The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-03-16


You think me very changeabIe in
dividuaI?"
Indeed do not. Roy. But out here
am sure you forget many things.
such as your mothers prejudices. the
opinion OF your own circle, and so on.
You will promise me what l ask"
Anything to please you. prairie
HOVER. l am as certain as / live that
shall love no woman but you. and
that shall never marry a woman l do
not love. So you may take any means
you like of assuring yourself of the
fact"
Roy and Lilac were here interrupt
ed by the Major and his daughter and
the lovers were soon obliged to take
leave Of each other in their presence,
much to their regret.
CHAPTER TX
Poor auntie-and poor Lilac Mar
veil! said Evangeline. as she read Sir
Roy's cablegram from San Francisco
Sending Lilac to you in S. S. &C.
mini with Emmotts. Marry on my re-
turn
1t took Evangeline some moments o
make out the meaning Of the rather
obscure message. Then, as she di-
vined its true import, her thoughts flew
at once to her aunt, to whom the news
would come as a great shock, for
which her sons letter and its enthusi-
astic praise of the girl who had nursed
him through his illness at Deadman's
Gulch could only partly have prepared
| her
/ In ordinary circumstances even
Evangeline would scarcely have dared
to approach Lady Garth after such
sign of her displeasure as she had just
shown, but with news like this, of
course the girl went in search of her
at once. the flimsy sheet which told so
little and at the same time so much in
her hand
Lady Garth was nowhere to be found
in the house. Her niece entered al
most every room, from the library to
her ladyship's sitting room. without
finding a trace of her, and it was not
till she thought of looking out upon
the sunny lawn at the back of the
drawing room that she caught a
glimpse of the stately and erect figure
of which she was in search.
Her ladyship's back was towards the
house as her niece ran through the
large French windows and down the
few stone steps that led from the
drawing room, but as the girl hurried
across the lawn. Lady Garth must
have heard the rustic of her dress, for
she turned suddenly to confront her.
Aunt Gwen" said Evangeline, this
is message which has just come from
Roy!
The old lady's face changed instantly.
My poor boy is dead" she cried
with apprehension. And Evangeline
smiled to reassure her.
NO. auntie; the message is from
Roy himself, SO l should think he is
quite well again.
Then what has he wired about? 1t
must be something of great import
ance. Let me see what he has said"
She held out her hand eagerly for
the paper; but Evangeline did not give
it her
Although Roy is alive and WELL l
am afraid the news will be a great
shock to you. auntie,"
Nothing can be shock IL my boy
is well. Tell me what it is. 1t is cruel
of you to keep me in suspense like
this"
We'll. Roy is going to marry" said
Evangeline-'s somebody whom we have
heard about but have never seen She
is coming here to visit US previous to
the marriage"
Coming to visit US? Then she is in
England" asked her ladyship, show
ing by the question and the eagerness
lay; and her face fell when her COM
panion answered gravely:
No, auntie. 1t is somebody whom
Roy met abroad She waited for the
old lady to put the question she eX
pected.
Not the squatter's girl?"
"Yes-Lilac Marvel From Roys de-
scription l think we shall like her very
much. The message tells very little
is very great. / expect we shall have
all the particulars from Roy by the
next mail"
She handed the cablegram to her
aunt at last, and Lady Garth raised
her eye glasses to read it through.
But is this air. she asked when she
had stared at the sheet for full min
ute in silence: and, when Evangeline
nodded assent. she went on in her Sc
verest tone OF displeasure;
N Then ! think you have been very
rash in jumping to conclusions, Evan
gelne." essa
, But what else can it mean, auntie
And how can Roy send Lilac unless
they are engaged?','
There is no necessity for thinking
So" persisted her ladyship, stubbornly
: "and 1 shall refuse to believe that a
\ son of mine would do thing wrong tc
me, to his family and to his position
AS you say, we shall have letter from
Roy by the next mail, explaining what
his incomprehensible message really
means"
But, If Lilac has started, auntie, she
L will be here as soon as the letter" sale
g Evangeline; $50 we shall have to ge
ready and expect her" ua
Lady Garth clasped her long, slen
der hands together,
= you may do as you please, dear.
shall do nothing until hear from Roy
dom" Ie
And Il" said Evangeline holly, foi
t her ladyship made her angry, "shal
: make every preparation to,receive as 6
sister the beautiful and refined CIR
whom Roy has thought worthy of hi!
l love" .F4&
r Her aunt waved her aristocratit
n hands expressively, as If the girls de
cision was of no interest to her, anc
: abruptly changed the subject. She be
gan talking about the garden. ant
seemed startled when Evangeline sud
denly threw her arms around her necl
and kissed her.