The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-06-04


tertaining and amusing people. you have
no time for regrets"
mo time for regretsT echoed Mr..
Hastings; "for the last three weeks my
life has been one unceasing, haunting re-
gret."
Winifred looked up into his face in
quiringly.
"It is trouble l cannot ask anyone to
share--you least Of ALL" he said, after a
pause.
Winifreds eyes dropped beneath his
gaze-it was so sad, yet so eager.
A voice was heard calling, Hastings,
Hastings"
In an instant he had taken her hand,
kissed it passionately, and was gone.
Winifred turned away quickly, aud went
on her way to the cottage. She was trem-
! bling, confused, glad, surprised. She
scarcely knew what her real feelings
were. But as Hawkins proposal re-
Cured to her mind, she determined to
accept it.
When she arrived at the cottage, she
found Lady Grace, as has been described.
When she had accompanied her to the
pony carriage, she returned to the little
drawing room.
Dear madame" said Winifred, kneel-
ing beside her old friend, and half hid
ing her face. II want you to take me to
the Court tomorrow night"
"The Courtp' exclaimed Madame de
Montolieu, In overwhelming surprise;
has Mr.. Hastings, then, invited YOU to
his ball?"
"Oh, no, not that" Winifred answered,
quickly, with a deep blush. Tonight,
as was coming here, Hawkins met me,
and asked me II should like to see the
ball. He said he would let me Into the
| little garden under the ballroom, and
there would be no one else there At first
was angry at the idea, but have chang.
ed my mind; and, oh, madame" she con-
cluded, earnestly, II do so want to 60"
Madame de Montolleu looked at her
with impresslble astonishment. She al
most failed to believe her senses when
proud Winifred Eyre made such a re-
quest.
II know 1t must seem strange to you,
Winifred said, imploringly; 'you think l
am forgetting my pride, and my self
esteem; but have reason-indeed l
have"
"Winifred" cried Madame de Monto-
lieu, in a panied voice, you are think
ing too much Of this Mr.. Hastings"
She caressed the head that lay In her
lap pitifully and tenderly while she said:
81 will go with you il you wish It."
81 do wish It; thank you q thousand
times"
The next evening, shortly before ten
o'clock, Winifred and her companion,
cloaked and yelled, appeared at the little
garden gate. The faithful Hawkins was
waiting for them, and, true to his prom
Use, not another person was to be seen.
He had placed two chairs for them behind
clump of laurels, and as the ballroom
windows were down to the ground they
could see plainly everything that took
place.
Winifred saw Lady Grace Farquhar,
robed in delicate satin and lace, stand
ing with other ladies on a kind Of a
velvet dais, receiving the guests as they
entered with stately graciousness. Then
she saw something that made her trem-
BILE and turn pale. Mr.. Hastings entered
the room, looking more handsome and
courtly than she had even imagined, and
on his arm leant Flora Champion, with
the proud dignity Of an empress.
A jealous pang shot through Wini-
fred's heart at the sight, and when she
saw Hastings bend down to Flora, and
perceived the smile that was reflected
back in his eyes, she clinched her teeth
over her lips to keep back the tears Of
modification. She turned to Madame
de Montolieu and said, In quick, gasping
tones: at is enough-let us goP''
(To be continued.)