The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-07-09
CHAPTER VII.-tContinuedJ

like a hctatcn spaniel, went quickly oul.
Enrol returned to his writing table, anu
commenced a letter to Winifred Eyre.
He had served her now; would she ne
moro disposed to look lenicntly on MS
offcnse. and let her love conquer her WON
AMY pride. Il will mt least make the trlal
before go." he said to himself, and then
he took up his pen and wrote thus:
IL incloSe YOU note, Miss Eyre, from
tbe man Fenner. You will see by that
that he engages to discontinue MS an
novance of YOU, and to leave YOU Tor the
future free and unmoeSted. And no"'
before | leave England on my long voy-
are. | pray of you to hear the appeal OF
my heart TO yours. Winfred, | love you
with all my soul with the truest, deep
est strength Of which passion is capable
and | come to you to decide my future
NV happiness, my misery, are in your
hands. 1t is for YOU to seal my perfect
bliss bv consenting to become my cherish
ed wife, or to punish Il fault born OF love-
and 70 condemn me to lifelong sorrow
by driving me away from the sunshine OF
vour presence. DO not decide hastily.
shall not leave this for week, ana II
your answer is what | scarcely dare TO
hope it will be, ! shall not leave at all.
If YOU cannot find it in your gentle, Wohl-
AMY heart to forgive me. shall go out
into the world and seek to forget the only
woman in the world ever really loved.
When Winifred broke the seal and read
Errors letter. her first emotion was one
of intense relief. Then, reading the avow-
al of Errol's love. for IA moment her heart
recnted to him, and Il sad, fond recOllec-
ton of the handsome hero of her past
worship made the tears start INTO her
eyes Then her quick pride came to the
rescuc-she tore the letter to atoms ana
threw them from her. Il will never for
give him-never," she cried, pasSionately;
and then she thought what that letter
would have been to her if it had come
few days sooner
II wanted but one day to the compile
ton Of the week. when Arthur lie Mar
chant rushed into Errol's room.
My dear Enrol" he exclaimed, what
is this | hear about your leaving the
Court? 1t surely is not true.
My dear fellow" said Enrol gently,
IL cannot tell whether am going or not.
You shall know tomorrow. | am wait
ing for my verdict, and if it is adverse to
me | shall 30 away, and try to forget my
trouble"
Two days after Enrol said to LIE Mar
chant:
It's all over. and I'm going. Don't
ask he any questions old fellow-lm
hard HIT"
Before Mr. Hastings left the Court he
maize his friend promise to play host
there in the shooting season during his
absence; and on the last day of August
he was standing ON the deck of his beau
tiful yacht Oenone looking down into the
blue waters of the Mediterranean. His
thoughts were full of tenderness to the
woman who had scorned him.
"She is right he saids but | think. If
she had known how | loved her, she
would have found it in her heart to for
give me"
A fortnight later Lady Grace Farquhar
by dint of subtle diplomacy, managed to
secure what she had for some time past
set her heart upon and that was to prac-
tically adopt Winifred Eyre as her pro-
tege. if not as Il daughter. She was very
anxious that Winifred should have an
opportunity of being introduced to So
cety and the coming shooting season at
Sir Ciaxton's estate. Endon Vale seemed
to afford Lady Grace the opportunity.
Among those who would be present for
the shooting. her nephew, Lord Harold
Erskine who was quite taken with Flora
Champion and whom she knew that
young lady, in default of becoming Mrs.
Hastings, would only too gladly accept
With this trump card in her hand. Lady
Grace accepted a dinner invitation at
Hurst Manor, the home of the Cham
pions, and while there delcately, yet
plainly inSinuated to Sir Howard and to
Mrs. Champion that unless Mrs. Cham
pon and Flora would drive with her TO
Mr.. Eyre'S farm and second her invita-
ton to Winifred 10 come TO EndOn Vale
there would be no invitation for Miss
Champion. Moreover Flora would have
10 bind herself to treat her cousin with
at least ordinary courtesy during their
stay in the same house.
Sir Howard acceded readily enough TO
this arrangement as long as he was not
obliged TO speak To his granddaughter.
whom he had never spoken to or even
seen in his life or in any way to recOg-
nlze her father. 1t was Il. bitter pin for
Mrs Champion and Flora to swallow, but
the thought that if Flora did not 20 to
Enton Vale Sir Harold Erskine might
possibly tall in love and propose To Wini-
fred. obliged them to give a grudging con-
sent.
The young girl was gathering roses in
the garden as the carriage from the
Manor drove up the road. She turned
away 10 the house. She could not bear
the contempUous looks the Champions
east on her as they went by. But then
she heard the carriage stop, and she look
60 back IN surprise. The footman was