The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-04-11

Does he AK you to help him7 II that
his reason for writingY
Mot at all. He distinctly disavows
any motive Of the kind does not intend
to pay tho bill himself, or allow any one
else to pay 1t for him. He says he knows
that DR.. Dynevor Is about to acquaint me
with the whole affair, and wishes to give
me first Of all his own version of 1t.
Among other changes, the engagement
with Mary Is broken or"
But that is serious" exclaimed Ger
trude, much troubled. 1T will ruin both
their lives. Who has done It
DIR. Dynevor, and on account Of thess
matters- I'm sorry for Charley, and sup
pose I must see into It," concluded the
earl, passing at length through the gate.
He walked sway. Gertrude went slow
ly up the garden and crossed to nat
ural arbor formed by the interlacing trees,
and there sat down on bench overshad-
owed by the Towering lilac and dropping
laburnum.
III she and Charles should part for
good, would Everard return to herT shy
ly wondered Gertrude, with flushing
cheeks. He said Why-who Is
this?"
She half rose In her astonishment.
Strolling down the broad path from the
house came Sir Everard Wilmot. Could
it be he7 Gertrude gazed as one In a
dream. Sir Everard walked across the
lawn and held out his hand.
II am 80 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"
II came down from London this morn
Ing" he answered, as he took his seat
beside her. when Avon was last In
town be 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 BaumgartenT"
"Oh, no; why should 1 be sorryr fiut-
tered Gertrude. I'VE must all be glad to
see you, for it Is dull here. / 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 agitated, turned to hers.
II am given to plain speaking, as you
may remember, Gertrude; l cannot beat
about the bush with fine phrases, as some
men can," he said. my dear, came
here to-day with one sole object-that of
asking you to be my wife Oh, Gertrude
don't say me nay again y
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 darling" he whispered with i'm
passioned fervor. II see that you will not
send me away" And Gertrude bent her
face still lower as she murmured:
perhaps you have not heard-Mary
Dyneyor and Charles-their engagement
is broken of"
Gertrude, don't you know me better
than that?" he rejoined. Did you not
know, did you not see in the past days
that il was not Mary Dyneyor l loved,
but you? When you refused me, refused
even to listen to a word l would have
spoken, / turned to Mary IN fear l
must say it-vexation OF soul. My dear,
why did you treat me soF
Should she ever be able TO tell him?
Not vet. at any rate. She had mistaken
his FREQUENT visits to the sick daughter
of a 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,
smoke 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-
90 we'd 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 ut is my favor
lite tree the most beautiful of all trees
the most graceful of all blossoms"
EYES, he replied, Il almost agree with
YOU. The country people call 1t gold
chain down with u.s." he added, smiling.
Down with your
'In the country where my home Is;
the fairest county in the heart of Eng
land. Soon to be your home also, hope,
Gertrude. Ny 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
here? she suddenly asked.
why, of course he does. l was with
him for half an hour before be 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
ais arm and they walked together up the |
path. Lady Grace looked at them from |
he window with a smile of welcome. Sir |
Everard nodded to her.
A remembrance rushed Into Lady |
Grace's heart, a food Of tears TO her eyes. |
lust so, in that very garden, in the days
ong gone by, had she loved and listened.
Listened and loved and yielded to the i'm
passionate vows of him who alone made
heaven of her life-Gertrude's father,
ayie Baumgarten.