Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-29
IRSTRAM OF BLENT &c
, .;gys ~ Being an Episode in the Story
HOPE - of an Ancient House .
Copyright, 1900. A. H. Hawkins.)
Chapter XxII1.-(Continued.)

.E SndpCef AAlll.-tCOntlnueQ
"And you love him." Mina's sorrow
made her forget all fear. She said in
this moment what she had never be-
fore dared to say: 20, of course you
do, or you'd never have told him he
mustn't come to Blent. But he won't
understand that-and it would make
no difference if he did, suppose! o.,
you Tristrams!"
Yes, l love him." said Cecily. "That
evening in the long gallery-the eve
ming when he gave me Blent-do you
know what 1 thought" She spoke
low and quickly, lying back quite still,
in the attitude that Addie Tristram
had once made her own. 81 watched
him and saw that he had something
to say, and yet wouldn't say it. I
saw he was struggling. And / watch
ed; how watched! He was engaged
to jamie Iver--he had told me that.
But he didn't love her-yes, he told
me that too. But there was some
thing else. 1 saw it. l had come to
love him then already-O. | think as
soon as saw him at Blent And l
waited for it. Did you ever do that.
Mina-do you remember"
Nina was silent: her memories
gave her no such thing as that.
Il waited, waited, couldn't believe
All, yes, but did believe. l thought
he felt bound in honor and | hoped
yes, hoped-he would break his word
and throw away his honor. l saw it
coming and my heart seemed to burst
as I waited for it. You'd know if
it had ever happened to you like that
And at last / saw he would speak
i saw he must speak. He came and
stood by me. Suddenly. he cried, 4
can't do it. Then my heart leaped be.
cause thought he couldn't marry
jamie liver l looked up at him and |
suppose / said something. He caught
me by the arm. l thought he was go
ing to kiss me, Nina. And then
then he told me that Blent was mine
not himself. but Blent-that l was
Lady Tristram, and he-Harry Moth.
ing he said. Harry Nothing at
ALL
20, if you'd told him that" cried
Nina.
Tell him!" She smiled in superb
scorn. "Pd die before | told him.
could go and offer myself to him Just
because he didn't know And he'll
never know now. Only now, you can
understand that Blent is--Ah that it's
all bitterness to me! And you know
now why he must never come Yes
it all ends now"
Nina came and knelt down by her
caressing her hand. Cecily shivered a
little and moved with vague air OF
discomfort.
But I believe he cares for you,
Nina whispered.
He might have cared for me, per
haps. But Blent's between
Blent was between. The difficulty
seemed insuperable-at least where
4 you were dealing with Trstrams. Mi
& ma could not but acknowledge that
For Harry, having nothing to give
\ would take nothing. And Cecily, hav
ing much, was thereby debarred from
giving anything.
Yet at this moment Nina could not
cry, 20, you Tristrams!" any more
Her sorrow was too great and Cecily
too beautiful. She seemed again tt
see Addie, and neither she nor any
body else could have been hard te
Addie. She covered Cecilys hands
with kisses as she knelt by hel
I side
Eyes, this is the end,'' said Cecily
Now, Nina, for Blent and her lady
ship" She gave bitter little laugh
"And goodby to Cousin Harry"
20, Cecily."
mo; he shall never come to Blent.'