The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-06-08

as she glanced down at the ngureS. sue
gave a little gasp. why" she cried,
you have doubled it."
Il have been very fortunate" he said.
"You have worked like slave" cried
the girl. And for what"
"For love of-the work perhaps" he
answered. Besides. am | not carrying
out the trust placed In me by yonr IA,
Their? Do | not owe everything 10 him!
He took me up when l was poor.
friendless boy: he advanced me. step by
step and when he died he showed his
confidence by making me sole trustee OF
his PROPERTY and your guardian. ] am
trying to justify that confidence"
The girl looked up at him and her
eyes grew moist.
AZ am sure father would approve Of all
ycu have DONE" she softly said. II know
that his daughter does" and she held out
her hand. He took 1t tenderly and held
il a moment. John" she added. 81
don't suppose could marry without
your consent!
He gave little start.
"Yes," he said gravely. "you could"
"Eo. I'm quite sure l couldn't" and
she laughed softly.
81 am glad you rcpose such confidence
in me-" he said. MAY ask who the
fortunate man Isl"
His voice was true and steady. He
certainly had remarkable control over
himself.
She gently laughed.
81 can't tell you yet" she said. You
see, he doesn't know"
81 do not understand" said the man
agcr.
at am not surprised at that" murmur
ed Eleanor.
There was little silence.
"John." she said. "are you getting care
less with advancing years?" He looked
at her wonderinsly. Gould It be possible
that quite by mistake letter could slip
into packet addressed to me? PEE
sonal letter unfinished and unsigned"
The hot blood surged to his cheeks.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
She opened her purse and drew forth 8
| folded letter, opening it us she passed II
| to him. His face pnlcd and his hand
! trcmbled as he read the few lines. at is
a declaration OF love. is it not. JohnF
at is n declaration of folly" he muir.
INJURED. "But you know ! never meant
you to see it."
But you meant 1t when you wrote IT,
John?"
| God knows | meant it," He looked
| up at her with sudden fire in his eyes
| 81 will tell you the truth. Eleanor. and
perhaps you will pity me. 1t seems te
| me have always loved you. But | kept
it we'll concealed till now. Your father
| never dreamed it. ! am sure you never
| did. 1t is for you that have toiled. You
have inspired my every effort. Hopeless
yes, but the toll was sweet. never for
| get the gulf between us-a gulf both OF
| years and social position-the gulf be
tween the petted heiress and her father
| hired man. At times ! may have fanciet
love could span the chasm. One OF thes'
| fits Of folly came upon me two months
! ago. went to Paris to tell you M
| love. and then my courage failed me.
| came home and began that letter. i
| wiser impulse seized me. and ! tossed !
| aside. What unfortunate chance place,
it in your hands cannot imagine. Tha
Is ALL"
He tore the sheet of paper to minute
fragments and flung them into the waste
basket. There was 4 little silence H.
did not look ut her.
John" she said very softly. ''t Is
shame about old Pope Gregory. isn't it
You know what he did When lie ike,
over the calendar. he cut us out of lea
year. think. John. that ] AM quit
justified in refusing to accept his correc
ton and in assuming that the old julia
system is still in force"
| He looked up Mt her wonderingly.
| Her eyes dropped.
"You know told you. John" she wen
on still more softly. that would har
to ask your consent rs guardian when
wanted to marry. II il true. Because
John, il this year of 1900 were lea
year ] should feel quite justited-Quit
justified. John-in asking your consent a
guardian toto my marrying-oh. can
you see. dear John, that THAT ! will b
your wife!
And she stretched out both hands t
him.-Cleveland Plain Dealer.