The St. Charles herald., 1922-03-25

| Nevertheless more years went by
with no greater disturbance to the
current Of our lives than sudden
perplexity with regard to Maud. 1t
was not only with regard to Maud, but
with regard to Lord Ravenel. Why
neither John nor Ursula had foreseen
what might happen there l never un-
derstood, for to me such possibility
had long been evident. Maud was
now eighteen; Lord Ravenel a roman
tic, somewhat ByrOnic, figure of thirty
seven. To her parents the difference
in age precluded love; to me love
knew no such limitations. When there
fore Ravenel came to us asking per-
mission to try to win the child her
parents refused. While nothing was
said to Maud the disappearance OF
her lover-he was almost tfat-left
her wounded and wondering. It was
not only the difference in age which
had dictated the course of John and
Ursula, but lack Of confidence in the
stability Of the young mans character.
That was soon to be tested. Within
a short time after he had left us with
the understanding that he was TO re-
turn, the earl. his father died, leav-
ing large entailed property. but 9TH
erwise nothing but debts. To pay
these debts, for which the law held
the new earl in no way responsible,
Ravenel, now Lord Luxmore, re-
nounced his rights Of inheritance. He
himself was left with the smallest in
come ON which a man Of his rank
could live. To John and Ursula this
unexpected force Of character brought
mingled satisfaction and regret. The
more they rejoiced in the nobility Of
the act the more deep their anxiety
lest they should have intervened to the
injury Of two whom they loved.
And still more years went by. Ed
win was now relieving his father Of
some Of the cares Of business; Walter
was preparing to go into the world;
Maud was growing staid. Already
prominent in public affairs John de-
clined to stand for parliament be-
cause, to some degree, the heart had
1
ward change beyond more gray in the
hair and more gravity in the express
sion, but pain borne in secret was be-
ginning to tell on him. The kllowl-
edge that Guy was so far away and
Maud not happy had its effects on
Ursula. Growing old myself / was
obliged to stand by and watch the two
II loved best on earth growing old
even more rapidly.
| There came a day when there was
no more news from Guy. Our fears
increased with the weeks. Then we
received letter saying that he and
his partner were to sail in few days
time from Boston. For some reason
not explained the letter was already
two months old. Had they really
taken the ship Guy named they should
have been in England some weeks ago.
Inquiry at Lloyd's revealed no such
ship as having crossed the Atlantic,
though small vessel of that name
had foundered in the West Indies.
Had Guy and his partner sailed for
England by this roundabout route, 1t
was still possible that they had been
rescued and might be on the way
hcme.
| So for more months we waited in
hope that gradually became no hope.
For the first time in my knowledge of
her the strong, competent Ursula be-
gan to have days of not coming down.
stairs. John with his secret and she
with hers seemed to withdraw each
| into a still place where they were
alone with God. It was a quiet time,
even If a sad time; but to me it was
the end
/ Then one day a stranger appeared,
/ tall. bearded, tanned. 1t was Maud
who saw him first. Begging him to
be seated, she told him she would send
her father "But Maud, don't you know
me? I'm Guy"
He had come back with his partner,
who was now known as William Raw
enel. For John and Ursula it was
! the joy which lets the servant depart
in peace. Guy having outlived his
boyish passion for Louise d'Argent,
he and Edwin met as friends. Maud
and William Ravenel found each
other in that happiness in which diff
ference of 20 years does not count.
We went one day to the old beech
woods at Enderley, where 33 years
earlier John and Ursula had vowed
themselves to each other. John had
come with us; Ursula kept her room.
Not even the bliss of Guys return
gave her back her strength. 1t was
pleasant afternoon with the young peo-
pie all about us. John lay down upon
the grass, his hat pulled over his eyes.
"How cold it has grown" Maud said
toward sunset. II think we ought to
wake father"
But John did not wake. While Sleep
ing he had been called. 1 went home
| to tell his wife.
We carried him into the old farm
house, where he and Ursula had met.
There at ten that night she came to
him. How she came / do not know.
| How she who had not walked for
weeks had found her way hither, what
| strength helped her to stand there as