Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-04-12

and can't, or won't, pay for it."
Does he ask you to help him? Is that
his reason for writing?"
Not at all. He. distinctly disavows
any motive Of the kind; does not intend
TO pay the bill himself, or allow any one
else to pay 1t for him. He says he knows
that DIR. Dynevor is about to acquaint me
with the whole affair, and wishes to give
me first of all his own version of it.
Among other changes, the engagement
with Mary is broken off,"
But that is serious" exclaimed Ger
trude, much troubled. at will ruin both
their lives. Who has done it?"
DR.. Dynevor, and on account of these
matters. I'm sorry for Charley, and sup
pose must see Into it." concluded the
earl, passing at length through the gate.
lie walked away. Gertrude went slow
ly up the garden and crossed to a nat
ural arbor formed by the interlacing trees,
and there sat down on bench overshad-
owed by the Towering lilac and dropping
laburnum.
IF she and Charles should part for
good, would Bverard return to herP' shy
ly wondered Gertrude, with flushing
cheeks. He said Why-who is
this?"
She half rose In her establishment.
Strolling down the broad path from the
house came Sir Everard Wilmot. Could
1t be hef Gertrude gazed as one In a
dream. Sir Everard walked across the
lawn and held out his hand.
Il am so much surprised" she said, as
her own hand met his, and her lovely face
turned to rose color. II had not even
heard that you were expected"
Il came down from London this morn
ing" he answered, as he took his seat
beside her. when Avon was last In
town he invited me to come to him for a
day or two. Having nothing particularly
on hand just now, thought the occasion
too good to be lost. You are not sorry to
see me, Miss Baumgarten2"
"Oh, no; why should l be sorry?" flut-
tered Gertrude. I'VE must all be glad to
see you, for it is dull here. l often wish
myself away"
A moments silence. Then Sir Ever
ard took possession of the hand again,
and bent little forward. his face, slight
ly agttated, turned to hers.
II am given to plain speaking, as you
may remember, Gertrude; cannot beat
about the bush with fine phrases, as some
men cam" he said. MY dear, 1 came
here to-day with one sole Obiect-that of
asking you to be my wife. Oh, Gertrude
don't say me nay again !"
She bent her head and her changing
face. Mis- Baumgarten lost all her dig
nifty, and burst into tears. Somehow he
did not regard it as a bad omen. Per
haps he was. an expert at interpreting
signs and tokens. However that might
be-, he put his arm around her and drew
her gently to him.
my darlingg' he whispered with i'm
FASHIONED fervor. 81 see that you will not
send me away" And Gertrude bent her
face still lower as she murmured:
Perhaps you have not heard-Mary
Dynevor and Charles-their engagement
is broken off"
Gertrude, don't you know me better
than thatT" he rejoined. "Did you not
know, did you not see in the past days
that 1t was not Mary Dyneyor 1 loved,
but your When you refused me, refused
even to listen to word l would have
spoken, turned to Mary ln-I fear |
must say it-vexation Of soul. My dear,
why did you treat me SOP"
Should she ever be able to tell him? |
Not yet, at any rate. She had mistaken |
his frequent visits to the sick daughter |
of lady staying In the place, friends Of |
her own and of Lady Grace. A foolish, |
gossiping woman had whispered to Ger |
trude that Mr.. Wilmot was paying so |
much attention to this young sick lady |
that their engagement was an absolute |
certainty. Gertrude believed 1t, and be- /
came at once so resentfully jealous that |
when Mr.. Wilmot, not long afterward. |
spoke to her, in her pride she retaliated |
upon him with indignation. No, she could |
not tell him all this to-day, or speak of
the sore repentance which had ever since
laid upon her.
She drew herself to the end of the
bench, put her hat on decorously, and es-
sayed to converse upon Indifferent topics:
the beauty Of the day, the scent of the
lilac, the song Of the birds. do you see
that laburnum" she asked, scarcely
knowing what she said. at Is my favor
lite tree the most beautiful of all trees;
the most graceful Of all blossoms"
"Yes," he replied, 81 almost agree with
you. The country people call 1t gold
chain down with u.s." he added, smiling
Down with your
I'm the country where my home is:
the fairest county In the heart of Eng
land. Soon to be your home also, hope.
Gertrude. My darling, may the chains
that bind our future lives together be as
fair and golden as those of your favorite
blossom"
Does Uncle Henry know you are
here2" she suddenly asked.
'Why, of course he does. I was with
him for half an hour before he went out.
have his best wishes, Gertrude; and
your mothers also. All, my dear, you
can find no excuse for turning from me
now"
Gertrude rose. He placed her hand on {
his arm and they walked together I'D the
path. Lady Grace looked at them from
the window with a smile Of welcome. Sir
Everard nodded to her.
A remembrance rushed into Lady
Grace's heart, food of tears to her eyes:
Just so, in that very garden, in the DAYS
long gone by, had she loved and listened
Listened and loved and yielded to the inn
passionate VOWS of him who alone made a
heaven Of her life-Gertrude's father
Ryle Baumgarten. ]
CHAPTER XXI. ,