Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-06-03
GRIPS, THE CARRIER
r. .. BL A G X MORE
Author d IL RNA DOONE" "ALIcE LORRAINE" ETC., ETC.
INA DOONg," "ALIcE LORRAINE" ETC., ETC.

hacs again: stately tree. and graceful
bush. aud brown depths IF tangled prick
liness--evcrything having green life IN
Twas spreading its green. aud proud
OF II. Under this roof and IN these halls
of bright young vcrlurp. the youth and
the maid came face to face bohttingly.
Grace. ns bright ms u rose. and flushing
with true tint of wild rose. drew back
and bowed. and then pcrceiving serious
hurt OF Christopher. kindly offered
warm. white hand--a delicious touch for
any one. Kit laid hold Of this and kept
H. though with constnnt fear OF doins
more than was established. aud trying To
look firm and overpowering. led the fair
young woman to u trunk of fallen OAK.
Here they both sat down: and Grace
was not 50 far rs she could wish from
yielding to u little kind of trembling
which arose IN her. She glanced ut Nit
sideways whenever she felt that he could
not he looking NJ her; and she kept her
wise eyes mainly downward whenever
they seemed to he wantcd-not that she
could not look up and speak. only that
she would rather wait until there was
n" other help for It; and. rs for that, she
felt no fear. being sure that he was
afraid Of her. Kit. on the other hand.
was full of fear. and did all he could
IN the craftiest manner to make his love
look up at him. He could not tell how
she might take his tale: hut he knew
Ivy instinct that his eyes would help him
! where his tongue might fail. At last
| he said:
"N6. will you promise faithfully not
to he angry with meg
| "Oh. yes. oh. yes--to be sure" said
Grace; "why should I he angry"
| because I can't help it, give you
my honor. have tried very hard. but I
cannot help IT,"
"Then who could he angry with you.
unless II was something very wickrdT
1T IN not very wicked. II II very good
too good for me. n great deal, ! am
afraid"
'There cannot be many things too good
for you: you are simple aud brave and
gentle"
| But this II too good for me. ever 81
much. heca use II II your own dear self
| Grace was afraid that this was com.
ing; and now she lifted her soft blue
eyes aud looked at him quite tendcrly.
and yet 80 directly and clearly. that he
know In n moment what she had for him
| pity. aud trust, and liking; but Of
| hearts love not one atom.
II know what you incnn." he wills.
pered sadly. with his bright young face
cast down. IL cannot think what can
have made me such II fool.> Only please
to tell me one thing. Has there been
any chap IN front Of meY''
"How can ! tell what you meanY p
asked Grace: but her color showed that
she could guess.
IL must not ask who II II. Of course"
II think that I had better go. Only.
rs ] cannot ever meet you any more. I
must try to tell you that ! like you very
much. and never shnll forget what I owe
you: aud | hope you will very soon re-
cover from this--this little disupp
ment; and my dear father, NJ soon Ms we
return to Englnnd-for I must 20 to
fetch him."
"Grace-oh let me call you Grace
once ar twice. II can't matter here IN
the middle Of the wood-t;race. ] was 80
taken up with myself. and full Of my
miserable folly. which Of course | ought
to have known better"
II must not stop to hear any more.
There IL my hand--yes. Of course You
may kiss II. after all that you have done
for me-
II am going to do n great deal more
for you" cried Kit. quite carried away
with the yielding kindness Of lovely fin.
gers. For your sake l am going TO In.
jure and disgrace my own father. II IL
my father who has kept you here; and to.
night he II going to carry you on. Miss
Patch IL only a tool of his. Your own
father knows not n word about il. lie
believes You to he dead and buried
Your tombstone IN set up at Beckley. aud
your father goes AMI cries over IL"
''Bmt his letters--his letters from De-
meraraY oh my head swims round! Let
me hold by this tree for moment
kit threw his arm round her delicate
waist to save her from falling: aud away
crept George. who had lurked behind
young birch tree too far OF to hear their
words.
"fOn must rouse up your courage"
said Kit, with u yearning gaze ut his
sweet burden. yet taking no advantage
Of her. Rouse up yonr courage. and
] will do my best to save you from my.
sclf. II IL very hard--it In cruelty cruel.
and nobody will thanE me-
His letters from Ibcmerara. cried
Grace, having scarcely heard a word he
said. How could he have written
them? You must be wrong"
"Of such letters ] have never heard.
suppose they mast have been forgeries
give you my word that your father
has been the whole Of the time at Beck
ley. and a grent deal too III to ~ from
home"
"Too ill.-my fatherf Yes. Of course
of course! How could he help being III
without mel And he thinks ] am dend {.
Oh! he thinks that ! am dead! I won.
der that he could dare TO be alive But
let me try 10 think n little"
She tOttered back to the old stump Of
the tree. and sat down there. and burst
forth into an extraordinary gush Of
weeping; more sad aud pitiful tears had
never watered an innocent face before.
LET me cry!--let me cry!" was her
only answer, when the young man clum'
silly tried to comfort.
Kit got mp and strobe about; his in
dignation at her deep, low sobs, and her
brilliant cheeks like a rivers bed, and
her rich hair dabbled like drifted corn,
and about oil the violent pain which
made her lay both hands to her heart
and squeeze--his wrath made him long
to knock down people entitled to his love
and reverence. lie knew that her heart
was quite full of her father In all his
long desOlation. and was making n row
Of pictures of him In deepening tribula.
ton; but u girl might 60 on like that for
ever; man must take the lead of her.
III you please, Miss Oglander," he
said, going up and lifting both her hands