CHAPTER XXVI.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 142, 20 February 1886, Page 6

CHAPTER XXVI.

AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. "Lay down your armsi Trust! wait!"' It was a motto which, to Grace Campbell, seemed almost impoasiblo to follow. To give np her will ; to renounce nil hopes for tho future ; to bury her mighty love deep within her own hoart, and to take up the burden and duties of life cheerfully, believing that whatever was was best, seemed a task so great that it would be impossible ever to accomplish it. "Lay down my arm3— cease to struggle whon my whole poul is aroused to battle ! Trust ! when tho way all about me is so dark that I cannot see a step before me. Wait ! when waiting is like tho torture of the rack. lam afraid I can never do it ; I am afraid I phall only struggle and beat against my sorrow, as an imprisoned bird beats against the bars of its cage, until 1 fall exhausted and die." So she reasoned and argued with herself day after day, going over the same ground, making the samo pitiful plaint, and shrinking back appalled frem what was before her. Yet all tho time something within her was reaching out after that calm, lovely midsummer of content to which Mies Waldesmar had attained, and longing to realize that samo beautiful faith ano con fidenco which could say, "I know that our Father abovo never makes a mistake, and that, sometime, I shall be able to trace out the pattern- of my life and see how exactly it will harmqpise." Some day#. sho.wpuld seem > to gain a littlo of sflf- control and poaco ; then again she would be^ plupged into deep gloom, almost despair, as she watched Annie's bright fa'fce giow' brighter undor the influence pf her great Happiness, and she would be tempted to regard her as'hor'bittarost foe. , . Had -sh> -not^'p'os^sed ajswee't pure 'natui'e, -a-, r<?a<Jy; liable hearty-i sho would havo almost learned to hate Annie •for rushing the. cyip of happiness from her when fcho believed it to bo just at her lips. Many another woman ■would haVeemplojei her every art to be revenged for the imagined wrong. But she loved the gentle girl, and she would not have marred her joy by so much as a breath which would lead her to suspect the truth. On Saturday Rich planned a little oxcursiod out of town for Annie and Miss Waldemar. Grace was also included in the invitation, but "did not feel quite equal to tho exertion," she said. They were to go to a quiet seaside resort a few miles down the hax-bour, where they were to spend the Sabbath and return on Monday evoning. The sail proved to be delightful, the salt air was pure and invigorating, and the happy trio felt as if thoy had left all care behind them with the heat and dust of the city. Upon reaching their destination, they found pleasant rooms in one of the hotels, where, after having exchanged travelling attire for dinner toilets, they descended to the broad .verandah facing the sea, and gave thomselves up to the charming prospect. Dinner was served with all the style and ceremony which characterise a fashionable hotel, and our friends were enjoying the excitement of being among and watching the gay company about them, when Audrey suddenly became conscious that a pair of keen grey eyes, at another table, were attentively regarding her. Their owner was an elderly gentleman of perhaps sixty- five years — a fine-looking, grey-haired man, who, judging from his face and the shape of his head, possessed great strength and decision of oharacter.

Audrey nover once raised her eyes while at dinner without encountering his or being conscious that he was regarding her with a 3 half-curious and admiring look? He appeared to be alone, for he conversed with no one during the meal, and when ( dessert was served he arose and left the 1 room. ' I When Audrey a~.d her companions again { * repaired to the verandah, this same gentle- < man was seated at the farthor end, conversing with another, apparently about his own ago. Rich gave his arm to Audrey and Annie, and they began to promenade back and ' forth. As they drew near the spot where the two elderly gentlemen were seated, the one who had been co observant of Miss Waldemar during dinner turned to his companion and said : " Who is that beautiful woman, I wonder ?" The gentleman addressed looked up at tho approaching trio, started, rose from his chair, and took a step forward, as if about to address them. But they, not having observed tho movement, turned and retraced their steps, and he resumed his seat. " That is Miss Waldemar, a former client of mine— from New York," replied Mr Bosmer, Audrey's old lawyer -for it was he. Her companion started now, while hia eyes were riveted upon that regal figure with a wistful, troubled look. "Waldemar! What Waldemar? To what family doos she belong?" ho questioned, with repx-essed eagerness. "Sho is Miss Audroy Waldomar, only child of the late Hon. Dudley Waldemar. Were yon acquainted with tho family, Mr Halatead?" Yes, it was Mr Richard Halstead, tho father of Audroy's early lover, and, for the first timo in his lito, he now gazed upon tho woman whom his son had loved. "No - not personally ; I knew of them," replied. "They are very woalthy,'are they not ?" "They were; but, unfortunately, Mr Wnldemar's investments proved to be unwise, and since her fathor's death, Mias Waldemar has lost almo&t evorything. There is a possibility, however, that she may recover a portion of her property, if stocks in certain .Western railroads should come up by and by," explained Mr Hosmer. "U-m ! But she's a wonderfully beautiful woman," returned Mr Halstead, his eyes Still following that graceful figure. "She has 'the- loveliest face I ever paw. It is no wonder that Art Ah <" suddenly coming to his senses, and realising that he was upon the point of betraying secrets -"but who is that fine-looking youngster with her?— and tho little lady in blue, also ?" "The young man is an adopted son or nephew— a lad whom she found somewhere years ago, and bocoming interested in him, brought him up. He is proving" to be a fine fellow, too— going to make one of the smartest architects in the country. The young lady I do not know ; but judging from appaarances, I should say it is someone in whom tho young man is especially interested. It's rather an interesting trio -eh, Halstead?" "Yo?, yes— very. But ib is a little strange that such a magnificent woman as Miss "Waldemar is has never married, isn't it ?" quostionod Mr Halstead, with rather more of interest than was to be expected from an entiro stranger, Mr Hosmer thought. " Oh, there was an early attachment and disappointment, I believe. It seems to me I heard she was engaged at ono time to a fine young man, and the match was broken off by the interference, or obstinacy, or something of the kind, of hi? father. But sho went abroad with her parents about that time, and I never really knew the truth of it. They— Mr and Mrs Waldomar —both died abroad, and she was left alono in the world ; and they were years after that during which she was very sad, scarcely going into company at all, and seeing no ope except intimate acquaintenances. But since her protege has grown to manhood she has mingled more in eoeiety." "You say you do not know where she found him?" Mr HfaLstead asked, turning his glance for a moment upon Rich. "No She was always very close on that subject, even vitb. me. I once asked hor who he was, and she answered with a charming emilo, but with a certain ' thus-far-and-no-farther' way which she has — ' He is my adopted nephew, Mr Hosmor ' — and so I never troubled her again on that point." " This is a strange world after all, with its romances and secrets," remarked Mr Hal stead, with a long drawn ?igh, while his face grow sad and there came a look of pain into his eye. Rich and his companions had turned again and were now coming towards them. Audrey was talking in an animated way, glancing first at Rich, then at Annie, and sho certainly was a woman calculated to attract observation and admiration anywhere, [To be Continued)