The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-07-02

cHApTER IX.-tContinuedJ

CHAPTER IX.-(ContinuedJ
The party ut Endon Vale was breaking
M. Lady Marion Alton on being IN
formed of her niece's engagement haa
come 10 Endon Vale and carried her OH
10 London, and thence to pay a WISH 70
Berkshire. Francis Clayton had LETT the
day before for London. Miss champion
had stayed on, in the hope OF Winning
back Lord Harold to his allegiance; Dut
now that she found each day attracting
him more and more to her cousin, sne
could endure It no longer. The visit TO
Lady Grace, from which she had antici-
mated such great results, had neen
fraught with the most bitter mortinea-
tion.
That same evening while Lady Grace
was Ia her own little sanctum reasng'
Winifred knocked at her door and, in an
swer TO her come In" the girl went IN
and shut the door.
Lady Grace looked up and smiled
kindly, and then she looked again. Wlnl-
fred did not seem bright and DeamlnS
as was her wont-she was nervous, ana
there were tear stains on her face.
what is it, my love? You have been
cryingr There was such tender sollci-
tude in the tone that it was too much Tor
the girls overstrung nerves, and the tears
came thick and fast.
20 Lady Grace, am so grieyed!
"Grieved, my child? You have Aot had
bad news from homer
'Oh, no, not that; but | am 80 afraid
you will be angry with me and never FOR
give me. It is about Lord Harold Frs
kine," Winifred said, nervously, and a
sudden chill came into the heart OF the
elder lady, for she was very fond Of her
nephew.
about Harold, my dearT
Lord Harold asked-asked me to mar
ry him this morning; and, oh, Lady
Grace, am so sorryw
Sorry that he asked you to marry
him"
Because-adeed, Lady Grace, nevel
dreamt of such a thing-I thought hi
position made him SO far beyond me.
thought he was kind TO me, just from
Renerous-mindednes like you, that
might not feel strange at coming int
society was not used to-"
"Then you do not love him."
~ do like him very much-1 could no
help it, he Is 50 good-but, oh, dear Lad!
Grace, | could not marry him. and th'
tears raiped down.
"'Theu you have refused himW
IL told him the TRUTH could not de
ceiye him."
And then all of a sudden it flashed ol
Lady Grace Farquhar's mind that ther
was something noble and high-minded Il
this girls refusing such a position an
such wealth because she did not love tn
man. A more worldly minded womal
would have held such romantic folly i
contempt. and thought the girl a foe
for her pains; but not 80 Lady Grace
Still there was momentary struggle i
her heart before she rose from her sea
and kissed Winifred.
'My love-" she said sweetly, II thin
you have done quite right, If you feel cur
IN your own mind that you cannot loy
him. But are you quite sure2 Harold
kind and good; he Is handsome, and
rich--ought you not to weigh everythin
In your mind thoroughly before you d.
CIDER
II like him, respect him, but do nt
love him--I, cannot marry him" conclut
cd Winifred, piteously.
Every well, my dear, | will say \
more. l am sorry, for my boys sake, an
should have been well content to hay
you for a niece"
And then the kind-hearted woman toe
the sobbing girl in her arms and Win
fred laid her head on the kind breas
and cried to her hearts content. The
was a good deal more talk before the tW
parted, and it was settled that Winifr'
should go home the next day but on
and stay there few weeks; and thC
she should pay Endon Vale another vis
when Lord Harold should have left. b
Lord Harold left that very day, after Sc
Ing and conAdng in his aunt. His PAL
ing words were:
"Aunt, do you think there is any hol
that she will ever come to care for me
Lady Grace kissed his forehead al
Stroked his head very tenderly.
II cannot tell, my boy, but | am afra
aot."