Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-07-28
Lord Alwyn's
Bride
By MURIEL- BLAIR.

Everybody on board the shin
thought that Lord Alwyn and SLgnora
fasquale 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
Tor the beautiful singer had come to
the Englishman quite suddenly. and
when II was too late TO withdraw.
You know / love your he began.
as they walked slowly under the
stars. "Yes, there was never any pre-
tense between Us. And our love should
naturally end in marriage. WE'LL
am already married.
Let me tell you briefly the story of
my hfe," he said. "when was ten
years younger quarreied with my In
Their. Ny elder brother was alive
then; ! had no hope or thought of sue.
eeeding to the title. was sent to
Colorado to a ranch 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 If
teen hundred dollars, had a daughter,
q mere slip Of a girl, good, sweet, pref.
~ and charming but hopeIessly IL
iiterate. To this day the sound Of a
eoncertina 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-
memberf-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 letter from England. My IA
Their and brother were dead; both had
been killed instantly I'm a train wreck.
i was heir TO the title and the family
estates and fortune. In my elation I
told Eva
Il 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 q
letter, frantic with rage and humilla.
ton. Eva had run away. / 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"
"YOu did not want a dIvorce?" asked
the woman softly.
mo. How could I? l knew that
the brave little spirit that had given
Itself into my keeping was mine al
ways; that / was morally responsible
for her; IL ever she appeared should
have taken her home and asked no
questions"
He ceased and the woman withdrew
her hand and placed II on Lord Al
wyn's shoulder.
stop. dear!" she said. "Now look
ut me. want TO ask you n question
po you love her as much as you love
met"
Lord Alwyn laughed rather bitterly.
/ Il don't love her ut ALL" he said
"And how much love you you know.
But, my dear, because / do not love
her l 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.
woman opened Ii. II was Eva.
| dressed as rancher's daughter. a
rake over her shoulder, her hands
dusty with hay. but Eva matured-No,
1t was not Eva. 1t was Alice Pasquale 4!
Lord Alwyn staggered against the
door and his hands, cropping feebly,
found hers and held them.
do you knew me now, dearest -
she whispered. "IIave you found her
again, this Eva. this ignorant girl? y
alice" he said, chokingly, eft is
you? You are Evar'
| She placed her arms round his neck
and drew his head down to her breast.
you couldn't have known, dearest"
she whispered. eft 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 daughter7 But
I have waited for you so long. my
deari
~When left you that day Il was
with the resolve TO claim you when
had become worthy OF your love.
suffered In New York three years un-
I'll I had acquired an education al
night; then n woman engaged me as
her companion TO 20 abroad. She be-
lieved In my powers as a singer, she
had me taught by the best masters
then Count Pasquale adopted me-and
you know the rest. And every year
I have come back as Alice PasquaIe
bought the ranch again. come here
during haying time-because I knew
some day you would come back"
"Never to leave you. dear" he an
swered. This IL our honeymoon al
last