The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-10-21
A Harvest Of Bitterness.

On that particular eveningin July there
was no happier mortal on earth than
! Harold Pcnstone, unless. indeed, it could
have been Grace Ashford. They looked
on the world through lovers eyes and
found it passing fair, the sky, unflected
with Il single cloud, never blucr and ne yer
before had the sotr evening song of the
birds sounded Sweeter i'll their ears.
Grace Ashford was graceful of form,
blue eyed and fair haired, with Il COM
plcNion that was blend of red and cream
of roses 4 girl with whom any man
might fall i'll love, rs Harold Penstone
had done from that moment, five years
before, she had come to reside under Mrs
Terrclls muthcIly care.
Her mother had died when Grace was
yet baby, too young to hold any recol-
lection of the original of the sweet-faced
miniature she always wore in a locket
round her neck; and, until she was II,
she lived under the care of a nurse and
governess at home with her father, who
could never bear to miss her from his
sight.
Her seventeenth year was an eventful
one in her life, for it saw the passing away
almost simultaneously fnurse and COVER
ness, and Immediately afterwards her
father went to South America to look
after business interests there.
So it came about that she went to take
mp her residence with Mrs Terrell, an old
friend of the family, until her father
should return, and in the natural order
of things met Harold Penstone, to whom
she lost her hart, for he was true spec:-
ment Of manhood, Young and handsome,
in whose hands tie girl he loved might
sa ely trust her happiness.
They were not rich, the Penstones-
nor for that matter was Col. Ashford a
man of great wealth-still. Harold's for
tune was sufficient. to justify him in ask
ing Grace to become his wife, as he had
done few months previously. And she
had consented, subject to the approval
of her father, whose return was monthly
expected.
The day our story opens he had arrived
in New York, and on the morrow would
be with his daughter. That he would
put any obstacle in the way of her marry
ing the man she loved she never for a
moment dreamed, for had he ever refused
her slightest wish?
1t had been arranged between Grace
and Harold that he was to call and form
ally ask her fathers consent in the early
evening, and meanwhile she should break
the ice. But after her fathers JOY at see
ing her once more and after his loving
words, it was a task she found harder
than she had anticipated
~ am retiring, Grace" the colonel told
her, land hope there are many years of
happiness before us. You must not con-
tinue buried away here any longer. You
must see little life after all this time.
shall set up house i'll New York, with
you for hostess. Marry again" i'll re-
ply to his daughters question. Marry
again, and he laughed bitterly. mo, l
buried my heart when buried your
mother, dear. have lived, shall live,
only for you"
Thus Harold found the path quite I'M
prepared when he called.
In any case it would have been wiser
to have waited awhile ere approaching
the father who had SO recently found
happiness in returning to his daughter.
But who in love ever understood the
wisdom of patience:
Harold found Grace with her father
when he was shown into the drawing
room, and looked somewhat shcepish
when the colonel asked to what he was
indebted for tn visit.
81 thought Grace would have explain
cd, he answered. and then added frank
" 1--WE arranged it that way"
The colonel looked mystifed, first at
his daughter, then at the uneasy young
man who stood nervously lingering his
watc'l chain.
81 don't understand" he explained.
"But sit down; perhaps Grace will tell
me"
An she dill, while her fathers face
grew white beneath the bronze and his
head sank upon his breast.
You will say yes, >" she pleaded,
Harold loves mel love him."
\ thousand thoughts of reproach rose
to the colonels mind, as he saw he had
found his daughter but to lose her again;
but he uttered never a one. for he was
just old enough to recognize that this
was cxactly what he should have ex pect-
ed. All the future he had planned he saw
destroyed.
"Bu; know nothing of this Young
man. Grace" he said at length. who
he is, what he is nor even his name. lie
may"
"My name, sir, is Harold Pcnstone
and"
The colonel jumped to his feet and
crossed the room to the Young mans
side.
Harold Penstone," he cried, looking
keenly into his face. And your father
was Harold Penstone, eh?''
eyes, sir, he was"