Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-18

as that YOU Gilbert?" asked the old man.
Yes, grandfather. Gilbert stepped to the bedside
leaned down and his crisp mustache brushed the wri
ked cheek The withered hand nestled in the clasp OF
the mans strong fingers
:" Dear boy-dear boy I knew that nothing would
keep yor-on getting my cable His head turned weakly
the pillow. Stella" he said to the young GIRL this
is Gilbert"
tifu face seemed pale and ethereal as she turned to
Gilbert and gave him her hand He took 1t gently IN
hers and the color swept into his face and famed
up to the edges of his hair.
Gilbert" said the old man, feebly, Stella has con
sented for my sake to have the ceremony performed at
4t oneei" cried Gilbert his blue eyes opening vide
"What do you mean by at once, grandfather!
The girl threw him swift look then dropped her
eyes. Her pale face turned deeply crimson. -,. g,
The voice of the old man was queruous The doc
say that my heart is very bad Gilbert is apt to
fail at any moment 1t has been the desire OF my
life to you two dear children welded the feeble
voice grew plaintve, My entire fortune is diylde9
You are both hearfree-have both expressed your con-
sent to marry each other day. Why not at once
to let an old man. who loves you dearly, die happy?
He searched their faces appealingy Gilbert glanced
at the GIRL her eyes met his with look of cool inquiry
The color had faded from her face leaving quite pale
"Of course, grandfather" he answered. awkwardly;
g l should not think OF opposing any arrangement aP-
proved by-eh-Miss Stewart and yourself" He
glanced somewhat heplessly toward the girl searching
in vain for some hint her state of mind During
the past month Gilbert in his capacity of secretary of
the great Saltwater Ship Building Company had calmly
strven vainly to buy his ships on credit Now, he
found himself in state of hopeless confusion at the
first glance of the grayeyed girl whom for he had
regarded as his promised wife.
al have always hoped that Miss Stewart might
day do me the honor of becoming my wife,, he said,
rather sty but it unfair to her, grandfather,
TO ask her to marry me upon the second day of our
acquaintance"
The patriarch looked UP at his grandson with an
preston of afectionate irony.
Surely, you can be no more solicitous of Stellas
happiness than l am, Glbert?"
Her calm acceptance of the situation amazed him, for
if ever woman's face betrayed highly-strung SEN
sitiveness, hers did
you and Miss Stewart wish it, IL shall be only too
honored-"
"Then let US say tomorrow at FIVE" said the old
Tomorrow" echoed Gilbert
Really, Gilbert" protested his grandfather, 81 had
looked for a little more galantry your part!"
" | think that you are both bit unjust to me, Gil
bert said that you fail to catch my point of view.
Nothing would make happier than this marriage if
were not afraid that Miss Stewart may have given her
consent entirely through sense of duty-or oblga-
The old man raised wrink1ed hand. "Now you are
doing me an injustice, Gilbert Stella is acting of her
Gilbert bowed The high color had left his face and
his breath was coming quickly.
q My house is in order" he said Miss Stewart does
great honor. l shall try to be worthy of it.
Stella flashed quick look toward him; he met it
steadily, and this time it the girl who Redeemed.
The pitful features of the invalid ghtened with
II knew dear boy-I understood" he said, and
reached out for the strong hand of his grandson "I
saw what was in your mind-what should be in the
mind of gentleman of deicacy-but feared that Stella
might be offended" His voice quavered with fatigue.
"Now am growing little tired, my dears; and be-
sides" smile ghtened the bengnant face, you two
must grow acquainted since you to be married to-
morrow. All, WELL understanding comes quickly when
the heart is young"
Gilbert pressed his hand then stepped to the door and
held it open As the bride-eect passed through she
looked up and her eyes met his defany At the foot
of the stairs she turned.
"Wiil you into the drawing room, Mr.. Crom-
well? | wish to talk to you"
al am quite at your service" said Gilbert He fol-
lowed her to alcove which overlooked little garden.
Stella sank into dark corner of the divan; Gilbert re-
II hope that you quite understand Mr.. Cromwell"
said the girl with trace OF sarcasm, that we have
agreed to be married tomorrow
"Yes," answered Gilbert Il have finally managed
to get it through my head
Stellas color heightened And you also understand
am quite sure that the 7Oeddg ceremony she paused
meaningy is for the sake of giving happiness to an old
man in his few remaining days. lie need never know
that we have been married only in name He need never
learn that are not living together as-as-husband
Gjbers clear eyes had not left her face as she talked
and for some reason Stella found it difficult to meet his
look There a sternness in it which awakened her
Il do not think he said slowly-"I do not think
that would to trick man to whom owe as
much do .6o to my G9d gdndahfs 1om sess %0qa stc
is it possible" she demanded that you do not see
I'm afraid that I don't know how you it." re-
piled Gilbert Coldly.
AS any one would see tl " cried Stella" "as mere
form to be gone through to pay our debt to man to
whom we are both bound by every law of gratitude and
decency"
Not to deceived" said Gilbert sterny.
Stella drew back if he had struck her
Deeci0e! How dare you say that to me-" Her
voice choked with passion.
1t seems to me" Gilbert said Jelly, that since you
are not obliged in any way do this thing it would be
rather nicer not do all than to do it under false
pretenses r.,
If we were to be married would we not have full
filled all that we had promised" Sela's voice qua
vered "Would we not have made him happy? g.,
"Yes" said Gilbert we should have fed him-with
stolen food To be frank wondered why you were so
ready to marry stranger though it was always
understood that we two were to marry some day.
faled TO catch your viewpoint Such expedient had
never occurred to Perhaps you are right; fancy