Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-10-05

Lottie had learned that his lordship's
incognito was simply "Mr. Medhurst,'
and that her landlady was in Ignorance
Of his identity. =. l.
"Medhurst." she had murmured
thoughtfully, lit sounds like family
name or country place; he is sure to
have several"
In the meantime she had kept up her
pose of a simple little worker in the
city, and the soft braids Of neat brown
hair and bewitchingly trustful blue
eyes had never looked so alluring to
her admirers in the boxes as they did
to Mr.. John Medhurst, who found 1t
difficult to peep beneath the floppy fril]
of her blue sunbonnet without long
ing to kiss the rosy face of it's wearer.
She had waited in van for a stray
word that would betray his lordship
to her, but he had preserved as strict
a silence on the subject Of his real
identity as she did about her connec-
ton with the Felicity theater in town.
That morning Lottie had received a
letter from the stage manager of the
Felicity, telling her that rehearsals
would begin shortly, and sending her
the typewriter copy of her part in
the Rustic Maid"
"You are looking thoughtful to-day.
Tell me, will you, Miss Starr" said
John Medhurst as he entered her little
sitting room, lis it because you are
nearing the end of your holiday"
Lottie nodded. She was wondering
what to say that would make her CON-
panion speak those magic words that
would send her back to town the future
LADY Carslake." Unless he proposed
soon, she would have wasted a whole
month, when she might have gone with
Meta Gay and had a good time.
YES" she murmured; II don't look
forward to going back to the roar and
turmoil of London. Earning ones own
living is not always happy lot, es-
pecially if it is uncongenial"
He took her slim white hand in his
and stroked it softly.
Poor little girl! 1t is awful for you
to have so few pleasures in your life,
while throw money away so careless
ly."
Lottie's heart bounded. Then he was
going to tell her that he was really
the rich Lord Carslake! She was re-
lieved, for of late wild doubt had
seized her as to his identity with Dick
Haslams cousin. She had also, strange
ly enough, sometimes found herself
wishing that she had not come down
to Enfield with the purpose of "catch-
ing" him. If he did not fall into her net
she would feel humiliated; and yet, if
he did, she would feel herself the mean
est and most contemplate of creatures.
There was something so different from
what she had expected to see when she
made her plans.
Her fingers were still clasped in Mr..
Medhurst's strong brown ones, and as
she endeavored to withdraw them she
suddenly caught a glance from his
dark, expressive eyes that made her
heart leap with strange gladness
and her pulses throb with ridiculous
rapidity. She closed her eyes with a
little SILVER. Ambition! Ambition!
Her brain seemed to be hooking her
with the memory of what she was to
succeed in winning from the man be-
side her. And yet, louder than the
voice of ambition, she heard the call
Of love clamoring for admittance into
her heart-and she knew, as she lis
tened, half dazed, that love had al
ready crossed the threshold of the
hitherto empty throne room of her
heart.
"Lottie, Lottie, you know-you must
know. darling, that you are all the
world to me-" John Medhurst was say
ing, in quick, uneven tones. Tell me,
darling, that you love me-that in
stead of going back to the cold, noisy
city, where you earn your poor
little living, you will come to me-!
be my treasured wife, and let me
stand with my back against the world,
protecting you from all that is hurtful."
She turned her head and gazed
through the window at the distant
meadows and blossom hung orchards.
How beautiful everything was-all ex-
cept herself, who, mass of deceit,
cunning, and ugly ambition, was listen
ing to the eager love words of man
whom she had plotted to marry. II
he only knew that she had been aware
all the time Of his incognito!
II never thought that could love any
woman as do you, dearest and sweet
est of little rustic maids in TRUTH" he
laughed, softly; "and yet your pure
face and simple, girlish ways have
made me forget every other face I saw
before" He drew her to him. "Look
at me, Lottie; let me see the answer
Ing love in your dear eyes!'
'No, please don't say any more; you
don't know me as really am, or you
would hate me, not love me-" burst
from her trembling lips, as she faced
him desperately. IT," she went on,
steadily, lam just fraud-a pitiable
fraud! All this month I have known
who you are"
He started, and paled little.
II don't understand how you can be
n Anything but yourself" he said after
a pause. Il love you, Lottie- Just you,
and nothing-not even the knowledge
that vO11 hauo nonotrotod INV dicoo,;eo