Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-02-18
CHAPTER xvII.-(Continued.)

Ahos ofCHiH6, Do Ilopc was play lug
bome Scotch airs, with great taste and
. delicate touch, while Mrs. Saville sat
thinking in her chair and strokins
Prince, note was brought for Miss
Desmond. Hope finished what she
was playing, then, asking, "Will you
allow met" opened the missive.
"It Is from Miss Dacre,' she added,
In a minute or two-"a most extraor-
dinary epistle. She says she writes
with your knowledge and approval.
She asks me to leave you and live with
her, and offers me one hundred pounds
= year. VIII you look at it?"
Mrs. Saville stretched out her hand.
and. after reading the letter. deliber.
>te'y returned r.
How do you mean to reply?"
Can you ask?" cried Hope-"unless,
indeed. your knowledge Of Miss Da-
cre's intention indicates wish that
should leave you"
mo, 1t does not. / thought It right
that you should have the option of re-
fusing an advantageous offer. You
would have more gayety, larger sal
airy, an easier life, with Mary Dacre,
than with a cantankerous old woman
like myself"
"If l had the money should be
willing to pay a hundred year to
stay away from Miss Dacre," said
Hope. You are severe, and rather
formidable, but l feel sure Of your
Justice and loyalty, and the restfulness
Of life with you is infinitely preferable
to the fevered gayety OF Miss Dacre's
existence"
81 am glad you think so. Write to
her at once"
Hope obeyed, and, after writing with
deliberation for some minutes, gave
the result to Mrs. Saville for perusal
Good" said that lady. 1T is firm
and courteous. Let it be posted at
once. Now play me the march from
'Tannhauser,'
When that was finished, Mrs. Sa.
Vile said, Come and sit down"
Hope obeyed. There was a short
pause, and she went on: "As you have
chosen to stay with me. my dear Miss
Desmond, | shall increase your salary
to what Miss Dacre offered"
you are very good, Mrs. Saville,
but / would rather you did not. |
have quite enough for all want. A
year hence, wh you have proved
me, II we are still together and you
like to offer it-But, oh, 1t Is unwise
to look ahead so far"
81 am not a very imaginative rer.
son. said Mrs. Saville, slowly, but 1t
strikes me you have a history, Miss
Desmond"
Il suppose every one has," said
Hope, smiling. II too, have my little
story; and some day, If you ever care
to hear 1t, l will tell you-but not just
yet"
Il suppose 1t centers round some
love-affair, which you silly young peo-
pie always think OF the last import
ance."
1T does" said Hope, with grave
feeling; "and l am sure the import
ance cannot be exaggerated. If men
and women only allowed themselves to
think what a sacred and solemn thing
love and its usual ending marriage Is,
'ewer unhappy ones would take place. "
"Ah, with the vast majority love is
an unknown quantity and an insignifl-
cant ingredient. Just think what hui
man nature is, the conditions In which
II lives, moves, and has Its being: how
is love as you exalted people accept
1t, to exist? There we shall never
agree. Pray get me the Figaro"
Miss Dacrs was reproachful, and
even fearful, when Hope next saw her,
but the much desired one" was i'm
movable.
"Is 1t not extraordinary" cried the
disappointed heiress, that George
Lumley went off In that unaccountable
way? There is some hidden baneful
influence at work. 1t Is always the
same: as soon as we are growing cou-
fidential he flies off. It Is hideous
thought, but It has occurred to me
that ne Is secretly married to some
dreadful woman. What do you think?"
II think there Is nothing more un-
likely"
"Well, good-by. We return to Lon
don on Wednesday. Perhaps Richard
Saville will be able to tell me some
thing of George. oh, forget; we shall
Just miss him. Well, II you can flnd
out anything you will be sure to write?
You have treated me very badly; but
I do not bear malice. You will nn<
you have made great mistake. 80
good-by"
Mrs. Saville seemed more cheerful