The sea coast echo., 1903-11-07

uhbo ulu VA hcNN'' s~AAN
bay. Welcome to Our Hero!" "Wel
Done, Marchmontl" Charlton Bishor
Bids Welcome to Its V. 9. General!
waved frcm banners stretched across
the street.
General Lord Marshmont, X. @. b,
v c., and most OF the other letters ol
the alphabet was their own.
He was born and brought up in the
little creeper.grown rectory over yon
der, and In spite OF all tradition about
4 prophet In his own country, Charl'
ton Bishop was going mad today In
Its welcome to It's world-renowned
hero. fresh crowned with his laurels
after the South African war,
At the big house where the Vava-
sours lived there was excitement, tco.
Old Sir John had fused over wreaths
and banners, and a house party OF
eager and distinguished guests waited
rc- the arrival of the hero's trium-
phant chariot. 1t was an honor to be
asked to meet Lord Marchmont, an
honor eagerly sought
Adela Vavasour looked lovelier even
than usual in her Paris frock and hat,
The rose color of excitement and graft
aed anticipation on her cheek. She
walked TO the open window and
stepped out on the terrace impatiently
do you want me, Adela?"
Grace Rawson's position at Charlton
Great House was not particularly well
defined. She was not exactly poor
relation, not exactly companion or
housekeeper. She was vaguely de-
scribed as the Vavasours' cousin, to
whom they were kind
She had been educated with Adela,
and when Lady Vavasour died she
took up the place of everybody's friend
TO the household. Adela was too gay
q person nowadays, too immersed in
her social round and her ambitions
and her smart interests, too occupied
Ia motoring, and being photographed
toi society papers, and speaking. at
club debates to have much time to
spare for her cousin Grace. Yet she
bockoned her out now, and drew her
along the terrace.
Grace, l feel quite absurdly fiut-
tered, like girl In her first season, do
you know. l wonder how much he
has altered? One knows his face so
yen from the Illustrated papers, and,
sSpf course, he is older and sterner, but
he is even more handsome than he
used to be. How little one dreamed
ri today, when he went away from
Charlton Bishop that last time, a raw,
awkward gunner, just expecting his
company! IA one had known then!
But how could one? Otherwise
would never have refused him. But
pne never dreamed Of this!"
Il suppose not. said Grace, little
dryly. "Yet he was the same man
that he Is today"
"Oh. hardly One really couldn't
have been such fool as to follow the
drum with him On a subaltern's pay
and spend ones life as a miserable
garrison gunner's wife. 1t was really
little more than he had any right to
expect, even II we had played to.
gether in the rectory garden when we
were both in the sublime innocence OF
youth. Really, 1t was presumption then
almost impertinence-for him to
fancy l would marry him. Now, OF
course, 1t is another thing"
rs it?" Again there was a strange
faint smile in Grace's gray eyes, @
smile sad in Its tender memory.
Grace, don't be idioticl You talk
absurdly sometimes. OF course
could not marry him then. Now 1t IL
another matter; of course, he knows
that himself. When papa wrote AM
asked him down to stay with us, he
accepted so eagerly that 1t was quite
touching. He knows now he is in 9
position any woman would be glad tc
have"
ut ought to be more than flatterinl
"a man like Hugh Marchmont!"
Adela went on, regardless of any
thing but her own thoughts
1T will be kind OF romantic com
pensation for him-like a thing In
book. Here in this very house, wher,
he had his refusal; in the very draw
ing-room-"
mo; 1t was out here on this terrace
You sent me to tell him, because yo,
would not do 1t yourself, Adela, it wa
atrocious of you! 1t wasn't womanly
was too young to understand then;
can see how cruel 1t was"
Adela laughed She had a musica
laugh, and she daintily snapped off tn
head Of rose that nodded by tn
terrace wall.
WAS 1t here? l don't know" sh
said. looking about her with interest
"Of course ] sent you. He woul
have stormed and been disagreeablt
He was always SO desperately seriou.
What did he say? l never had tn
curiosity to ask you. Now II become
interesting, in the light of the pre-,
emit"
Never mind what he said" Th
sudden vision rose to her unbidien c
the white, pain-drawn face, the Ii
credulous eyes, the boys sharp LEI
son In woman's heartlessness. this
changed him into manhood. and ser
him stung and smarting into tn
world. IL shall not tell you; onl,
II you had seen him as | saw hi
you c2uld not have waited till he wa
rich AID famous and a hero to ask d
forgiveness,
His forgiTspess! My dear goose
a woman don't Nask a man to forgi,
her because she w0p't be mis- wife
But you let him think YOU care
for him. You led hifS on and e
c0siraged him-you know u, Adel