Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-07-21
CHAPTER XII.-tContinuedJ
MRS. FORESTER.

CHAPTER XII.-tContinuedo
On her return from the ride, Winlfred
went, as was her custom, to the little
sitting room appropriated to the use OF
Madame de Montolieu. Lady Grace was
sitting there, too. She kissed them both.
'.You bring the outer air in with you,
my child" said the old French lady; you
are as fresh as new picked rose"
''We>have had good canter across the
common, dear madame-it makes one feel
fresh. Did you both have a pleasant
driver"
YES" said Lady Grace, land l find
you have got the ponies into such order
that they are as quiet as lambs. At
least Evans gives you all the credit"
He wants to see you drive them in
the park" resumed Lady Grace; 'fhe says
with a new set of harness, and you in
the front seat, there would not be more
elegant turnout in London"
Fancy such honor and state for a
farmers daughterH' said Winifred, half
grave, half ironical.
Lady Grace took her hand and drew
her toward herself.
my dear, what ails you to-day? You
are not like yourself. l never heard you
say these things before. Has Mr.. Hast
ings anything to do with it? Your man
ner to him was most chilling. Did he
ever offend you?"
Offend me? Lady Grace-how should
he? He was far above me when we met
before"
But her voice trembled, and she hur-
ried from the room.
Madame" said Lady Grace, "can you
throw any light on the subject-do you
know if anything ever passed between
them that should make her seem proud
and resentful toward him?'
Madame de Montolieu hesitated.
Il should not feel justified in telling
this to anyone else; but you have her
interest as much at heart as have The
summer before last. when he first came
home, they met by accideat. He was
handsome and fascinating, and, believe.
the first man of ton and breeding she
ever met with. No wonder, then, the
poor romantic child fell i'm love with him.
Somehow fhey met again, and he made
an excuse to call at the Farm, and she
was at home alone. / dare say he took
a fancy to her, large-eyed, graceful child
as she was, and fattered and talked 20
Ger al; TTll-l Uf tie world will. She mis-
took it for love--for a romantic devotion,
no doubt, such as her foolish little brain
had conceived might be possible between
a great gentleman like the master Of
HAZEL Court, and her own humble self.
! warned her-I wanted to spare her the
heartache-the misery that such de-
lusion might cause her; but, poor child.
she was so honest, so true herself, she
could not believe the man she worshiped
as hero could be capable of what she
deemed baseness, and at last, by a cruel
lesson-I am not at liberty to tell you
how-she found that, while he was feign-
ing love for her. he was, in truth, devoI-
ing his real attention to her cousin Flora.
1t was grievous blow. Perhaps his pres
Nence brought back bitter remembrance.
and she involuntarily resented what she
deemed his inconsiderate cruelty"
Il cannot understand it," Lady Grace
said. ''Twice to-day / saw him look at
her as l should have fancied a man could
only look when he loved woman dearly.
And yet-you may be right, for remem-
ber fancying there was a tinge of regret
in his expression