The sea coast echo., 1903-11-07

General Lord Marchmont v. C.
BY LHLiAs CAMPBELL DANDsoa.

| Hdt hiiu Oh buHerlhk does poy
good. He ought TO thank me, IL II
made him a soldier and V. G. Any.
how, he can ask the half OF my king
dom now, aud II won't be denied him"
But even while she spoke there
came a shout OF cheering. The one
gun of the neighborhood exploded
with fussy Importance, the band Mt
the station struck up See the Con-
quering Hero" mixed with the sounds
Of village hurrahs and the tramp Of
tast'trotting horses. Adela's still
beautiful face sparkled with pride and
qualification.
why, there he isl' she said gayly.
II must meet him at the top of tho
terrace steps Run In and tell the
others, Oracle. Rout the Duchess out
of her room-she's writing letters.
Tell them all to come ont and meet
him here"
There was lutter of pretty frocks
through the long windows as Grace
flew on her errand. People hurried
down the terrace to join Adela; her
father came round the end of the
house. Another moment and the car.
riage had flashed into sight--had
drawn up at the bottom of the steps.
The hero Of the British people, lit
tie embarrassed by the warmth Of
his reception, stood smiling and cour-
teous at the steps Of the terrace, his
hand grasped In his hosts, his ears
assailed by eager welcomes. his glance
passing from one to another of the
clamoring group.
They were all vehement to shake
hands with him, to bid him welcome
home, to shower congratulations and
pretty speeches. And still his glance
strayed on.
Now he and his beautiful hostess
were walking down the terrace to-
getker, and in at the long windows
Of the drawingroom.
She noted with approval his fine,
soldierly bearing, his bronzed, strong
face-young still, in spite OF the faint.
ly grizzled hair about the temples,
"He Is better looking even than the
portraits Of him." she said to herself.
His glEbce was still wandering.
Presently he spoke.
"Is Miss Rawson out there on the
terrace? only just shook hands
with her moment ago. should
like to see her II might"
Adela smiled. She felt she knew his
reason.
He wants to find out from her at
| once what his chances are" she
thought, amused. "Well, he shall be
put out of his suspense"
Aloud she said graciously:
"Do go out and talk to her, while
take all these people to listen to tho
band"
He stepped through the open win
dow, quick to accept the permission.
Grace stood at the terrace end, near
the very spot he so well remembered,
where he had thought his hope and
trust had been slain.
The band at the other side of the
house was frantically playing SOL
diers of the Queen The air was
full of the buzz of voices, the linger.
ing cheers beyond the park gates.
The world seemed all a-fiutter with
garlands and roses and festoons, all
there for his sake!
He walked down the terrace, and
stood face to face with a quiet girl,
no longer in her teens, in white
frock.
Miss Rawson, this Is real pleas.
ure!" Her hand was In his strong,
warm clasp, and his kindly eyes on
hers, She tried to say something in
response to the congratulations that
were on every other lip but hers. He
stopped them with brief thanks, look
ing round him with a half-amused
glance. why, this is the very place
where we parted--where / saw the last
of you-how many years back?"
Adela was right. He remembered!
He had returned with the impulse of
that memory still In his heart.
Grace said something trite about
changes time had made; she hardly
knew what she said. He assented
gravely, yet smiling. He was still
looking about him as if he were bring
ing back the little scene.
Eyes, 1t was here! How often have
thought of it. At night over the
camp fire-out on the veldt--under the
stars"
81 hope the pain did not go with
you?"
She could not help saying it out OF
the compassion in her heart.
He looked up quickly, surprised.
The pain? No. no! That was a
pin-pricli-a stab for the hour--it
could not last. But the memory OF
that moment lasted; it was at once my
solace ana my star Of hope. Perhaps
you will never know how much | owe
TO it; It can never be told"
: The memory of Adela! Had that
been. his spur, his impulse?
, Mems hearts were not the only ores
( that had to endure pain
: She wondered why he should find il
: needful to put out his strong hand
I again and take hers into il while he
t told of his unchanged feeling fol
g Adela.
!, But | can speak some of it. car
thank you now for the sweet ant
5 gentle womanliness that tried to softer
> the blow it had to deal me, tina
showed me all women were not har,
J and worldly wise and cold. coul,
e have knelt down then and Kissed tn,
hem OF your garment for the ange
j you were to NE. It was when + hai
i put seas between us that knew. Th