Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-11-18

she would be his wife. He felt in
stinctively that the moment was d.
vine. Had he been younger, he would
have done it, without pausing for an
instant, but certain ages have their
certain bashfulness. He was silent,
timid, and trembling, as if he had
been only twenty.
"You know we are always glad to
see you," said Helen simply, break
ing the long silence.
every well, then, I will come to-
morrow 1 will not disturb your faith
er now"
"Why, are you going already? We
have scarcely seen anything Of you
lately"
"You are good to say sol"
Yes, Helen was good, she was beau
Ntiful and she was charming. M. de
GAGE kept repeating the words to him.
self as he walked beneath the tall,
spreading elms, where, at the end of
the driveway, a groom stood waiting,
holding his horse. With naive care
he constantly assured himself of her
love, remembering how she always
came to greet him, and her smiles and
soft handshakes. Was it, after all,
only sympathy that she felt for her
lonely. agreeable neighbor? But no,
she had blushed just now, she under
stood the hidden meaning OF his
words, and she had said Tomorrow"
Besides, he had already spoken to Mr..
Mainfroy, perhaps Helen's father had
told her?
He stopped short, refining in his
horse suddenly.
"What if she only wants to marry
me because I am rich and the Baron
de Gace!"
He drove the thought away with
quick exclamation of anger, knowing
it unworthy of the girl he loved, and,
touching his horse with the spurs, he
galloped home. AS he turned the
corner he saw his son Robert, flash
ing down the road in front of him, on
his bicycle, and from his seat upon
his splendid animal M. de GAGE COM
pared himself with his son, thinking
rapidly:
ION the whole, I am better than
he"
.
The next day, as the father and son
entered the Mainfroy's parlor, they
surprised Helen arranging her flowers.
She had not looked for them so soon,
and had not heard the carriage, and
supposing herself alone for some time
yet, she was still dressed in her loose
morning dress, her arms bare and her
hair simply tied with ribbon. M. de
GAGE uttered smothered exclamation
at the lovely picture she made among
her flowers.
Mercy me, let me run away" she
cried, seeing them stand suddenly be-
fore her.
Before you go, please let me intro
duce my son." said the baron, smiling,
"and please forgive us for coming SO
soon. We really couldn't wait"
Blushing rosy-red, Helen lifted her
eyes to those of the young man, stand
ing so tall and straight beside his
A moment later she had disappeared,
closing the door behind her.
"Great heavens!" cried Robert,
chow charming she is, and how pref
ty!"
"You think SOP" queried his father.
eyes, indeed, and z understand bet
ter now what you seemed to be hint
ing at yesterday dad; I assure you
that If this is the young lady of your
choice, I am more than ready to fall
in love with your plans. But do you
suppose she would be willing to go off
into foreign lands? For with my ca
reer-"
He was interrupted, for just then
Mr. Mainfroy entered.
my daughter has told me, my dear
baron, he began heartily, land I un-
derstood Immediately. You know what
daughterly affection she has for you
and l know what nne man your son
is; we will speak frankly, will we
not? We must wait a little to see
how the young folks get along togeth-
err. and then
M. de GAGE looked at his son, whose
eyes were shining brightly, and, with
out single muscle of his face betray-
ing him, he felt the agony in his heart.
THANK you, SIR" he said quietly,
"for your kind words about Robert.
| hope you will allow him to come
here often, for I think they will
please each other. Robert is a good
fellow
And he added simply.
"And Miss Helen is an adorable
young lady. "-Francois de Mon. in
washington Post