
4: in the eX-viOlin's masters handwriting
T Lord Cunningham regrets that b
will be unable to continue Miss RaI
ter's lessons, as he is leaving LeOmiI
2 ster."
4 Still more surprised was she at tn
/ announcement of his engagement
e Cecil Carwithen, which her daughter
r read out OF the local papers a fey
D mornings later.
"Girls!' she said to those two youn
r ladies. ''why didn't we ask him to dir
nerY
r And echo answered, WHY'S
o Paurs Budget.