The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-10-03


encountered a crowd. On inquiry he
learned of a collision between the cable
and private carriage, and from that
| description his heart knew that it was
| Grace Ward who was injured. He
| beckoned a 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
mantled her cheek as she held out her
| hands TO him.
MY darling-my darling! Thought
| 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
consequences, she replied, nervously
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, hut 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 l could NOT believe it.
You would not sell yourself for a 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 a 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
You will be shocked to hear that l am
Lady Grace Ward instead of Oh,
Ned. don't look so horror-stricken,'
she added. roguishly. at is a small af-
fair, anyway. The title goes with the
estates"
where are he 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.
"Oh, 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,
| may say, as | have no desire to hold
You to"
Ned! Ned." the girl interrupted
him, in a beseeching tone, but his I'M
reasonable overtaxed system refused
to recognize it.
81 am no fortune-hunter, Grace, but
your opportunities are greater, and
you must marry BETTING your sta.
ton"
Ned Blake! | 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
| was like most of the women, da2zled
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 ar
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 bu9-bear
poverty Now we-or | at least''-she
hastily corrected herself-"have suf-
fciency. Fortune or fate brings us
together once more, and when | 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 you
say, but there is a sequel. | have been
successful-the mines have PANIED
out well, and those stocks have gone
whirling up, scattering dividends like
snowfakes, and have been longing to
come to you and tell you of it. You
must confess that when Nine. Grundy
asserts that one of Beautys daughters
is to make sacrifice to Croesus or the
nobility-that is the same thing-a
poor devil of a newspaper man feels
his chances are nil
1.-The newspaper man is supposed to
be possessed of average intelligence. I
have always understood" Grace said
this in bitter manner, her indigna-
ton being still great
Certainly, but in this chase for
millions, the spirit OF the age, the man
with the greatest number carries off
the prize. But, forgive me, and take
me back to your loving little heart.
Thank Heaven for the accident and no
serious results except to my heart. In
your good Scotch-'a mans a man for
a that, a that dear, and we will
let by-gones be by-gones."
He drew her to him in a quick en-