The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-18

onel Bellairs would have had a right to
complain II you had declined to do your
duty"
Its very well for Bellairs." objected poor
Bertram. hes not in love. Lettuce. l hate
the idea of leaving you: couldn't We be mar
ried before 1 san?'
You sail or Saturday. and this is Mon
day" said Lettuce gently; I'VE couldn't
possibly be ready in time. BERTHE. surely
you are not afraid 10 trust me?"
I trust you with all my heart" he an
swered: but. my darling, I've a terrible
feeling that If we parted now It would be
forever. I shall be true to you while life
lasts. I believe you will be as true to me.
and yet. Lettuce. I seem to know that II
I go to America some terrible obstacle will
rise up between u.s."
Mr.. and Mrs. Payne were as much an
noyed as their son could wish at the post
ponement of the wedding. They even held
a private consultation as to wether Bertie's
wish were impracticable.
OF course. Lettuce was to remain at the
Wilderness during her lovers ABSENCE; and
Mr.. Payne. who loved his first born better
than anyone In the world. thinking to DO
BERTHE a kindness. not only went to Liver
pool to see him on. but took Miss Bell
with him.
Mr.. Payne decided to spend Sunday IN
Liverpool. and not return to London till
Monday. when he and Lettuce would part
at Euston: he to 60 to the city, she to
reach westcline by the first train she could
catch at st. Pancras.
But Monday morning brought q letter
which upset all Mr.. Payne's plans. His
wife wrote to tell i'm that the three
youngest children had been attacked by
scarlet fever. and to implore him not to re-
turn home.
She said that the doctor believed the four
elder ones were not infected, and she had
sent them TO her sister in London. who,
having nc children of her own, would not
fear the risk of contagion.
She advised his staying in London TIL the
fever had run its course. and the house
was dlsinfected. Regarding Lettuce. perhaps
she could go home to her aunt at Benner-
ton. Failing that, It would be better for
her TO board with one Of the families at
Westclifse who took paying guests. In late
October the terms would not be high. and
for Bertram's sake they must not suffer
his fancee to run the slightest risk.
TN not send her to Bennerton." decided
James Payne. IF she went there she'd
expect me to come and see her. And,
though it's twenty years since I set eyes
on Mrs. Lnden-Mary Marin she was then
she might recognize me and spoil every
thing. No. the other plan Is the best"
SO Monday afternoon found Lettuce Bell
AZ inmate of "~Collingwood." and feeling
very lonely and deserted. She had nothing
to complain of. MIR. Payne had written to
Mrs. Elton. the proprietress. telling her he
would send a cheque weekly for Miss Bells
expenses. (she had been received with open
arms-in late October boarders were rare).
A very cosy room was allotted to her. and
yet a strange sense OF desolation seized on
her: never. even during her brief stay in
Ashley Square. had she felt so lonely and
forsaken.
The day after Lettuce reached Colling-
wood she was sitting alone in one Of the
shelters on the cliff. when Mrs. Bellairs her
self Joined her.
Il am so pleased to meet you. Miss Bell.
] began to think you had left the Wilder
ness. as you never came In to see me-"
Lettice explained that Mrs. Payne had not
liked her to leave the children. She went
on to speak of the scarlet fever. and her
own enforced stay at C~ollingwood. since
the disease was not catching In the earlier
stages. Though she had seen the little
girls so lately as Saturday. the doctor con-
sidered she could not possibly have con-
trncted the infection to transmit II to
others.
II am not In the least afraid" said Mrs.
Bellairs kindly; but you must not stay at
Collingwood. Come to me. I shall be de-
lighted to have you.
You must come" continued Mrs. Bel
lairs. 81 am very lonely now: the days get
so short. and 1 cannot be out much. I
shall enjoy your society"
And Lettuce went.
Sir Lionel came home In time for dinner.
He greeted Lettuce very kindly. asked II
Bertram Payne had sailed or Saturday, 1t
never occurred to Lettuce that. as she was
a member of the Payne household. II would
have been natural to ask her this. even II
he had not heard OF the engagement.
The first week passed quickly. so quickly
that Lettuce was amazed. She was so
happy at the Rosary: Mrs. Bellairs petted
her like a favored guest. Sir Lionel talked
to her on many things which interested
him; he treated her almost as a friend.
After dinner sometimes. while his mother
dozed over her knitting. he would take Let
tice for a walk over the cliffs to Leigh, or
perhaps Into southend. where there would
he always music Of some sort.
She liked him: she felt 1t an honor TO be
his companion. not because of his title. but
from the old thought which came to her
when they nrst met. that he wa. a kim
among men. She had not one disloyal
thought to BERTHE. and yet those evening
walks made Lionel Bellairs all too near
and dear to her for her peace Of mind. The
constant intercourse Wit a man OF his
strength and talents was not likely to
draw her heart nearer to the boy who loved
her.
And her awakening came only too soon,
and 1t was brought about by a sudden
shock. Sne had been more than three
weeks at the Rosary. and one Saturday
afternoon she went out alone. First she did
some shopping for Mrs. Bellairs. then she
struck into the path that led over the
cliffs to Leigh. She wanted to be out a
long while: she wanted to be alone TO
think. That morning a letter had come
from Bertie-a letter full of love and Joyous
illusions to his return. 1t had come on
Lettuce with a pang that she was not in q
hurry for him to come back to her-that
she looked forward to her wedding with
dismay.
So engrossed was Lettuce in her own sad
thoughts, she had no idea that ever since
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