Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-03-29

eohbtulpCuOs pity lot Der reason
ing when she told him the next day
that she could not be poor man
wife, and remem bered the few bit.
ter words that fell from his lips as
be tnrned away without seeming to
see her outstretched hand. In the
last few days she had thought once
Tor t~icc. ia vague way, that il
Gleuthorne should chance to be
hers she would find way of let
ting him know that she loved him
still, that she had loved him always.
And now-and now she said
to herself, while the shadows grew
deeply in the corners of the wide IL
brary, 'an insnrmountable barrier
divides u.s. She clasped her hands
tightly, and, with eyes that we're
dimmed with tears, gazed into the
glowing embers. oh, Amt Ma
tilda your very kindness is but
cruelty. ! wonder where Ralph is
now oh, | almost wish we're a
poor girl to-day. And yet, mol
couldn't bear that 2
And the latter reflection was con-
stantly passing through the girls
mind as time wore on. 1t was very
| pleasant TO be mistress Of the great
house and to have money at COM
mand. Under her rule Glenthorne
became a very nice place indeed I;
aud before the year was ended it
was whispered that Lord Arthur
Kendall was very much in love with
her.
Elizabeth heard Ralph Crosby's
name mentioned several years later,
when she went to London. He was
occupied upon work that was to
make o name for him, some said.
Others limited that be was i'll aud
Miss Everll wondered that her
heart should beat so quickly at the
sound Of bis name. She bad re-
aosesd 70 aecspt lord Arthur. lie
was much richer than sbe--
and quite at the top Of the social
ladder. Certainly she did not love
him he was hardly a man whom
any one could respect. Anyhow,
she did not respect him, and yet
she would marry him, They were
uncongenial spirits, she knew, but
what Of that
Ia such a mood she was going
one night TO great ball given by
one Of the most fashionable women
ia London. Lord Arthur would be
there. and probably she woald say
Yes to his pleadings that night,
She rather thought she would as
she stood before o mirror when her
maid had given the finishing touches
to her toilet. She had on a white
silk dress, and pearls we're on her
neck aud amid her duskY hair she
was radiantly beautiful.
six years ago 2 she murmured,
| six years and more since Ralph
Crosby said
She Turned away. Now aud again
a feeling came over her that she
could not understand--a feeling
that her wealth aud beauty were
not to bring her happiness and she
had grown impatient with herself
for feeling so. Generally at such
times she was even graver than ever,
and when, some hours later, Lord
Arthur sat by her side in conven-
lent recess in Lady Jayenell's con-
servatorY, he felt that he could al
most die for her. There was some.
thing in her beauty that night--a
sad.ess in the dark eyes behind
their mirth--that he could not I'M
derstand.
Elizabeth he whispered, say
yes - and just then the sound OF
voices reached them.
and Crosby, the artist, you know,
is blind.
'Blindn
Quite. He consulted Renolds
Yesterday his case is hopeless
Poor beggar ! What will he do
now?'
Il don't know. He has not q
| penny. He has never steadied him.
self to work for years. Somebody
told me OF girl who had Tilted
him, or something
Miss Everill rose.