Newport weekly independent., 1901-09-27
Blake had been working at terrible

\ pace for months and he was even now straining every nerve to accomplish more than was expected of him, through the feyerish restless striving from thoughts of himself. Work was the panacea. What mattered it if he did lie awake night after night con- scious of gradual loss of strength for the days labor, if a the close of the conflict for sleep he fell into com atose state, neither awake nor sleep ing, wherein a delicious, restful lam guor predominated, granting him float ing visions of the woman he loved. Upon his brow he felt the gentle touch of her cool fingers; he heard her murmur words of pity and tenderness, in low, sweet tones, and for a few mo- ments his soul seemed to leave the body and float with hers, as did Fran cesca and Paola, through space.
 It was worth the hard grind of the wearisome day to welcome night, the old struggle and once more this de- licious and dreamy languor. Surely Paradise could confer no more ex- quisite sensation than was granted him in this hour of the early dawn. As the suns rays flashed through the room and the discordant sounds of early traffic broke rudely on this rev erie, he arose unrefreshed, depressed in spirits, feverishly anxious to take up the duties of the day
 With a sigh of relief, Ned Blake, managing editor, pushed the copy from him, arranged his des.., locked it carefully, summoned a boy and deliv- cred certain instructions. He left the room and in a few moments was on the street where the lights danced and t1ickered like will O the wisps under the influence of q raw, eest wind
 On the way to Chickering hall, Blake encountered a crowd. On inquiry he learned of a collision between the ca ble and a private carriage, and from that description his heart knew that it was Grace Ward who was injured. He beckoned passing hanson and drove to 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 inantled her cheek as she held out her hands to him.
 "My darling-my darling! thought I had lost you!" he murmured, as he fell on his knees at her side.
 No, Ned, it was a narrow escape. Fortunately, Lord Alfred was driving near and he averted the most serious rb1 ioI c11-
 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 a 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 a title and the paltry gold he controls?' he asked in a bitter tone.
 "Ned! you are unjust to me now as always. Lord Alfred has been very kind. he is a connection of my family and he is arranging to restore certain estates to me that have been in liti- gatiOn for years. Indeed, Ned, 1 fear you will be shocked to hear that I am Lady Grace Ward instead of Oh, Ned. don't look so horror-stricllen," |" she added, roguishly. ''It is a small af- fair, anyway. The title goes with the estates"
 'Where are the estates, may I 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.
 "Oh, no, l 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, l may say, as I have no desire to hold you to-"
 "Ned! Ned!" the girl interrupted him, in a beseeching tone, but his un- reasonable overtaXed system refused to recognize it.
 ''I am no fortune-hunter, Grace, but your opportunities are greater, and you must marry beftting your sta tion."
 "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 a 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