The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-11-23

The station master hurried FORWARD 10
greet the driver, who was slender young
girl, with bright dark eyes and hair as
golden as the June sunbeams touching
those hills.
lis Mr.. Colewood, of Greenville, wait
ing here to ride out to Mrs. Thurston 81
inquired the fair driver in sweet voice,
which won Hugh's interest at once.
II am here and waiting, thank you,
returned Hugh for himself, smiling pleas
antly as he came forward on the station
platform.
II came to drive you to Mrs. Thurs
ton s, she answered, simply.
ssShall | take the reins ~ he asked as
they started away.
t'No, thank you; / like to drive, she
answered.
1T was too bad for you to take so long
drive for stranger, he remarked, as
he stole side glance of admiration at the
girlish form in dainty blue.
ssOh, I don't mind the distance at all;
besides, | rather had to come, she re-
piled. II did wish to go with the young
folks who are having picnic this morning
over on Laurel Hill, but Uncle Jerry was
sick, and of course he couldn't come for
| you. Then Mrs. Thurston and Miss Wayne
never drive, SO they made virtue of ne
cessity and sent the last resort of the
place.
ssIt is too bad my coming prevented you
joining the picnickers,' he said
ssThat's nothing. | am enjoying my
self now too well to think of Laurel Hill. :
"1'hank you, and at the same time let
me assure you that |, too, am enjoying my
self excellently well, Z and Hugh bowed to
the young girl, whose eyes dropped beneath
the warm light of admiration in his blue
ones.
81 hope you will enjoy your visit, Mr..
| Colewood, she said, to change the sub
iect. II know Mrs. Thurston and Ethel
will do all they can to make your stay
pleasant.
seThank you; I've no doubt | shall find
it pleasant, returned Hugh. "You,
too, are one of Mrs Thurston's summer
HOUSEHOLD, | suppose p
Eyes" with smile. "You see, | am
distant relative of Mrs. Illusion;
then Miss Wayne is my cousin, and exer-
cises kind of cousinly guardianship over
me, which, no doubt, is very necessary
$50 you are Miss Wayne cousin? l
do not remember hearing Mr.. Cranston
mention you. | did not expect to have the
pleasure of meeting any ladies but Mrs.
Thurston and Miss Wayne.
aHow unkind of Mr.. Cranston not to
prepare you for this meeting. | had, up
to date, regarded Mr. Cranston as one of
nv very best friends, but to ignore me SO
utterly looks like downright, intentional
neglect. y
ssYou have not given me the pleasure
of knowing your name, said Hugh, both
amused and pleased with his pretty driver
30, I'm Wayne, too, she answered.
ETHEL Estelle Wayne, variously nick
named, as you will observe later on.
Two Ethel Waynes Here was real
surprise for Colewood. Why had Gram
ston not mentioned that strange fact to
him /? IF the Ethel Wayne referred to in
the will was only half as animated and
generally captivating as the one by his
side, Hugh thought it might be an easy
matter after all to obey that condition
which had so vexed him.
Colewood received cordial welcome at
Mrs. Thurston's pleasant home. He
found Miss Wayne to be a tall, dignified
Girl of about %, with coal-black hair and
deep gray eyes, but was as unlike her little
merry hearted cousin as it was possible to
be. Yes, Hugh decided, she was lust
such woman as his eccentric aunt would
be likely to select as the wife OF her heir.
In the weeks which followed Hugh s
arrival he saw a great deal of Miss Wayne,
although much of her time was divided
between her taste for literature and IN re-
monstrating against the innocent pranks OF
her cousin.
1t did not require long time for the
Young man to realize that he could never
love Miss Wayne as the man should love
the girl whom he intends to marry. He
made another important discovery-that
his life would be failure without the lit
tie cousin to furnish daily sunshine and
wifely cheer for his own home. He re-
solved to let Miss Wayne have one-half OF
his aunt estates and the orphan asylum
the other.
Having SO decided, Hugh set out for
stroll along the river, feeling more manly
for his resolve. He came suddenly upon
little figure in white, reading, in little
winery nook by the river side.
ssWait, Estelle, he called, for she had
started to run away. II shall leave to-
morrow, and | have something to say to
say to you which you must hear.
"I'd be sorry to have you to leave us
with any burden on your mind, she
said
ssIt is needless for me to tell you why
it was arranged for me to meet Miss Wayne
here" he said, unheeding her light words
''You know, suppose.
e'Some slight idea, Ibelieve, > she re-
turned, lingering her book.
'tWell, | may as well tell you that the
condition in nay late auntss will can never
be fulfilled"
s'And why not p
Because I love another passionately
Oh, Estelle Can you not see how ten
Derby, how ardently Hove you. Without
you shall make failure in life. Won
you show mercy, Estelle p
ooh, Hugh ! Would you marry a
poor girl when you have chance to win
dignifed bride and retain those princely
estates p she asked.
Eyes, darling. | prefer you with love
in cottage to the wealthiest woman with
all the estates in the world -
Rash statement, young man.
cit is true Dono torture me longer,
Estelle Can you not love me little !?
No"
'Then you do not love ME p
"T IN afraid I do. y
sDo not mock me, Estelle.
''I IN not hooking you, Hugh, in a
very sweet voice.
''Then you love me little =
"No, not little, but very much.
He would have caught her to his breast,
but she eluded his arms, crying