Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-02-23

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the only way out Lat my difficulty Wick
i could think Of ,was"--and here q
Quizzical CLEAN Of amusement came
into the majors eyes--"by that birth
day-book." ''.' " = \
Yes, indeed--that horrible biith-
day-book!" Evelyn stopped short and
regarded him as IL words absolutely
failed her. 'r~.~ $50 -t
"Ah, Miss Luttrell, you will forgive
me! You are not very angry with me.
I hope?' -.
The major suddenly put his whip
aside, and, leaving the old gray mare
to her own devices, bent forward, anx-
iously surveying the flushed. pretty
face at his side.
well, no. am not exactly angry.
Considering that that wonderful book
had so much to do with the discovery
Of the forgery, it would perhaps be
rather unreasonable il I were. At the
same time" she added, wrinkling up
her forehead into a perplexed little
frown, though it might have been
quite necessary for you to start
birthday-book for the occasion, I hard
ly think that there was any real need
for you to have invented the endless
stories that you did. I believe you
thoroughly enjoyed taking me I'M"
well, at any rate, 1 spoke the truth
when told you that not another per-
son should enter his or her name in
that one particular book"
"Yes-you spoke the truth them
"And when I declared that should
value your autograph more than arsys
other that l possessed" he added
quickly. Miss Luttrell, there was
truth in every word of that. You may
think that I valued it merely because
thought it would meet my
own ends; but you are quite
mistaken. From the very first
hour 1 saw you l have been in love
with you, over head and ears in love.
and for theSpast fortnight have been
longing ~ the day to come when I
might t''low off my disguise and
with sudden recklessness-"ask you to
be my wife. Miss Luttrell-Evelyn-
tell me, is it possible you can ever give
me any hope?'
"You must surely have known that
I admired you-you must have seen all
along that each day I was falling
deeper and deeper in love with you"
he went on, absolute despair in his
tones, an expression of keenest anx-
iety on his face. Dearest, l know that
I am not worthy of you, that have no
right to ask you; but, if only you will
marry me, it shall be my one aim and
object in life to make you happy.
will do anything on earth for you"
There was a long pause, and then
Major Brown" came slowly, hest
tatingly from Evelyn.
"Ah. that Major Brown" he inter-
rupted ruefully. Il know that your
answer to him can never be satisfac-
tory. Please"-entreating not
call me that again! Try to forget that
yOu vel huS" L1AC w quill q A1o1AC, e1AO
for the future try to think of me as
Adrian Beauchamp."
II am afraid that that is impossi-
ble;;" and Evelyn gave lugubrious
little shake of her head. Il could no
more call you Sir Adrian Beauchamp
than I could our worthy landlord, Mr..
Gillibrand himself"
'Then let me suggest way out OF
the difficulty" he answered with
covert smile. Suppose you drop both
Sir and 'Beauchamp', and call me
Adrian"
How soon the baronrt prevailed upon
Miss Luttrell to CO... ;ent to his ar
rangement remains a profound mys-
terry; but three weeks later two para
graphs appeared in the morning
papers, one announcing the forthcom-
ing trial for forgery Of Samuel Grips,
alias John Barton, Gilbert Falkland.
ETC., the other the marriage shortly to
be solemnized between Major Sir ,Ad-
rian Beauchamp, Bart. late of the
Hussars, of Beauchamp Manor, Wits,
and Belgrave square, w., and Evelyn.
only daughter Of the late William Lut-
trell of Luttrell court. DevOnshire