Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-10-02

from him, arranged his desk, locked i
carefully, summoned boy and deliv-
cred certain instructions. He left tho
room and in few moments was on
the street where the lights danced and
hlckered like will O. the wisps under
the influence of a raw. east wind. = .
On the way to Chickering hall, Blake
encountered crowd. On inquiry he
learned of collision between the ca BILE
and private carriage, and from that
description his heart knew that it was
grace Ward who was injured. he
oeckoned a passing hanson and drove
10 her home, regardless of all except
that he loved her more dearly than
ever.
At last he saw her, pale and wan, but
was he dreaming?-a delicate blush
mantled her cheek as she held out her
hands to him.
my darling-my darling! Thought
had lost you'll" he murmured, as he
fell on his knees at her side.
mo, Ned, it was a narrow escape.
Fortunately, Lord Alfred was driving
near and he averted the most serious
consequences" she replied, nerrously.
Lord Alfred! Grace, is he ever to
be near you?" the agitated lover ejac-
ulated, while the color flashed into his
pale face.
"Ned!"
That was all, but the tone Of re-
proach cut him like whip.
"My darling girl, it is rumored
everywhere that you are engaged to
marry him, but I could not believe it.
You would not sell yourself for title
and the paltry gold he controls?" he
asked in bitter tone.
"Ned! you are unjust to me now as
always. Lord, Alfred has been very
kind, he is connection of my family
and he is arranging to restore certain
estates to me that have been in liti-
cation for years. Indeed, Ned, fear
Lady Grace Ward instead Of Oh,
Ned! don't look so horror-stricken,"
she added, roguishly. ut is small at
fair, anyway. The title goes with the
estates.''
"Where are the estates, may ask"
he freezingly inquired.
''In Fifeshire, Scotland, you know
my birthplace. You are not angry
with me because of this stroke of good
fortune, are you Ned?" She looked
at him keenly as if to read his soul.
ooh, no, congratulate you, but it
seems all dream. Naturally you will
go abroad and look after your affairs.
In that case, you are free-in any case,
1 may say, as have no desire to hold
you to-
Med! Ned!" the girl interrupted
him, in beseeching tone, but his I'M
reasonable overtaxed system refused
to recognize it.
II am no fortune-hunter, Grace, but
your opportunities are greater, and
you must marry BETTING your sta
ton"
"Ned Blake! I am ashamed of you
an American gentleman discussing
station and caste in this age and in
this country. That is as absurd as
your unreasonable jealousy over Lord
Alfred. He is not young-more like
father to me, but you assumed that
I was like most of the women, dazzled
by gold and splendor. There are some
exceptions, Ned Blake" retorted the
new thoroughly angered girl. "You
men credit US with intelligence, and at
the slightest deviation from the line
of your Interpretation of us, from
your point of view-lo! we are not an
gelic, seraphic, but individual. Dear
me! Why are you all so illogical? We
have been waiting for certain condi-
tions to prevail that we may marry.
Poverty was our bug-bear; you have
been half-killing yourself to swell
your bank account to respectable pro-
portions, as you term it, that we may
not be followed by that silent subtle
serpent of life that stealthily follows
from place to place, seeking to poison
one in some vital spot-that bug-bear
poverty. Now we-or at least'-she
hastily corrected herself-"have sui.
ficiency. Fortune or fate brings Us
together once more, and when I have
the pleasure of telling you of our-my
good fortune, you talk of Station
|. During this impetuous speech, Blake
had time to think that he was not quite
the hero of this little tragedy; the
heroine had the middle of the stage.
"Grace, I beg your pardon" said he
gently. "True, true, every word yor
say, but there is a sequel. I have beer
| successful-the mines have pannec
out well, and those stocks have gone
whirling up, scattering dividends like
snowflakes, and have been longing tt
come to you and tell you of it. You
must confess that when Nine. Grund,
asserts that one of Beauty's daughter.
is to make a sacrifice to Croesus or TIT
nobility-that is the same thing-s
poor devil of a newspaper man feel.
his chances are MIL
'The newspaper man is supposed tt
be possessed of average intelligence,
have always understood" Grace sale
this in bitter manner, her indigna
ton being still great.
Certainly, but in this chase fol
millions, the spirit Of the age, the mar
with the greatest number carries of
the prize. But, forgive me, and tax.
me back to your loving little heart
Thank Heaven for the accident and nc
serious results except to my heart. II
your good Scotch-'a mans a man fol-
a. that, a that dear, and we vii
let by-gones be by-gones.."
He drew her to him in a quick EN-
brace, and as she hid her flushing face
| in his coat, she whispered: 90