Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-06-02
Lord Alwyn's
Bride
By MURIEL BLAIR.
,. ly2l. Western Newspaper union.l


! acquaintance began at the captains
table Oh the first day on the second,
since the intermediate passengers
were 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 Englisiman 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 was never any pre-
tense between us. And our love should
naturally end in marriage. Well
/ am already marriedl
Let me tell you briefly the story OF
my life," he said. "When l was ten
years younger quarreled with my ia
Their. My elder brother was alive
then; had no hope or thought of sue
ceeding to the title. / was sent TIC
Colorado to a ranch. 1 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
mere slip of a girl, good, sweet, pref
ty and charming but hopelessly II
Hterate. To this day the sound of
concertina sets my heart beating. Whe1
| 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 the as fresh and
keen as ever. Well, we were engaged.
We were wildly in love, In boy and
girl fashion. And we were to be mar
ried
1.-THE day before our marriage l re-
ceived letter from England. My IA
ther and brother were dead; both had
been killed instantly in train wreck.
| was heir to the title and the family
estates and fortune. In my elation
told Eva.
Il shall neveg forget the scene that
occurred. How she refused to marry
me> at first Finally l overcame her
opposition and were married the next
morning, and Eva cried all through the
ceremony.
THAT night, when l came home,
Aaron stood at the door, waving a
letter, frantic with rage and humilia-
ton. Eva had run away. l don't know
what became of her. Detectives failed
to find her. Old Aaron died cursing
hnr and aCEjno
having ruined my life"
"You did not want 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 l was morally responsible
for her; if ever she appeared l should
have taken. her home and asked nc
questions"
He ceased and the woman withdrew
her hand and placed it on Lord AL
wyn's shoulder.
stop, dear!" she said "Now look
at me. l want to ask you a question
Do you love her as much as you love
me?"
Lord Alwyn laughed rather bitterly.
81 don't love her at ALL" he said
"And how much l love you you know.
But my dear, because l do not love
her l feel my duty the more strongly.
SO 1 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.
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,
rake over her shoulder, her hands
dusty with hay, but Eva matured-No,
it was not Eva. 1t was Alice Pasquale
Lord Alwyn staggered against the
door and his hands cropping feebly,
found hers and held them.
do you know me now, dearest?"
she Whispered. Have you found her
again, this Eva. this ignorant girlY"
"Alice!" he said. chokingly, cit is
I you? You are Eva?"
She placed her arms round his neck
md drew his head down to her breast.
! "Yeu couldn't have known, dearest"
4 she whispered. at was cruel of me to
/ try you so long. How could you have
I recognized the ignorant farmers girl
in Alice Pasquale, the singer, the Ita'-
! ian nobleMan's adopted daughter? But
I have waited for you so long, my
Goar,
"WEen l left you that day it was
with the resolve to claim you when
! l had become worthy of your love-
suffered in New York three years I'M
/ til / had acquired an education at