Saint Mary's beacon., 1921-07-28
Lord Alwyn's
Bride
By MURIEL BLAIR.

the vessel sighted Sandy Hook. Their
acquaintance began at the captains
table on the first day; on the second,
since the intermediate passengers
were all seasIck, Lord Alwyn took the
chair next TO the opeYa singer; there
after they appeared to be lnseparable.
They had not much to say on that
evening, for the realization Of his love
for the beautiful Ginger had come to
the Engllshman quite suddenly, and
when It was too late 70 withdraw.
You know l 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 life.p he said. "When / wrs ten
years younger | quarreied with my IA
tler. My elder brother was alive
then; ] had no hope or thought Of sue
ceedlng to the title. / was sent to
Colorado 10 ranch. was twenty
three, impressionabIe. 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 daughter,
a mere slip ofa girl. good, sweet, pref
~. and charming but hopelessly H.
iiterate. To this day the sound Of a
eonccrtina sets my heart bentlng. When
l heard you sing My Old Kentucky
Home at the charity meeting-that
was the first time we met, do you re-
member7-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 boy and
girl fashion. And we were to be mar
ricd.
"The day before our marriage / re-
eeived letter from England. My IN.
ther and brother were dead; both had
been killed Instantly In train wreck.
] was heir 70 the titie and the family
estates and fortune. In my elation I
told Eva.
II shall never forget the scene that
occurred. How she refused TO marry
me at FIRST. Finally / oyercame her
opposition and were married the next
morning. and Eva cried all through the
ceremony.
'"f'hat night, when came home
Aaron stood at the door, waving .
letter. frantic with rage and humllla.
tion. Eva had run away. don't know
what became OF her. Detectives failed
70 lnd her. Old Aaron died cursius
bcr and asking my forgiveness fof
having ruined my life"
"You dld not want a diyorce7 asked
the woman softly.
"No. How could II knew that
the brave little spirit that had given
itself into my keeping was mine al.
ways; that I was morally responsible
for her; II ever she appeared should
have taken her home and asked no
questions"
lie ceased and the woman withdrew
her hand and placed Il on Lord Al
wyn's shoulder.
stop dearf" she said. snow look
at me. want TO ask you a question
DO you love her aa much as you love
me7e
Lord Alwyn laughed rather bitterly.
y don't love her at ALL he said
"And how much / love you you know.
But, my doir, because | DO not love
her | feel my duty the more strongly.
So am going to try 10 fiud her--and
So"
Coed bye" she whispered, md ralacd
her lips 10 bis. Then she was gone
and he was alone In the starlight and
with bis sorrow.
Lord Alwyn spent three days in
New York lie called On his detec.
tive agency, but they had learned
nothing. Then he took the trsfin for
Colorado.
It was not until hc reached the
ranch that he came upon signs Of
cultivation.
Alwyn drow rein NJ the door. hltched
his horse to the old post, aud knocked.
a woman opened 1t. II was Eva,
dressed rs n rancher's daughter. a
rake over her shoulder, her hands
dusty with hay. but Eva mntured-No.
Il was not Eva. IL was Alice PasquaIel
Lord Alwyn staggered against the
door and his hands. cropping feebiy,
found hers and held them.
"Do you know me now. dearestf"
she whispered. "IIaye you found her
again, this Eya. this ignorant gIriTs
"Alicel" be said. chokingiy, ''it Is
you1 You are Evag'
She placed her arms round hts neck
and drew his head down 70 her breast.
"You couldn't have known. dearest"
she whispered. ut was crualaof me to
try you 50 long. How could yoh- -haxe
recognized the ignorant fnrmer's ri
IN Alice Pasquale. the singer, the TIA
ian nobleman's adopted daughter? Bu
have waited for you so long. m.
dcari
"When ! left you that day II wad
with the resolve to claim you whefM
| had become worthy Of your love.
suffered In New York three years un-
I'll had acquired an education at'
night; then woman engaged me asI
her companion TO 60 abroad. She be-
lieyed In my powers as singer, sheI
had me taught by the best masters
then Count Pasquale adopted me--and
you know the rest. And every yearI
| haEe come back as Alice PasquaIe.
l bought the ranch again. come here
during hayIng time--because | knew
some day You would come back"
Never to leave you. dear" he an
swered. "This Is our honeymoon at
last"
Flowers Are Dangerous.
r4k- ak41..s. ..s....a Aa.-.rxt-m