The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-07-11

/ shall never be able to participate IN 1t,
and why should / refuse an opportunity
| have so often coveted, of seeing really
grand ballY'
Then she fell into a train of thought.
| ''If | had only the advantage of being
| Sir Towards granddaughter, that Flora
! Champion has-if could have met Mr.
Hastings in society, and ridden and
danced with him as she has dsne, think
could have made him love me; but as
| farmers daughter, what chance have /
with an admired, aristocratic beautyF'
Here words failed her, and she sat
down ON the bank In the lonely woods
and the tears streamed down her face.
So intent was she on her misery that she
did not hear footsteps approaching her,
and when mans voice sounded tenderly
in her ears, saying, Miss Eyre, are yea
| in trouble?" she started, blushing, to her
feet. ..
"Mr. Hastings" she exclaimed, covered
with confusion and crimson shame; but
somehow the sight Of his handsome face
banished the memory of her sadness, and
| bright smile came into her eyes.
II am so glad to see smile again"
Enrol said, with the tenderest inhexion
of his voice, 81 could not bear to see you
in distress"
when people have not very much to
occupy their minds Winifred answered.
''they are rather subject to fits Of de-
preston, without adequate cause. l envy
you almost now-you are so busted in en-
tertaining and amusing people, you have
no time for regrets"
''No time for = regretsp' echoed Mr..
Hastings; 'tfor the last three weeks my
life has been one unceasing, haunting re-
greet"
Winifred looked up into his face in
quiringly.
sit is a trouble cannot ask anyone to
share-you least Of ALL" he said, after
pause.
Winifreds eyes dropped beneath his
gaZe-it was so sad, yet so eager.
A voice was heard calling, Hastings,
Hastings!'
In an instant he had taken her hand
kissed it passionately, and was gone.
Winifred turned away quickly, and went
on her way to the cottage. She was trem-
bling, confused, glad, surprised. She
scarcely knew what her real feelings
were. But as Hawkins proposal re-
cured to her mind, she determined to
accept it.
When she arrived at the cottage, she
found Lady Grace, as has been described
When she had accompanied her to the
pony carriage, she returned to the little
drawing room.
"Dear madame" said Winifred, kneel-
ing beside her old friend, and half hid
ing her face. 81 want you to take me to
the Court tomorrow night"
1.-THE Court!' exclaimed Madame de
Montolieu, in overwhelming surprise;
has Mr.. Hastings, then, invited you to
his ballT'
"Oh, no, not that" Winifred answered.
quickly, with a deep blush Tonight,
as I was coming here, Hawkins met me,
and asked me if should like to see the
ball. He said he would let me into the
little garden under the ballroom, and
there would be no one else there. At first
was angry at the idea, but have chang
ed my mind; and, oh, madame" she con-
cluded, earnestly, Il do so want to CO."
Madame de NIontolieu looked at her
with impressible establishment. She al
most failed to believe her senses when
proud Winifred Eyre made such re-
quest.
Il know 1t must seem strange to you,
Winifred said, imploriugly; you think l
am forgetting my pride, and my self
esteem; but l have a reason-indeed
have"
"Winifred" cried Madame de Monte
lieu, in panied voice, "you are think
ing too much of this Mr.. Hastings"
She caressed the head that lay in her
lap pitifully and tenderly while she said:
II win go with you if you wish it."
II do wish it; thank you a thousand
times"
The next evening, shortly before ten
o'clock, Winifred and her companion,
cloaked and yelled, appeared at the little
garden gate. The faithful Hawkins was
waiting for them, and, true to his prom
Use, not another person was to be seen
He had placed two chairs for them behind
clump Of laurels, and as the ballroom
windows were down to the ground they
could see plainly everything that took
place.
Winifred saw Lady Grace Farquhar,
robed in delicate satin and lace, stand
ing with other ladies on a kind of
velvet dais, receiving the guests as thew
entered with stately graciousness. Then
she saw something that made her trem-
BILE and turn pale. Mr.. Hastings entered
the room, looking more handsome and
courtly than she had even imagined. and
On his arm leant Flora Champion, with
the proud dignity of an empress.
A jealous pang shot through Wini-
fred's heart at the sight, and when she
saw Hastings bend down to Flora, and
perceived the smile that was reflected
back in his eyes, she clinched her teeth
over her lips to keep back the tears Of
modification. She turned to Madame
de Montolieu and said, in quick, gasping
tones: ut is enough-let us gor'
CTo be eontinued.)