Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-07-02

Bed was not Of much use to Grenville
Rose that night. He tried 1t; but, de-
spite his journey and late search through
those bewildering papers, sleep refused to
visit his eyelids. A little more than
three hours, and he was splashing in his
bath, and, with knit brows, still meditat-
ing on what could have become of that
all-essential parchment. 1T looks bad,
but won't give In. must search fur
ther. I'll have my head in every box,
escritoire, cabinet, or cupboard in all
Glinn before tomorrow night" In the
meantime he recollected that Maude was
an early riser, so, finished his toilet and
betook himself quietly to the garden.
1t was not long before he caught sight
Of the futter of light dress; few sec
onds, and he was by Maude's side. Her
face flushed as she met him, and her
greeting was evidently forced and con-
strained.
IL thought, Maude, dearest" he said,
that might have the luck to meet you
before breakfast. 1t is the only chance
l have OF seeing you alone. Can you tell
me still that you don't repent what you
wrote in answer to my letter of some
fortnight or so back?"
"Oh, Gren, what am l to say to you?
| What must you think of me? l never
thought you cared about me in that way,
you know. And then to write to you as
did But, Gren, dear, 1 did mean it. 1
fought hard to be true to you. What can
do? They say 1t rests with me to keep
Glinn as a home to my father, and that,
II don't marry Mr.. Pearman, we shall
be wanderers about the world. That
would kill them. I am very miserable.
You don't know what had to go through.
I didn't give In till could bear 1t no
longer. Be kind to me, Gren, please"
And the grey eyes, swimming with tears,
looked up into Roses face with a piteous
pleading expression that half maddened
him.
Don't know what you had to go
through, my pet? Hum! l think I can
make pretty fair guess" And even as
he passed his arm round his cousins waist
and kissed her, Grenville Roses teeth
were set hard. "It makes me mad,
Maude, to think that that beast Pearman
should ever dare to dream Of you. No,
child, know pretty well the bullying you
have had to 60 through. You wouldn't
have proved false to your word. except
under unfair pressure.
''Then you don't think so very badly
of me?" asked the girl, shyly.
Il don't know" smiled her cousin, as
he bent his head down to her. "I'll hear
what you've got to say. Do you love
me?"
|
"Oh, Gren !" And Maude dropped her
flushed, tear-stained face on his shoulder,
and submitted to the abstraction Of un-
limited kisses with the greatest meekness.
The tears were kissed away, and a
smile was on her lips as she said, "You
whispered last night, There is hope for
us yet; : what did you meanT
II didn't say that; when you quote
what say, be good enough to be correct"
"But you did say So" said Maude, open
ing the grey eyes wide as usual when a
thing passed her compensation.
mo, Miss Denison; 1 said, Hope for
us yet, darling"
"Oh, Gren, don't tease me; that's so
like your old aggravating ways. Tell
me-" q.
"Well, dearest, I hoped last night to
find paper that would have, at all
events, broken off your engagement with
Pearman, and left you free to choose
again."
A quiet pressure Of his arm, and a
soft "Well?"
II didn't find It, Maude, and went to
bed as miserable as man can well do.
Your father promised that Pearman
should receive his dismissal IL I could do
what dreamt could. I made sure of
finding that paper in the big oak chest
in the study but though I went steadily
through them all, 1t wasn't there"
when did you see it, Gren?"
Don't you remember when went mad
upon heraldry, and was all for putting
your genealogical tree to rights? went
through those papers then"
"Stop moment" said the girl; "let
me think. Yes," she continued, after a
short pause "and you used to bring
them up to work at to the school room,
don't you recollect? And I'm almost
sure but didn't you throw few of them
into drawer up there, saying they were
no use, but you might make up a maga-
zine STORY OF Two oul VI tnem some uay
"By Jove, Maude, you've hit it! !
did, and that would be safe to be one of
them.' Come along, sweetheart mine and
see. No chance Of their being disturbed,
is there?"
81 should think not; but I haven't
really believe, been in the room for the
last two years. Well soon see, though !"
and the cousins tripped rapidly back to
the house.
Poor old school room It was not often
now that it's shutters were thrown open to
the golden light Of spring. Very different
were the old times, when Maude fitted
about 1t daily, making sunshine within,
whatever 1t might be without; when the
whistle Of the blackbird and the song Of