Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-07-07
Lord Alwyn's
Bride
&c. 1921. western Newspaper Union.)
BY MURIEL BLAIR.

Pasquale would be engaged before
the vessel sighted Sandy Hook. Their
acquaintance began at the captains
table on the first. day on the second,
since the intermediate passengers
We're all seasick Lord Alwyn took the
Chair next to the opera singer; there
after they appeared to be inseparable.
They had not much to say on that
evening, for the realization Of his love
for the beautiful singer had come to
the EnglisEman quite suddenly, and
when it was too late to withdraw.
you know i love you?" he began,
as they walked slowly under the
stars. Yes, there vas never any pre-
tense between, us. And u love should
naturally endN in marriage. Welt
an already married!
Let me tell yeu briefly the story of
my life" he said. when l was ten
years younger l %quarreled with my ia
ther. My elder brother was alive
then l had no hope or thought of sue
ceeding to the title. I was sent to
Colorado to a ranch. I was twenty
three, impressionable, hopeless for the
future, and very lonely. Old Aaron
Hopper, the ranchman who had under
taken my education in return for sif-
teen hundred dollars, had a daughter,
a mere slip of a girl, good, sweet, pref
ty, and charming but hopelessly il
literate. To this day the sound Of a
concertina sets my heart beating. When
/ heard you sing My Old Kentucky
Home at the charity meeting-that
was the first time we met, do you re-
member?-the remembrance of those
days come back to me as fresh and
keen as ever. Well, We were engaged.
We were wildly in love, in a boy and
girl fashion. And we were to be mar
ried.
"The day before our marriage I re-
ceived a letter from England. MY IA
ther. and brother were dead; both had
been killed instantly in a train wreck.
! was heir to the title and the family
estates and fortune. In my elation l.
told Eva.
II shall never forget the scene that
occurred. How she refused to marry
me at first. Finally I overcame her
opposition and were married the next
morning, and Eva cried all through the
ceremony.
"That night, when / came home,
Aaron stood at the door, waving a
letter, frantic with rage and humilia-
ton. Eva had run away. I don't know
what became Of her. Detectives failed
to find her. Old Aaron died cursing
her and asking my forgiveness for
having ruined my life.s
"You did not want a divorce?' asked
the WOMAN softly.
mo. How could I? I knew that
the brave little spirit that had given
itself into my keeping was mine al
ways; that I was morally responsible
for her if ever she appeared ] should
have taken her home and asked no
questions"
He ceased and the woman withdrew
her hand and placed 1t on Lord AL
wyn's shoulder.
"Stop, dear!" she said. "Now look
at me. I want to ask you a question
Do you love her as much as you love
me?"
Lord Alwyn laughed rather bitterly.
II don't love her at ALL" he, said
"And how much I love you you know.
But, my dear, because I do not love
her ] feel my duty the more strongly.
So / am going to try to find her-and
So
Goodbye" she whispered, and raised
her lips to his. Then she was gone
and he was alone in the starlight and
with his sorrow.
Lord Alwyn spent three days in
New York. He called on his detec-
tive agency, but they had learned
nothing. Then he took the train for
Colorado.
1t was not until he reached the
ranch that he came upon signs of
cultivation.
Alwyn drew rein at the door, hitched
his horse to the old post, and knocked.
A woman opened It. 1t was Eva,
dressed as a rancher's daughter, a
ldhC VNC1 uCI SilOuiQCIt uCT uduuS
dusty with hay, but Eva matured-No.
1t was not Eva. It was Alice Pasquale!
Lord Alwyn staggered against the
door and his hands. cropping feebly,
found hers and held them.
"Do you know me now, dearestg'
she whispered. Have you found her
again, this Eva, this ignorant grip
*Alicef" he said. chokingly. 'ft is
you? You are Eva?'
She placed her arms round his neck
and drew his head down to her breast.
.sYou couldn't have known, dearest, =
she whispered. 1T was cruel of me to.
try you so long. How could you have
recognized the ignorant farmers girl
in Alice Pasquale. the singer. the Ital-
ian nobleman's adopted daughter? But
/ have waited for you so long. my
dear!
"When ! left you that day IL was
with the resolve to claim you when
r had become worthy OF your love. /
suffered In New York three years un-
til / had acquired an education at