Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-07-19
CHAPTER XXXVI.
At Norman S Keep.

ness took possession or aeT. She cVut1
not have expressed it in speech, size
could not even understand 1t. II was
sudden, deep. great gladness thd'
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 had not settled any precise
time for his arrival He did not reach
Norman's 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 filled her
with patience
She was standing by the window,
talking to Lady st, Norman, when he
did understanding 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 II she
loved him; a crimson blush burned
her face, a thousand welcomes bright
ened In her beautiful eyes, her lips
quiyered as she greeted him, and the
white, ieweled hand trembled as she
laid 1t In his There was no need to
ask II she loved him-it was as though
a sudden food Of sunlight had fallen
round her and dazzled her.
Lady ST. Norman smiled
"She loves him, and she will be hap
by 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 Seagraye, 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 lie
only watched her at a distance, and
grew crimson and uncomfortable
whenever stray glance of hers fell
near him
They were a very happy party. Re
In the dlnlng-room. and then he had
an Interview OF five minutes duration
with Lord st, Norman who concluded
It by saying:
''Yon 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 keeuly, 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 ana 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 iubllant
sound n song from the birds.
Miss Soagrave had been singing, and
Sir Oscar watching the beautiful face
OF the girl he loved said to himself
that he could bear tals suspense no
longer Yet she ana not know what
was shining In his eyes and trembling
on his lips
Il have heard much OF the grounds
and Covers OF Norman's Keep" he re-
marked suddenly 81 should much
like 10 see them
ann Erred" said Lady ST. Norman;
"but YOU young people could not do
better th1n spend ,hc evening out OF
Doors
The h'plsss young squire thought he
saw q chance u- himself and eagerly
suggested that thav snou'd go at once
hut one look from SIR Oscar one al
mos, fierce impatient frovu sa startled
him that he turned a' once 90 Miss
SeaEr3ye and begged permission To
escort her
ON. Into the sweet simmer evening.
thu u,5s were stu the wrl was
hushod 4 beautiful hD,y silence
Egrmu1 t0 rslFn around