Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-08-25
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx.
Mrs. Clayton was still rich woman,
although she did not, of course, possess
: more than a tithe Of her husbands IN
come. Still, that was enough to give her
every luxury that she had been accus-
toned to, and to keep her in a manner
beftting her station. She could not pre-
tend any deep sorrow for the loss Of
man who had been cruel, neglecttul ana
almost brutal to her; but the, time she
had been absent from him had in meas
-:nre. softened the harshness of the previ-
Gus memories, and the sad fate which
= had overtaken him forbade in her forgiv-
ing heart the angry remembrance of past
wrongs.
= Perhaps, aunt" she said, in low, re-
-gretful voice, 'if L. had been more for
bearing and less provoking to him he
might have been different all the time
Lady Marion looked up from her book
..s 1T is always right, dear, to think kind
~ of people, who are gone, and should
feel it wrong to speak against Francis
Clayton now; but l cannot help thinking
that no amount of goodness or sentleness
could have touched heart so bitter and
cynical as his"
'-..
Mrs. Maxwell declined absolutely to be
present at Winifred's wedding. As she
was utterly Indifferent now to the favor
or disfavor of her relations, she did not
trouble to make any excuse, but content
ed herself with saying she did not feel
inclined to be one of the party.
-'~''I always disliked the girl, and thought
her intriguante," she wrote to her moth
L A,,a g.. ,ln
to be present at her marriage. 1 have
not the least sympathy with her success.
although l admit she has played her
cards we'll"
The wedding was none the less happy
or magnificent for Mrs. MaxwelPs abb
sence; everyone pronounced it a very
splendid affair; and this time the sympa-
thies Of all were enlisted for the bride
and bridegroom were both young and
handsome and happy. Sir Howard gave
Winifred away, and her husband receiv-
ed her with infinite gladness and tender
ness. All the farmers and villagers came
round to see Miss Eyre, .'that they had
known from a child,'' married.
At HAZEL Court there were great fes-
tivities; dinners for all the tenants, and
games and fireworks in the evening, and
- iCdi hiAiltdiS OdAu 1AOL
Captain lie Marchant was best man, Of
: course; Ada Fordyce chief bridesmaid,
and Lord Harold Erskine was able to be
present without suffering any pangs of
jealousy. He was to be married himself
: in months time. Madame de Monto-
lieu had actually been persuaded to be
present at the wedding.
when we come back you will always
- 1.-Two with "inifrod
had said.
= Not yet, my love- the old lady an
swered. young people are best by them
selves at first. I shall ask Lady Grace
: tof keep me little longer: and then, if in
six months or a years time you care to
have me, I shall rejoice to come to you"
The spring had come, round again. and
: Mr.. and Mrs. Hastings were at HAZEL
Court. Mrs. Clayton was staying with
them. She was herself again now-not
so bright and sparkling, perhaps, as in
the old days, but very sweet and good.
She and Winifred were sitting together
in the green morning room as the twilight
was coming on.
Il think the old Court is decidedly i'm
proved by the presence of a Mistress"
said Mrs. Clayton presently. Il always
thought it charming-now it is perfect,
Ninifred laughed short, happy laugh.
"Oh, do you really think so? 1t seems
ITO me the place ought to have much
grander mistress than L. Fancy a girl
brought up to simple country life COM
ing to such state and grandeur! I feel
as if ought to be like Lady Burleigh,
and. instead of making myself so thor
oughly at home, to pine away and die"
''It is a good thing Enrol is not here
to hear you, or he would be very angry
at your saying such foolish things. If
ever anyone was born with thorough
appreciation of the pomps and vanities of
the world, it is you, 1 think. 1t makes
me laugh when | remember how you used
to preach to me about love in a cottage,
and marrying the man you, loved if he
had not a shilling e..s. se
i j 20 And 50 would have married Enrol if
. he bad been as poor as-"
= BE thankful, ma BELLE. that your love
was not put to such terrible test
There was silence for few moments,
and then Mrs Clayton spoke again. with
a voice that. betrayed some agitation:
''Winifred. did you ever know how
much Feared for Col. dAguilar ?H @
Z Il knew: he cared great deal for you,
Fee
And you thought because I.-could not
make up my mind to- share poverty with
him, that I did not love him ?''
Nay, Fee. would not say that"
f'Well. then" cried Mrs. Clayton, inn
petuously, II tell you l loved him both
before and after l married Francis Clay
ton-better after, perhaps, than before
may as well confess the whole; I am
not afraid of your repeating it. When
was so miserable we met again in Lon
don. and it seemed my only comfort to
get his sympathy for my trouble. At
last we parted, with the intention of not
meeting again. l have never seen or heard
of him since. l can CUES why he keeps
away"
You think he does not like to seek
you because you are rich as well as
free?' Winifred suggested.
~,