Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-05-10
CHAPTER v.-(Continued.)

LOT IL WOuld De my greatest happiness TO
enrich the man love. But you know the
conditions by which l am bound. My.
mothers ruling passion was family pride.
Herself of an ancient family, she never
ceased to regret that my father, who had
sprung from the most humble origin, and
gained his riches entirely by his own
energy and good fortune, was not her
equal in birth. AS shA grew older, this
pride increased to a morbid extent. A
little before her death, something hap
pened'-here her voice faltered-"which
estranged her from me, and decided her
so to alter her will that l should forfeit
the whole of my fathers fortune, except
ing an annuity of fifty pounds year, to
keep me from actual want as she worded
1t, if | contracted a marriage with any
but man of ancient family, or failed
to be united to such an one before my
one-andtwentieth birthday"
And the cause of this estrangement,
that you say brought about this singular
willP
Upon that subject nv lips are sealed
for the present." she said, in low, sad
voice.
scend in the event of your forfeiture? To
your uncle, l suppose?"
"Oh no Were such the case, should
have nothing to fear; as were he to in
herit it to-day he would give it back to
me tomorrow. 1t would pass into the
hands of more distant relatives, from
whose forbearance could hope nothing"
well, let them take it all ~ cried Staf-
ford. MY income is sufficient to keep
you in comfort although not in luxury.
Every year adds to my professional fame
and prosperity; and with you by my side,
with the blessing of your love for my in
spiration, what might | not achieve?"
1T is impossible, for the present" she
answered then, observing the cloud upon
his face, she added, in a softer tone: DO
not think that it is because l cling to the
luxuries of wealth that l could not forego
them all for your sake-that l could not
be happy in the home that you could offer
me. The motives of my refusal are far,
very far removed from such causes. But
be assured of one thing: my objections
to being your wife hold equally to being
the wife of any man, were he a duke.
These objections may never be cleared
away; therefore it is that / entreat you,
for your own sake, not to waste your life
in hopes that may never be realized. Ask
me for no explanation, as l cannot give
1t. And now | must go. 1t is nearly
sunset, and they will be growing uneasy
about me at the Grange. l am afraid the
poor drawing will not be completed this
evening"
'Oh, yes; l shall have plenty of time
and, had l not, should be able to draw
it from memory. There is not a spot in
the whole scene that will ever be forgotten
by me-" He watched her cross the bridge
She turned round once, waved her hand
and then gradually disappeared down the
sloping path, and was lost to his eager
eyes. With sigh, he went back to his
painting
His thoughts, wandering into a hun.
dred different channels, came suddenly
upon that story of Circe, that he had told
to Arthur Penrhyddyn, and by fantas
tic association of ideas, he began to com
pare the features he had described witt
those of Constance. The more he COM
pared, the more wonderful did the simi
larity appear-the same figure, the same
face and hair, but not the same manner
Strange it had never struck him before
that the story had slumbered in his mind
forgotten until it had been aroused by the
conversation at Richmond. Such an as
sociation Of ideas was so monstrously
absurd, that he grew angry with himself
for even allowing it to rise up in hi,
mind but there it was, and, spite of al
;,d; ha 81
1t away.
what did she mean by saying that sh,
was fettered by circumstances of which
had no conception" he muttered, ponder
ing over the conversation that had passed
between them.
A strange humor had fallen upon hin
since sunset-a humor of doubts an,
fears, and strange, unacknowledged sus
picions, not confessed even to himself.
CHAPTER vi.
On the day after the meeting between
Constance and Stafford, at about o'clocl
In the afternoon, a gentleman was seate,
before a table covered with papers, in
private apartment of an old-fashione,
hotel, in the neighborhood of st. Jane
street.
That man was Sir Launce Penrhyddyn
He was busily engaged in writing letters
he looked anxious and careworn.
Presently the servant Daniel, after
preliminary knock, entered the room t.
announce Master Arthur"
Ten years had wrought but littl
change upon the old servants iron fea
lures; he was much the same man as W
described him on the day that he foun
his young master gazing upon the portrai
In the western turret.
Arthur followed upon the heels of hi
announcement, and going up to his fathe
with glow of pleasure upon his face
warmly grasped his hands. But for tn
expression of the tell-tale eyes, locke
on would have thought that Sir Launc
received his son but coldly. Requestin
Daniel to leave the room, he motione
Arthur to take n seat opposite him