Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-03-06

ttho thC PulC LOuCS VI u TlCu CO0CrulLO
voice We're borne into the room. An
ardent lover of music, Harvey listened
entranced; then, unable to keep away,
he in his turn entered the drawing
room to find his father hanging over
Miss Grantholm and urging her to sing
again.
Day after day passed and Sir Charles
was constantly at Evas side, while
Harvey studiously tried to avoid her
company, but without avail Her
laugh in the garden, her voice in the
hail. irresistibly drew him to her side.
He knew he loved her, that no other
woman could occupy the place she had
taken in his affections, but he feared
his love was hopeless and steeled him
self TO regard her as his future step
mother. The thought made his blood
curdle, but a word, a smile, from her
was sufficient to make hope rise within
him, and for the time being lie would
| forget his fathers more successful
| wooing. With such word and smile
| she greeted him one afternoon when
Ii.
She made room for him by her side,
but somehow conversation seemed to
fail them.
Il hope you have enjoyed your
visit" he said lamely, for she was
leaving on the morrow. "We shall
miss you.''
Il am glad of that" she answered
hesitatingly, ''for your father has
! asked me TO- She paused abrupt
ly. and a dainty blush rose to her
cheeks, but Harvey's face had sudden
ly become white and strained.
"Has asked you to--?' he repeated,
| his voice trembling. $40 come back
again. she said, with little nervous
| laugh, "and have promised to come;
that is, if you and Mary will be glad
to have me-
| Her eyes were fastened on the
| ground but she stole a hasty glance
at him and saw the misery upon his
face.
| "My father has asked you to return;
does that mean''-he hesitated to ask
the question which was life or death
| your love-"
1t was not the question she had eX-
pected him to ask. and her face was
almost as pale as his as she forced her
lips to answer. The word came faint.
ly, feebly but Harvey heard it and ii
was Eyes"
He had been holding his stick across
his bent knee, and although the strong
wood broke in half his face showed no
sign of the pain which cut his heart.
SIT is far too cold for sitting out of
DOORS" sounded Sir Charles voice from
| twenty yards away. Before Eva could
stop him Harvey had leaped to his feet
and Joined his father.
$50 you have gained the prize" he
| said Loarsely. ''Allow me to congrat-
ulate you. Beauty and money, youth
and love, prize worth winning"
| Sir Charles stared at him with undis-
| guised astonishment.
| "What does this pleasantly mean?"
he whispered angrily, looking to where
Eva sat. Then, placing his arm
| through Haryey's he led him out OF
earshot.
"You conceal your joy admirably"
continued Harvey sneeringly.
| "What joy?" asked Sir Charles, fear
| ing his sons reason had been suddenly
| affected.
"You need not conceal it; Miss
Grantholm has just told me that she
has accepted you.'
'"The deuce she has!' exclaimed Sill
Charles, blushing under the tan of ac
tive service. can hour ago she told
me no. decidedly
"She refused your cried Harvey
hardly believing that he heard Alright
"yet she is coming back
Miss Grantholm has the good sens
not to allow my mistimed proposal Il
stand between her and your sister
friendship; she knows I am a gentle
man and will not presume again.
"But-she said-that you-that some
one here had won her love-" STAN
mered Harvey. care you sure yor
have not misunderstood herr"
Sir Charles smiled grimly.
"She made it very cleo" Then his
lips relaxed into well pleased smile
"You love her. Harvey. Love makes
one cowardly, but were in your shoes
should require no incentive to send
me to the woman who has confessed
her love for me-"
Without word Harvey left his faith
er's side, and ten seconds later he had
found Eva still seated where he had
left her.
"My father has sent me back to you, !"
he said gently, and as he spoke he
took her hand in his. She made no eff
fort to withdraw it. and his courage
rose.
"You told me some one had won
your heart, the heart which l would
give my life to win. My fears told me
that all hope of happiness for me was
dead. but now 1 have come back to
ask you if you spoke the truth-to tell
you that 1 love you. Darling, l have
| loved you from the moment saw
you"
"Yet you said you would not stoop
to WOO me, that your name should not