The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-02-01

will take Mr.. Ingersoll's. The Chinese
servants will serve your meals here"
"And will you not join us?" asked
Grace in her sweetest manner.
81 should be pleased to- he answer
ed simply and turned away to talk
with her father.
Robert came to supper and the only
changes he had made in his toilet were
the removal of his SLOUGH hat and the
addition of a rough sack coat. But he
was nowise embarrassed. He certainly
talked well, and Grace saw that her
father was greatly taken with him.
Robert went away early, knowing
they were tired and presumably sleepy.
AS the sound of his footsteps died on
the gravel walk the capitalist turned to
his daughter.
"Seems little different, doesn't he!"
he asked.
Different from what, daddy?'
"Why, from the whole tiresome- lot OF
conventional young men,"
"He does" said Grace lightly.
There was pause.
aren't you just a little sorry now
you refused him?' chuckled the old
man.
'"This isn't the man i refused" said
Grace softly.
The ten days of their stay passed
rapidly. Thanks to the preparations
made by Robert for their coming the
roughness of camp life was greatly
softened. He had worked like Tro-
jan to make them comfortable. He had
actually brought water in sluice pipes
from spring in the mountain side and
| fitted up rude but very serviceable
| bathtub in the cottage for the use of
| Grace. In fact, she heard of his en-
ergy and industry on every hand. And
| she noticed, too, that her father leaned
upon him more and more.
Once she took her parent to task a
little for absorbing so much of Rob
ert's leisure time.
1.-THE boy is full of business" said
her father shortly. He's carrying a
big load here, and there's no shifting
it till Ingersoll comes back, I've been
doing what | can to tighten it lit
tle.'
| Whenever she saw Robert he was in
l
wart, sunburnt, sinewy. He never al
luded to his clothes, and Grace came to
believe that he never thought Of them.
He was always at ease in her pres
ence, and yet, strange to say, paid her
no compliments, fact which seemed
all the more remarkable when she
glanced in her little mirror and saw
the pleasing effects Of the pure noun
tain air and the simple, wholesome
diet.
She couldn't understand it.
Had he-had he ceased to care for
her? and she whispered this contin-
gency with a sinking heart. Had she,
like the ignorant Ethiop, thrown away
her pearl? Had this splendid, uncon-
ventional fellow quite outworn her
earlier destinations? 1t sadly looked
like it.
Then came the day of their depar-
ture, and still Robert hadn't spoken.
But along in the early morning he said
to her:
"Shan we take farewell look to-
gether at the happy valleyY'
So they walked up the hillside path
a short distance to a wooded plateau
that overlooked the valley and its
foaming stream for many miles. Rob-
ert had made a little seat just within
the thicket, and they sat down. For a
moment both were silent. Then Rob-
ert spoke.
"wen," he quietly said, "have you
reconsidered?"
| Grace looked up with start. There
was a masterful air about him that
fairly paralyzed her tongue. She could
only stare and wonder.
'"Time is slipping by" said Robert as
he consulted his watch. 81 must seize
the first opportunity to speak to your
father"
Grace tried to say the cutting things
that surged in her mind. But when
she caught Roberts eye looking down
upon her with tenderness Of express
sion that altogether belied the bust
nesslike form Of his speech she gave a
little gasp and incontinently surren.
dered.
Fifteen minutes later Robert and the
capitalist clasped hands warmly.
"All right. ehY" queried the latter
with broad smile.
"Yes. SIR" replied Robert, sit worked
just as you wrote me it would. But II
has been hard part to play"
"But you played to win. 1t was the
old clothes and the brusque manner
and, above all, the environment that
served to clinch her affection, for I'm
sure my little girl has loved you for a
long time, my boy"
He took Roberts arm affectionately
and walked with him to the company's
Office, and Grace. watching at the cot
tage window and quite unconscious OF
the plot that had brought her happi
ness, knew that all was well.
"I'm coming east as soon as Mr.. In
gersoll returns" said Robert when II
came time for the adieus, land then
can enjoy the luxury of a change OF
wardrobe" He watched her smilingly
as he spoke.
She laughed softly.
IL learned to love you, DEAR" she
murmured, Sin that garb. Bring Il
with you, lest 1 forget"
"It shall be my negligee," he laughed
"And another thing, Robert"
"Yes, Grace"
'"There mustn't be any razor
Cleveland plain Dealer