The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-08-06
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.l

CHAPTER X1l.-tContlnued.'
I'm b.r return from the ride, Nlnlfrei
-,,,,t -. was her custom, to the little
sitting room appropriated to the use Vi
Madame de Montoieu. Lady Grace was
sitting there, too. She kissed them Doth'
"You bring the outer air i'll with you'
NV child" said the old French lady; you
are rs fresh as new picked rose.
I'VE have had a good canter across the
common. dear madame-it makes one teei
fresh. Did you both have a peasant
driveE'
Yes" said Lady Grace, "and | ind
Won have got the ponies into such order
that they are as quiet as lambs. At
least Evans gives you all the credit.
lie wants to see you drive them in
the park" resumed Lady Grace; "he says
with n new set of harness, and you In
the front seat. there would not be Il more
elegant turnout in London.
Fancy such honor and state for a
farmers daughter" said Winifred. hall
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. 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 your
Offend me? Lady Grace-how should
he? He was far above me when we met
before"
But her voice trcmbled, and she hur-
ried from the room.
Madame" said Lady Grace, 'can you
throw any light on the subject--,io you
know If anything ever passed between
them that should make her seem proud
and rcsentful 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 accident. 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 in love with him.
Somehow they met again, and he made
an excuse to call at the Farm, and she
was at home alone. | dare say he took
u ldH'S W ueI' ldlS'-tA va, SldNtIul tHlItl
as she was, and tiattered and talked 10
her as men of the world will. She mis-
took it for love-for il romantic devotion,
no doubt such as her foolish little brain
had conceived might be possible between
great gentleman like the master of
HAZEL Court, and her own humble self.
l warned her-I wanted to spare her the
heartache-the misery that such a de-
fusion might cause her: but, poor child.
she was so honest, so true herself. she
gould not believe the man she worShiped
as a hero could be capable of what she
deemed baseness, and at last, by cruel
lesson am not at liberty to tell you
hOw-she found that, while he was feign-
ing love for her. he was, in truth. devor-
ing his real attention to her cousin Flora.
1t was grievouS blow. Perhaps his pres
ence brought back Il 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 | should have fancied man could
only look when he loved a woman dearly.
And yet-you may be right, for | remem-
Der fancying there was a tinge of regret
in his expression"