The Forrest City times., 1899-10-13

sc, 1 don't know!" answered the
other. II expect Mrs. Ranter is at the
bottom of it, and | haven't contradicted
il because IL served my purpose WELL"
"You were always rum chap. you
know" said his friend. ~ can't think
how it is people don't see through you"
Needham paused in the act of putting
some coal on the fire. 81 have always
had my ideals" he said. Zone of them
was to be loved and married for myself
alone. Nv father being out in Canada
made ii easy for me to sink my identity.
And I've had an ideal existence, too"
he added. Its rather fun to be
snubbed when you know ii is unneces-
ary."
Grosvenor looked thoughtfully into
the fire. 81 had ideals, too, once upon a
time" he said. 81 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 mistake. When the
real shines in the reflected glory of the
ideal, it is always the better for it,"
.Do you really think SOP" asked
Grosvenor, as he got up. II am off to
bed now. If / stay up any longer you
will be persuading me to follow your
example, and don't think 1 should
find it as amusing as you did,"
The next morning Randall Needham
was coming back from giving 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
II 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
do for her to offend him, Kate was be.
ginning to play the violin so well under
his careful tuition.
Cecil" said the man, possessing him
self 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
20, yes, they would!"--in triumph
ant tone.
sour lives lie in different directions, :
objected the girl.
But / make enough to keep you,
urged Needham. You need never dc
<~f I
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. Their
she seized her violin out of his hand
and fed, leaving him staring stupidity
after her, with a whole world of JOY
on his face.
For the next week neither saw each
other. Randall Needham went away
suddenly the day after, and staid away
to the surprise of his pupils (for ii was
term time), and the righteous indigna
tion of Mrs. Ranter. "But what could
one expect of man like that?" she
whispered confidentially to her bosom
friend, lady whose great-niece hac
married the great-nephew of baronet
Needham came back the day after
this charitable remark had been made
He was in deep mourning, and his first
visit was to Gen. 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 consent -
asked the girl. The tones of her voice
were incredulous.
Il have informed him of a few facts:
and now l must break them gently to
you," answered he.
The wind had ruffied Cecirs hair
and he smoothed it back with loving
gesture.
II am not bound to work for my liv.
ing" he said, sand"
"Well?" she queried, anxiously.
Look at that" he said. thrusting a
paper into her hand, and turning away
so that he might not see her face. He
need not have been afraid.
Cecil read the marked paragraph:
''The funeral of Lord Cunningham. y
There was also likeness of the heir
and IT and the man sitting beside her
were identical.
Mrs. Ranter was considerably aston.
ished the next morning to get letter
in the ex-violin masters handwriting:
Lord Cunningham regrets that he
will be unable to continue Miss Ran
ter's lessons, as he is leaving Leemin.
ster."
Still more surprised was she at the
announcement of his engagement to
Cecil Carwithen, which her daughters
read out of the local papers few morn
ings later.
'Girls!" she said to those two young
ladies, why didn't we ask him to din
ner?"
And echo answered: "Why?"-Sa
Pauls Budget.