Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1902-03-07

she was IL ustdnr relatlye or my
host. Yes, and | loved her desperately
not for her beauty alone. but for the
pure goodness, kindliness and unsclf.
ishn<s of her heart. which were con.
stantly and unthinklngly revealing
themselves in a thousand artless little
ways.
So, as you may guess. my two weeks
at Ashland Park wore on to four. and
still fingered. even until the dying
leaves were rustling feebly in the mel
low air of belate1 autumn.
And one clear. ystarlit evening. when
Helen and l were sauntering among
the trim flower beds that were cut In
the soft green turf of the terrace, |
told her the secret of my heart-its
hope. its fear, its sweet unrest.
When | ceased, my companion looked
mp at me wonderingly. and, upon my
honor, tears were glistening In her
pretty eyes.
"Whatr' she said. Are you sure
DO you love me--me? Oh, Colonel
Halbrooke, how could you? Indeed, 1t
oannot-cannot be-"
Because your heart is given else
where, | suppose? But. Helen. can
not let you go from me. | love you!
Oh, my darling, how shall live all the
long weary years of my life without
you?"
"Hushi" she cried sharply. "Sir, do
you know-do you know who am?"
Indeed, yes The sweetest little girl
in the wide world"
NO, sir, | am not Colonel Hal
brooke, | am your Grandmother
My grandmother! Talk OF sudden
shocks after that, won't you? | tried
TO speak, but my voice failed me.
Yes, she was there. real enough, and |
was not dreaming.
Tell me allr' | gasped
And standing there by the broad
stone coping she told me all-how her
parents had died when she was little
more than an infant. and Sir John, her
guardian, had watched over her with
jealous care; always keeping her at
school, however, until he brought her
home to The Towers, young lady.
She had heard of me. She knew all
about her guardians intentions and my
persistent refusal to see her. And
when Sir John lay dying and appealed
10 her to marry him. in order to secure
certain property which would other
wise pass to the next OF kin she con-
sented.
Not for myself. Colonel Halbrooke," !"
she continued. for | inherited a for
tune, but for you. The property has
been sold. according to instructions.
and the money coming from the sale is
yours. Sir John wished you to take it.
He often said that your allowance was
paltry compared with what should
have been yours and would have been.
too. had your father not left so many
debts behind him"
you are privileged to speak as you
please about my father" | murmured
Were he living. you would be his
mother"
Don't be ridiculous, sirI' cried her
ladyship sharply. And If you are try
ing to mortay me you may as well un-
derstand that you cannot succeed.
meant to do right. and regret nothing
that have done. | did not know any
thing of your grandfather's foolish
wishes about us until his will was
read"
DO | understand that the money is
really mine. Helen?"
Yes; all yours"
"Well. | want it,"
You shall have it. Never fear. But
are you so frghtfully In debit" asked
NV companion In a low. awed whisper.
her big eyes full OF gentlest sorrow.
In debt? Thank heaven no! But
I can receive nothing from you unless
YOU give yourself TO me also"
would you marry your grandmoth-
erY she asked between sob and
laugh.
Il would. And my great-grand-
mother. too, If she came 10 me like
this
Then a smile like the full sunshine
wreathed my darling's perfect lips. and
-and-well. to me that prim old ter
race became then simply Eden. a gar
den of all delights.
She Is my wife now. | like my fam
lily far too well to think of marrying
cut of it.