Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-12-22

wait upon Miss Grantley at the appoint
ed hour.
Frierly Hall, as he approached it in
the morning sunshine, looked bright
enough to please any mans taste-the
venerable red-brick building slept
warmly in the golden light, a belt of
thick wood formed a dark, dreamy back
ground to its pointed gables and quaint
twisted chimneys.
'You will not send her to school,
thenT Miss Grantley asked, her face
little bent forward and her quiet hands
crossed upon her handsome brocaded
gown. There is a kindly smile upon her
lips. Brian thinks she is a sweet, moth
erly woman, moved by a real interest for
Kittens welfare.
No; l do not think l can do that,
Miss Grantley. l do not think my poor
friend, her father, would have wished
it; besides, Kitten is both too old and
too young for a fashionable boarding
school. She would be unhappy, and it
would spoil her; she is 80 young and
fresh, and original"
What can they see in that ignorant,
ill-brought up childT thought Margaret
impatiently, but aloud she murmured:
mo doubt-no doubtl But then, since
you say the relative you wrote to is un-
able to give her a home, what do you
propose to do?'
Il have no plans. I am going abroad.
l suppose l shall take her with me-"
Alone! My dear Mr.. Desmond, for
give me for saying it, but it is impossi-
BILE that you can travel abroad with Miss
Laybourne-not by herself"
Would she want maid, do you
mean?"
"A maid-that would go for nothing,
staid middle-aged governess or COM
panion, perhaps"
Good heavens!" exclaimed Brian,
what terrible suggestion! You could
not expect me to travel with a governess,
Miss Grantley."
You cannot travel with that girl
alone, Mr.. Desmond" persisted Margar-
ct firmly; 'she is too young and too
pretty"
Il never thought of that" he leaned
back in his chair and looked both per-
picked and annoyed.
Margaret looked down at her lap and
smoothed out the folds of her brocade
with thin white fingers, a little smile
stole into her quiet, even-colored face.
There is one idea, but perhaps it has
not occurred to you; perhaps 1 ought not
to mention it."
NAY, pray do; 1 shall be thankful in
deed for any suggestion"
For half minute or so she was silent,
still looking down at the silk she was
smoothing out; her fingers shook little
too and her heart beat. Margaret Grant
ley was actually nervous.
"Why don't you marry Kitten Lay
bournef'
He was silent for very amazement. He
could only sit still and stare at her for
few moments; he was absolutely
speechless. Then he got up and slowly
paced once up and down the room.
Il hope you are not angry with me,
Mr.. Desmond" said Miss Grantley
softly.
Angry! my dear Miss Grantley-oh,
no, certainly not-but-but l confess
such an idea has never occurred to me
before-and-and it has taken my breath
! away" and he laughed little.
There would be nothing wonderful in
it, you know" she continued, encour-
aged because he did not seem to be an
noyed; she is very young, but then you
would have the pleasure of forming and
training her, and she is pretty, and the
daughter of your old friend, and she has
a little money, and altOgether-oh, no, it
would not be unsuitable at ALL"
II think" said Desmond, slowly, "that
Wi II
now. think l should like to think it
over little by myself. You have been
very kind and very straightforward with
me, Miss Grantley, and l am deeply
grateful to you." And then he took his
leave of her.
"He will do it." said Margaret to her
self, as she watched his tall figure walk
quickly away down the lime tree ave-
nue.. He had never thought of it be-
fore, but now he will do it, and | shall
get rid of that danger for Royw
As to Brian, he was walking away to-
ward the White Cottage with very
storm of confusion at his heart.
why not? why not?' he said over
and over again to himself, and he re-
called the golden summer week of his
first visit to the Cottage, where he had
wandered loyerlike with her through
the fields, when he had told himself
that if he choose he could wake the love-
light in the grave child eyes. ~ could
make her love me"' he said to himself
now, with a certain exutation.
And then across the waste of years
that lay between, there came back the
faint echo Of words which long ago he
himself had spoken. II will never mar
ry," he had said once, and once more
there came back to him the glow of an
swerlng joy in those dark passionate eyes
that he had once loved 80 well.
He dashed away the memory with a
frown. "All that is over, why should
l condemn myself to eternal solicitude
for the sake Of a past that has faded .