Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-01-01
CHAPTER Ix.-CCOntinuedJ

CHAPTER 1A.-tOOuhiuuG.iJ
Tie party at Endon Vale was breaking
up. Lady Marion Alton on being IN
Formed of her n;eee's engagement had
..n1ne to Fndon Vale and carried her on
{. London, and thence to pay Visit 10
Berkshire Francis Clayton had left the
day before for London. Miss Champion
had stayed on. in the hope Of winning
back Lord Harold to his allegiance; Dut
now that she found each day attracting
him more and more to her cousin. she
could endure it no longer. The visit TO
Eady Grace. from which she had antici-
Dated such great results, had been
fraught with the most bitter mortIhca-
zion.
That same evening while Lady Grace
was in her own little sanctum reading
Whit red knocked at her door and, in an
sVor to her come in" the girl went IN
and shut the door.
Lady Grace looked up and smiled
Kindly, and then she looked again. Nini-
fred did not seem bright and beanlng
as was her wont-sho was nervous, and
there were tear stains on her face.
What is it. my love? You have been
crying There was such tender solicit
4ude in the tone that it was too much for
che girls overstrung nerves, and the tears
came thick and fast.
20 Lady Grace, am so grievedG'
"Grieved, my child? You have not had
b. news from homer
"Oh, no, not that; but ! am so afraid
you win be angry with me and never for
give me. Ii is about Lord Harold Frs
kline" Winifred said. nervously. and a
sudden chill came into the heart of the
elder lady, for she was very fond of her
nephew.
about Harold, my dearT
lord Harold asked-asked me to mar
Ry him this morning: and, oh, Lady
Grace. | am so sorryP
Sorry that he asked you to marry
him?'
"Because-indeed. Lady Grace. never
dreamt of such a thiug-I thought his
position made him SO far beyond me. l
thought he was kind to me, just from
generous-mindednes like you, that l
II ,ght not feel strange at coming into
society / was not used to-"
'Then you do not love him.?
81 do like him very much--l could not
help it. he is so good-but. oh. dear L "
Grace. / could not marry him" and the
tears rained down.
''Then you have refused him?"
81 told him the TRUTH could not de-
.ceive him"
And then all of a sudden it flashed on
Lady Grace Farquhar's mind that there
was something noble and high-mineeI in
this girls refusing such a position ord
such wealth because she did not love the
man. A more worldly minded woman
would have held such romantic folly in
contempt. and thought the girl a fool
for her palms. but not so Lady Grace.
Still there was momentary struggle in
hei heart before she rose from her seat
and kissed Winifred.
My love-" she said sweetly, Il think
you have done quite right, il you feel sure
IN your own mind that you cannot love
aim. But are you quite sure2 Harold is
kind and good; he is handsome. and is
rieh-ought you not to weigh everything
in your mind thoroughly before sou de-
cider"
Il like him, respect him, but do not
love him-I cannot marry him." conelud-
ed Winifred, piteously.
Very well, my dear, / will say no
more / am sorry. for my boys sake, and
i should have been we'll content to have
you for a niece"
And then the 1ind-hearted woman took
ehe sohbing girl in her arms and Wini-
fred laid her head on the kind breast,
and cried to her hearts content. There
was good deal more talk before the two
parted, and it was settled that Winifred
should so home the next day but one,
and stay there a few weeks; and then
she should pay Endon Vale another visit,
when Lord Harold should have left. But
Lord Harold left that very day, after see
zng and con6ding in his aunt. His part
ing words were:
Aunt, do you think there is any hope
that she will ever come to care for me y
Lady Grace kissed his forehead and
etroked his head worry tenderly.
- cannot tell, my boy but | am afraid
not"