The Portland daily press., 1900-04-18


ter In the home Of father was happier
than was this orphan girl.
Then a certain guest came often to the
house. He was DR.. Lamington, one OF
the ablest practitioners OF the city, a
man OF talent who was rapidly amassing
O fortune. He had seen Theodore first
at the bedside OF little Lora when the
child had an attack OF sickness. He be-
came interested In her, paid court to her
and finally offered her his heart and
hand. Then II was that Mr.. Granger
had said:
1T Is an offer, Miss Nelson. which you
would do well to give some thought to-"
How gravely and coolly he had said IL
and what shock to her there was in his
quiet wordsl Theodore started from her
stupor and cast herself down upon
lounge.
Ii was the crisis of her life. Alone In
her chamber, she commenced the struggle
which should decide her destiny.
She faced the bare, painful fact that
she loved Mr.. Granger. She loved him
as the source of all her life happiness.
And his words had shown her the gulf
between them. However kindly his gen.
tleness met hers, they were socially at
distance She never thought OF such
things, but she knew that Mr.. Granger
did: that he valued his patrician blood
patrican In the highest sense of the
word. Ii was blood kept pure from
faint of vice through dozen generations.
A hot flush came to Theodora's cheeks as
she thought OF her father. No; her an
ccstors were not her benefactors, and
Mr.. Granger would not marry his gov
erness even IL he loved her.
The fna urova dork faea Camp nm be-
fore her. She dropped her face upon her
arm, murmuring:
II would die for him-ah, l would die
for himw
Her happiness was all past. The late
event had broken apart the invisible rib
bons which bound her to her love. 1t
would never be the same again. She
could not stay there.
Where should she go?
For the first time the thought came,
"Why not marry DIR. Lamington"
Night came and pressed heavy black
ness against the windows. The fire died
down. Theodore arose, shiyering. Two
hours had passed.
~ have decided" she said.
A certain lightness was upon her,
though she had decided TO go out into
the world, homeless, upon the next day.
She went down stairs and softly open
ed the library door, Mr.. Granger looked
up from his book.
"Well, Miss Nelson"
al have decided, Mr.. Granger"
about Lamington? Well, how, may
ask?"
81 shall not marry him."
Mr.. Granger sat quietly looking at the
anthracite in the crate.
"Arc you sure that you comprehend the
advantages of his offer?" he said at last.
~ am sure that do not love him.
do not need to know any more"
There was a silence.
"Mr. Granger?
"Well?"
~ find it desirable to change my posi-
ton. My quarter is finished tomorrow,
and ] shall be obliged to leave you then"
He bowed. She spoke in tone which
required no more. Then she turned to
the door. She had opened it when she
heard her name pronounced as she had
never heard i pronounced before.
"Theodora."
She looked back.
"Will you come hereT Mt. Granger
said. putting out his hand.
Unconsciously she went to him. He
took her hands and drew her down to
little footstool at his side.
Theodore" he said softly, will you
not stay here rs my wife,"
"Do you love met" simply.
$50 help me, God, as | never loved be-
fore in my lfe!'
The blessed words! She chung to him
with little cry.
do you know how happy | amp he
said. do you know what you have done
for me? / will not talk Of the past, The
odora. 1t is not a pleasing subject, but
for so long have needed an assurance!
My sweet child, how many times | have
wished that you loved me! My life has
been so bitter and so barren. i had
dreams sometimes, but ] would not yield
to them. Why should you love me. a
gloomy, middle aged man? Yet you were
such a comfort Then this offer of Lam
ington's came. made the decision that
if you did not love him and withstood the
advantage of his offer that | should know
your heart TO be more true than any
heart | ever before found in my life.
Then | would win you il | could. All.
my darling, your frank eyes betrayed
you tonight when you made your voice
SO eold You love me as love you, my
gift of GodP'
The crisis of her life was passed, and
obo moe OF rect shiaoUo TIaral1