Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-06-18
CHAPTER vII.-tcontlnusd.)

like a betaten spaniel. went quickly out.
I1Frol FetnFnsd 10 his writing table, AMI
commenced letter 10 Wlnifred Eyre.
lie had served her now; would she be
more disposed to look leniently on his
oifense. and let her love conquer her WON
anly pride. II will at least make the trial
before co." he said to himself, and then
he took up his pen and wrote thus:
II lncloae you note. Miss Eyre, from
the man Fenner. You will see by that
that he engages 10 discontinue his an
noyance OF you, and 20 leave you for the
future free and unmolested. And now,
before leave England on my long yoy.
age. | pray OF you 70 hear the appeal OF
my heart 10 yours. WinIfred, love you
with all my soul, with the truest, deep
est strength OF which passion Is capable,
and come 10 you to decide my future.
My happiness. my misery, are In your
hands. IL IL for you to seal my perfect
bliss by conscnting to become my cherish
cd wife, or 10 punish fault born OF love,
and 10 condemn ne to a lifelong sorrow,
by driving me away from the sunshine OF
your presence. DO not decide hastily.
shall not leave this for week, and II
your answer is what | scarcely dare to
hope Il will be, | shall not leave at all.
II you cannot find II In your gentle, wom-
anly heart TO forgive me, ! shall 90 out
into the world and seek TO forget the only
woman In the world ever really loved"
When WlnIfred broke the seal, and read
Errol'a letter, her first emotion was one
OF Intense relief. Then, reading the nvow-
al OF Errol'a love, for a moment her heart
relented to him, aud a sad. fond recollec-
tIon OF the handsome hero OF her past
worship made the tears start into her
eyes. Then her quick pride came 10 the
rescue-she tore the letter TO atoms and
threw them from her. II will never for
give hlm-never" she cried, passionately;
and then she thought what that letter
would have been TO her II It had come
few days sooner.
II wanted but one day TO the compile
ton Of the week. when Arthur lie Mar
chant rushed Into Errors room.
my dear Errol." he exclaimed, what
Is this | hear about your leaving the
Courti II surely Is not truew
II cannot tell whether am going or rot.
You shall know tomorrow. l am wait
Ing for my verdict, aud II It Is adverse TO
me shall 20 away. and try to forget my
trouble"
Two days after Errol said to lie Mar
chant:
tits all over, and I'm going. Don't
ask me any questions, old fellow--Im
hard hlt."
Before Mr.. Hastings left the Court he
made his friend promise TO play host
there In the shooting season during his
absence; and on the last day of August
he was standing on the deck of his beau
tiful yacht 0enone looking down into the
blue waters Of the Mediterranean. His
thoughts were full OF tenderness to the
woman who had scorned him.
''Shc is right" ne said, "but think, X
she had known how loved her, she
would have found 1t In her heart to for
give me-"
A fortnight later Lady Grace Farquhar,
by dint Of subtle diplomacy, managed to
secure what she had for some time past
set her heart upon, and that was to prac-
tically adopt Winifred Eyre as her pro-
tege, II not as daughter. She was very
anxious that Winifred should have an
opportunity OF being introduced to So
clety and the coming shooting season at
Sir Claxton's estate. Endon Vale seemed
to afford Lady Grace the opportunity.
Among those who would be present for
the shooting, her nephew, Lord Harold
Erskine, who was quite taken with Flora
Champion and whom she knew that
young lady, In default Of becoming Mrs.
Hastings, would only too gladly accept.
With this trump card In her hand, Lady
Grace accepted a dinner invitation at
Hurst Manor. the home OF the Cham
pions, and while there delicately, yet
plainly insinuated to Sir Howard and to
Mrs. Champion that unless Mrs, Cham
plon and Flora would drive with her to
Mr.. Eyre's farm and second her invita-
tion to Winifred to come to Endon Vale
there would be no invitation for Miss
Champion. Moreover, Flora would have
TO bind herself to treat her cousin with
at least ordinary courtesy during their
stay In the same house.
Sir Howard acceded readily enough to
this arrangement as long as he was not
obliged to speak to his granddaughter,
whom he had never spoken to or even
seen In his life or In any way to recogs
nize her father. 1t was bitter pin for
Mrs. Champion and Flora to swallow, but
the thought that II Flora did not go to
Endon Vale, Sir Harold Erskine might
possibly fall In love and propose to Wini-
fred, obliged them to give grudging con-
sent.
The young girl was gathering roses in
the garden as the carriage from the
Manor drove up the read. She turned
away to the house. She could not bear
the contemptuous looks the Champions
cast on her as they went by. But then
she heard the carriage stop, and she look
ed back In surprise. The footman was
letting down the steps, and Mrs. Cham
pion was descending, followed by Lady
Grace Farquhar. What could It mean |?
The blood rushed to her face. and for
moment she hesitated. Then she went
forward.
"You did not expect visitors so early,
my dear2" said Lady Grace, kissing her,
"Mrs. Champion has come to call upon
you"
Mrs. Champion came forward and
shook hands with her, and uttered few
polite coInmonplaces, which put Winl-
fred at her ease. She had great deal
too much tact to allude to the past--ln-
deed, she behaved precisely as though she
and Winifred saw and heard Of each
.khg a. 4 A. II s.