The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-12-14

She saw him looking at her, too, now
and then, with an anxious, harrassed
expression. And twice she caught
the red.brown eyes of Miss Isadore
Stearns turned upon her with a fiery
CLEAN Of anger in their depths
What have done to vex the proud
beauty and heiress, secure in the poss-
ession of lover like Roland?" thought
Ina, pitifully, as her head dropped upon
her hand.
And her tired eyes closed for a mo-
ment, to shut out the lights, the crowd,
and the shifting hustle of that gay cir
Gle, in which Roland, once married.
would speedily be engulfed, and lost
to her forever.
Mrs. Hilliard and Ina returned alone
in the carriage that evening. Roland
remained, and would probably outstay
the last of the guests, Mrs. Hilliard
observed.
"They will be married at Christmas,
| suppose" she went on. And then
she will take my place in our home
here, and I shall go back to my little
cottage and farm in Orange County,
where shall expect to see you, Ina,
for long visit, next summer. If you
don't marry some merchant prince and
go off to Europe before then"
Ina made no answer. Nor did she
speak after they reached home, but
buried herself in the pages of a mag
azine, while Mrs. Hilliard trotted off,
4 a. ,tas hnr
of inspection OF bolts and bars for the
night.
AS the lady left the room, Ina drop
ed the book. and leaned her head upon
her clenched hands. She did not hear
the hall door open softly and close,
nor see that someone entered the back
drawing room from the hall. Her
whole soul was in passionate revolt
against the pain, which (when one is so
young, and SO unused to misery seems
so utterly impossible to bear.
Father father! Why did you
die and leave me to his care?" she
sobbed, aloud, and when at last the
relief of tears came. 20. IL ! had
died with you or with my mother! -
If had never seen him"
Ina my little darling Ina! you
will be i'll If you go on like this!" said
a voice beside her a voice all too dan
gerously dear. Indeed l thought you
looked very i'll at the party, and l
came away directly after you, to see
what was wrong. What is it, dear?
Tell mel"
The caressing tone, the caressing
touch upon her shoulder, seemed to
drive her wild with anger, grief and
shame.
"Oh, how could you how can your
she cried, dashing his hand away, and
sprlnging to her feet. How little my
| poor father and mother could have
known you! Never to tell me that
it was cowardly! But now that know
it, to come to me like this! Oh, dc
you think it is right?"
"It would not be fit might not be
but it is right" said Mr.. Glenn
incoherently. 81 was cowardly, dear!
From the time when you came home
from SCHOOL, knew that loved you
But was bound, and | dared not speak
Miss Stearns soon saw a difference in
me. She saw you, and grew jealous
and for three months our meetings
have been only quarrels and bickerings
on your account, Ina. Tonight she
was angrier than ever. I could moi
blame her. You were so lovely, dear
in your pretty ball-dress! She tolt
me that was free, and that she would
at once marry a wealthy stock-brokel
who has offered himself to her dozer
times over. Ina, / took my freedom
thanking God silently for my deliver
ance from a loveless and unhapp!
marriage! come to you, to ask yoI
instantly to be my wife. My whole
heart is yours, darling. What is you
answer"
Ina could not speak. She looked a
him, her large eyes shining bright ant
soft through tears.
your father and l were like broth
ers, Ina" Mr.. Glenn continued, taking
her unresisting hand. "He was tel
years my senior, but we were abroa,
ten years together, and was the onl.
one of his friends who knew all abou
Ills marriage to your pretty Englisl
mother. was with him when sh
died You were then only year old
Ina. My sister. Mrs. Hilliard. wa
then in England, and by my sugges
tion brought you back to America, an
at the little farm you remained till
sent you to school. Your mothe
trusted you to my care, although ! wa
then only boy in years, and you
father gave you to me, Ina, in his dy
ing hour. II you can love her, RolanC
} when she is woman, let her be you
wife. ! shall die happy thinking
may be So were almost his last words
Shall 1t be so, darling?"
Mrs. Hilliard. coming for Ina a m,
ment later, started back with littl
; shrek at the tableau she saw on opeI
ing the door.
But Roland, holding blushing, smi
, ing, half-weeping Ina firmly besid
him, drew his sister nearer, whispere
.