The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1914-01-30

That evening the earl sent for her,
and when she entered his library be
looked with surprise upon the dociiity
of her manner.
We'll. lass" he said gayly, wilt stop
this silly nonsense and we'd Broad
meadow at luletitle:"
II will be we'd at Christmas.' she
replied meehly. with downcast eyes
Two days dragged by. and no chance
arose to send her message TO Robert.
Then one morning. as SHE fingered
near the highroad she heard the rum
bic of the approaching coach, and.
wrapping her furred cloak closely
about her. she sped into the road and
held TIP her nissive together With :;
silver coin. 4 position Swooped from
| his saddle and snatched both coin and
letter. and the coach Numbered on to-
ward London.
The wedding had been set for Christ
mas evening. and the preparations for
the bridal aud the Yuletitle feast went
on apace. Christmas eve ta wned gray
and cold. Lady Rosamond crept
olttiiitt III lltt bitt DlON II NttNel SpN ii.
sorry little figure.
She wandered aimlessy from room
to room, and then at twilight she slip
ped into warm cloak. called her wo-
man and stepped into the fast gather
ing dusk.
She walked slowly down the avenue
beneath the naked boughs of the oaks.
Near the gate a crone was gathering
fagots, her wild. gray locks stream
ing in the wind.
May your lndyship's wedding day
be bright" she cackled shril'y. with a
courtesy.
"Thank you, GooAy." murmured
Lady Rosamond sadly, drawing a coin
from her pocket.
AS her hand touched the woman's
she felt a firm. warm pressure that
sent the blood singing to her heart A
glance from ardent dark eyes spar
king beneath the gray thatch OF wig
hurried the bushes back to her pale
cheeks. and. with an apprehensive
glance at her handmade. she thrust
twisted note into her pocket. The
yawning abigail was gazing idly across
the valley and started us her young
mistress plucked at her sleeve. The
crone had hobbled away. and the two
women walked swiftly back to the
castle
\ few minutes later Lady Rosamond
WAS reading the folded bit of paper
from her lovers hand. She sobbel
over the precious words of love and
hope that it contained. and her flag
.ing spirits revived with the knowl-
edge that all would be well with her,
for one unbidden guest kept watch be-
You'd the castle gates until the time
appointed.
The next day the castle rcsOunded
| with mirth and jollity Savory odors
crept up from the Kitchens, where the
groanlng splits slowly turned under
their toothSome burdens There was
a stirring and mixing Of pasties and
sweet cakes. bustling to and fro
from the muSty cellars with certain
! ancient. robwebbed bottles. Huge ham
perS OF fruit and game blocked tho
ants worked and ided, laughed and
gIunbIed.
The rooms were @;rlanhed with holly
and miStirtur, and Lady Hosamond
lifted Gay}y among her guests and APP
pehrr' 50 happy and so gracious to
All that EroHt1meadoW felt that he
hlshl now venture within her pres.
enoe, Her kindly greeting sent his
rusty old pulses beating to YOUTHS time
as he handed her to the banquet hall.
where dinner Was spread at noon.
AT dusk II WAS showing heavily. and
within doors the fun grew fast and
lHflonS. The stone paved galleries
echoed to living feet as youth ana
beauty played old games beneath the
grim portraits of genera TONS of Dour-
leys.
Some one proposed game ut hide
and seek. and in Il moment one WAS
hlndfolded and the rest scattered here
and there over the great castle One
by one they We're discovered and
emerged from their hidin. p';lres-a!
say" Lady Ko>amonh The bride was
missing.
As time passed amused curiosity
gave way to anxiety. one had seen
her disappear behind the kinds head
tapestry on the staircase landing but
dili@ent search revealed nHu2lt but the
The oakcn panels Of the wall She was
not within her rooms nor anywhere
1hat searching eyes could discover.
Reluctantly they tlHil"d into the
great hall and told the earl. who with
the ancient bridegroom. still drank be
fore the fire. He SWore savagcly as
he listened. and Il great feH. showed
itself in his face rs Ire limpnl ,lp the
stairs followed by Ii" company. Broad
meadow stumbled in the rear. On the
staircase landing Lord Dourlcy tore
aside til" kinds head tapestry and ut
Il touch the oaken panels slipped aside
and revealed Il dark opening. \ gap