Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-06-04
CHAPTER ".

guess Errol Hastings real feelings ah'
would have been forced % confess hoF
Rfegtiy size had misjudged hini. ilc wa
for the ilrst time In his life nnrcasonably
bewldorInglY, IN love, and his judgmen
was at war with his passion. Reflection
did not help him, either
II have heard" he thought. ''of mer
counting the world well lost for n WON
ans sake, but ! never realized the feel
| ing until now. Now I feel that ! would
give all ! possess II ! could raise her e
my position, or sink 20 hers. She Is only
a bright, charming child yet, but what
divine womanhood she will grow into
when she beglns TO love. ! cannot imag
Inc any greater happiness than TO look
into the depths OF those beautiful eyes
aud read there. / love YOU. or to take
those little, slender hands In mine, and
hear the confession from her lips. hut
| could not trust myself 90 stay here and
see her often: silence would be impossl'
hle II II were not FOR our cursed Hast
lngs pride might tell her now. this very
day, how love her. and marry her II
she would have me. But that cannot be,
Have all my ancestors kept their resolve
In spite OF everything until now, and
shall ! be the first one TO break IL by my
weakness or cowardicc? No! no. no.
he thought, passionately ely--"the honor of
our house first"
And 20 Errol made up his mind that he
would see Winifred no more-he would
not yield 10 temptation, Of expose her 10
disappointment, and when he passed the
next day with Miss Champion he kept
bis face steadily ayerted from the Farm,
little guessing how bitterly the woman
he loved was commenting on his apparent
neglect,
Several days passed. aud the house was
full Of guests. Everyone declared that
lnzell Court was the most charming
country house TO stay at. aud that Mr..
Hastings was the perfection Of a host.
He and Lady Grace Farquhar made the
most delightful arrangements for the gem
eral amusement; and everybody was
amused and pleased In consequence. Miss
Champion aud her brother were over at
the Court almost every day, somewhat
TO the chagrin OF Lady Ulrica St. Ego.
who had resolved 60 DO everything In hcE
power to win Enrol Hastings. Her sis.
ter, Lady Angela. had similar intentions
toward Lord Harold Erskine. who was
almost as rich, though not of nearly such
old family,
One day. when Errol had ordered his
four.ln.hand to take the party driving. he
asked Miss Champion, who was sitting
ON the box beside him, which way they
should so.
over the common and mp the hill.
think Is the prettiest," answered Flora,
with the malicious design of passing the
Farm, that Winifrcd might see them
Just as they came mp to the Farm, Win
fired. who had been standing at the gate,
turned aud walked away to the house.
II say,' cried Lord Harold, what an
elegant woman! Miss Champion, you
are the great authority in the county.
please tell me who that young beauty
is!'
"She Is farmers daughter" said
Flota, coldly; and Enrol almost hated her
for saying 1t.
"A farmers daughter could have
sworn, with that figure and tournure, she
belonged to one OF the best families in the
county, was just indulging a hope.
Hastings. that we should see her at the
ball, DO you know herr"
Yes" said Enrol, gravcly, II have
that honor"
"Could you not invite her?" Lord Har-
old went on.
ASK the ladies'" answered Enrol, with
an unwonted tinge Of sarcasm, whether
they would consent to the presence OF a
girl who was only farmers daughter"
Indeed. am sure would" cried Miss
Alton, who was too pretty to be jealous;
but the others remained silent.
Winifred had turned away from the
gate with q swelling heart.
"lIe may not care for me-" thought
the poor child; "but he need not come
past so often with his aristocratic friends
to show how far above me he ism
The day before the ball, Enrol had
retired to his sanctum, after lunch, to
write two or three letters, when there
came gentle tap at the door.
"Come inm and Lady Grace appeared
on the threshold,
"Will you pardon my intrusion?" she
said. II have always wished to see your
haunt, aud a request have to make to
you has at last given me fair pre-
text"
"You might have taken my consent for
granted" he answered, with pleasant
smile; "but am quite content that you
should think 1t necessary to ask 1t, since
your scruple brings you here"
"My request relates in measure to one
OF the dearest friends l had, poor Wini-
fred Champion"
"Champion?" said Hastings, interroga-
lively.
"Yes, the daughter Of old Sir Howard" !"
II did not know that there was another
daughter than Lady Valanton."
"Yes, but she made a mesallance, and
Sir Howard, who is dreadful tyrant, has
never allowed her name to be mentioned
since, | was very fond of her, poor girl,
although she was some years younger
than was, but | never saw her after
she ran away, for was abroad with my
husband and before l returned to Eng
land, she died. Her governess, Madame
de Montolieu, was very good and charm
Ing person, and have always kept up
correspondence with her from time to
time. invaded your retreat this after
noon on purpose to ask IL may have the
pony carriage, in order to drive over and
pay the old lady visit"
''Why not take the barouche, Lady
Grace? Lady st. Ego and Lady Marion
have declined driving this afternoon, and