Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-07-19
CHAPTER XXXVI.
At Norman's Keep.

Ethel listened to her fathers an-
nouncement as to the speedy arrival OF
Sir Oscar Charlotte, but offered no
word of reply A deep, sudden glad
ness took possession Of her. She could
not have expressed it in speech; SIZE
could not even understand it. 1t was
a sudden, deep, great gladness that
stirred the depths of her heart, flushed
her face, and frightened her eyes.
He was coming. He was not her
lover, only her friend, yet all earth
and heaven seemed the fairer for his
coming There was joy in her heart
such as he had never known before.
Sir Oscar mad not settled any precise
time for his arrival He did not reach
Normans Keep until the afternoon,
still the day did not seem long to
Ethel The hours had golden wings;
he was coming; he would be there be-
fore sunset That thought filed her
with patience.
She was standing by the window,
talking to Lady st. Norman, when he
did Notwithstanding in one of those
grand statuesque attitudes that always
seemed to be natural to her.
A servant announced Sir Oscar
Charlotte"
There was no need to ask if she
loved him; a crimson blush burned
her face, a thousand welcomes bright
ened in her beautiful eyes, her lips
quivered as she greeted him, and the
white, jeweled hand trembled as she
laid it in his. There was no need to
ask if she loved hint was as though
a sudden flood of sunlight had fallen
round her and dazzled her.
Lady ST. Norman smiled.
"She loves him. and she will be hay
py at last" she thought to herself.
Ethel murmured some few words as
Sir Oscar stood holding her hand in
his. She had not heard what he said.
She had looked for one moment into
his face, and then, for her, life had
grown suddenly and beautifully COM
plete.
They were not alOne-a cousin OF
Lady St. Norman, Miss Seagrave, was
visiting at Norman's Keep; and young
Squire Raymond, the wealthy owner
of Raymond's Court, was also spending
few days there. He had fallen in
love with bright, proud, beautiful
Ethel, but he no more dared to say
so than he would have dared to claim
the throne and crown of England. He
only watched her at a distance, and
grew crimson and uncomfortable
whenever a stray glance of hers fell
near him.
They were a very happy party Re-
freshments were served to Sir Oscar
in the dining-room, and then he had
an interview of five minutes duration
with Lord st. Norman, who concluded
it by saying:
you not only have my consent and
my appreciation, but the best wishes
of my heart are with you; my dearest
hope is for your success"
Sir Oscar hardly doubted that he
would be successful. He had watched
Ethel keenIy, he had waited patiently,
and he believed that she preferred him
to any one else.
They sat in the drawing-room, the
windows wide open, all the glory of
flowers and trees spread before them;
the sweet summer wind that stirred
the blossoms so family came in laden
with perfume; the sunlight lay warm
and golden on the grass, while from
the gardens and woods came a jubiIant
sound if song from the birds
Miss Seagrave had been singing, and
Sir Oscar, watching the beautiful face
Of the girl he loved, said to himself
that he could bear this suspense no
longer. Yet she did not know what
was shining in his eyes and trembling
on his lips.
II have heard much of the grounds
and flowers of Norman's Keep" he re-
marked, suddenly. 81 should much
like to see them
Il am tired" said Lady St. Norman;
"but you young people could not do
better than spend the evening out of
DOORS"
The hapless young squire thought he
saw chance for himself, and eagerly
suggested that they should go at once;
but one look from Sir Oscar, one al
most fierce, impatient frown so startled
him that he turned at once to Miss
Seagrave, and begged permission to
escort her.
Out into the sweet summer evening:
the trees were still the wind was
hushed. \ beautiful, holy silence
seemed to reign around
The young squire was so greatly
distressed by what he had read in Sir
Oscars face that he became distracted,
and when Miss Seagrave asked.
(which do you prefer-the gardens or
the pleasure grounds?" he answered,
at random:
'Anything anywhere.
Sir Oscar and Ethel walked through
the flower garden to Ethel's favorite
retreat There Ethel seated herself.
and there Sir Oscar took his place by
her side.
CHAPTER XNNVII.
Io